How long do you let your car warm up?
- Thread starter 2000NWXJ
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If you have to pull out of your driveway onto a 55 mph highway, I would say give it a minute or two driveway warmup. But normally you do not want to sit and warm it up. Drive off immediately on slower streets, if it is extremely cold, drive around in the neighborhood a couple minutes, but otherwise you can hit surface streets at 40 /45 mph pretty quick, just be easy on the throttle, don't gun it or floor it. I usually go down my street, about 1/4 mile to a 35 mph street, another half mile on that to the freeway and then get on gently but not so as to hinder traffic. Never have any problems with that routine.
I'm pretty much with TallPaul on this.
My car's "warmup" is driving out of the place where I park. Once I get on the streets, I try to stick below 1/2 throttle and 2500 RPM until the coolant gauge indicates operating temp. If I hit the highway within a few minutes of startup, I stay under 55-60 mph for a few minutes to let the differential and transmission get some heat in them.
After that, let's just say the gloves come right off.
My car's "warmup" is driving out of the place where I park. Once I get on the streets, I try to stick below 1/2 throttle and 2500 RPM until the coolant gauge indicates operating temp. If I hit the highway within a few minutes of startup, I stay under 55-60 mph for a few minutes to let the differential and transmission get some heat in them.
After that, let's just say the gloves come right off.
Originally Posted By: 2000NWXJ
How long do you let your car warm up?
I don't.
How long do you let your car warm up?
I don't.
In my Focus I usually wait until it will idle under 3000RPM before driving it hard so I don't wear out the clutch and the synchronizes trying to shift. Luckily, I live on a hill, so I usually just nurse it out to the hill and idle down the hill at 3000RPM. I start it up and let it run for 15 or so seconds then start out.
The Cherokee I let it sit for 30 seconds or so and drive it super light for the first few miles.
The Cherokee I let it sit for 30 seconds or so and drive it super light for the first few miles.
I let it run for a few seconds before I pull out of my driveway.
Other than that I don't.
Other than that I don't.
Seatbelt on
Start Car
Check mirrors
Pull out slowly, checking for traffic
Drive out of neighborhood like a rational person
Drive to highway like a rational person
Death Match 2000 (highway time...it's rough)
I end up idling for about 15-30 seconds getting all the pre-flight stuff out of the way, drive at putt-putt speeds for about 4-6 minutes, and then it's like a rolling NASCAR start as everyone is trying to be the first person onto the highway.
Start Car
Check mirrors
Pull out slowly, checking for traffic
Drive out of neighborhood like a rational person
Drive to highway like a rational person
Death Match 2000 (highway time...it's rough)
I end up idling for about 15-30 seconds getting all the pre-flight stuff out of the way, drive at putt-putt speeds for about 4-6 minutes, and then it's like a rolling NASCAR start as everyone is trying to be the first person onto the highway.
I wait until the idle levels off, then slowly drive. If it's extremely cold, I'll let it warm up a few minutes if it was sitting outside.
If it's warm outside I drive right away. When the temp is in the 40's or lower I like to let it warm up until the first RPM drop. For example if it starts at 1,500 after a 30-60 seconds it drops to 1,100. Nothing scientific about that I just figure that's the engine telling me the oil has started to move around sufficiently.
Originally Posted By: shadow7
Every sec that I am not moving, I am wasting precious fuel. So I start and go.
+1 I'm getting 0 mpg and lengthening the amount of cold running the engine does. The car also warms up slower when it's idling and since I hate to drive with a coat on, I want heat NOW.
Every sec that I am not moving, I am wasting precious fuel. So I start and go.
+1 I'm getting 0 mpg and lengthening the amount of cold running the engine does. The car also warms up slower when it's idling and since I hate to drive with a coat on, I want heat NOW.
Long enough to get to the end of my (long, dirt) driveway, open the gate, drive through, shut the gate, and 1.5 miles down a ~40-45 mph street. Then it's 55-60+.
As long as it takes me to slip the clutch in and idle down the driveway.
I drive very gently for the first half mile, and then turn left onto a four lane divided hgihway with a 55 mph speed limit.
I slowly accelerate to maybe fifty and then select fifth, never quite reaching three thousand revs and never using much throttle.
I'm hitting sixty about two miles after leaving my driveway with gentle acceleration and low revs the whole way.
I then face a few miles through a small city with easily timed traffic lights. Following drivers can't seem to figure out why I'm not in as much of a hurry to get to a red light as they are and also seem to misunderstand how readily a manual car loses speed on closed throttle in gear. Most have never driven a stick and have never learned the joy of it.
The gloves only come off after about seven miles, for my last eighteen miles up a nice, wide, smooth rural two lane.
If I'm in the mood, there are plenty of good passing areas.
I drive very gently for the first half mile, and then turn left onto a four lane divided hgihway with a 55 mph speed limit.
I slowly accelerate to maybe fifty and then select fifth, never quite reaching three thousand revs and never using much throttle.
I'm hitting sixty about two miles after leaving my driveway with gentle acceleration and low revs the whole way.
I then face a few miles through a small city with easily timed traffic lights. Following drivers can't seem to figure out why I'm not in as much of a hurry to get to a red light as they are and also seem to misunderstand how readily a manual car loses speed on closed throttle in gear. Most have never driven a stick and have never learned the joy of it.
The gloves only come off after about seven miles, for my last eighteen miles up a nice, wide, smooth rural two lane.
If I'm in the mood, there are plenty of good passing areas.
Enough so your windows can be properly defogged and clear if visibility an issue.
My wife chooses 10 minutes but she likes her heat seats warm and heater/car warm.
I used to say bad for the car yet it has 157k/8years old with zilch in mechanical issues.
My wife chooses 10 minutes but she likes her heat seats warm and heater/car warm.
I used to say bad for the car yet it has 157k/8years old with zilch in mechanical issues.
Originally Posted By: 2000NWXJ
It's it best to let the engine get up to operating temp before driving? I've heard it's not good to let an engine sit at idle for extended periods of time, so I am wondering what the proper amount of warm up would be.
The only thing bad I would think (other than 0mpg) would be fuel dilution.
If I still have T5 in it come winter I usually set until the idle calms down, If I have switched over to the PNZL HM 5W I set long enough to turn radio on and clean the window with wipers. If I had the time every day I would set until it was almost to temp, purely because its my understanding that an engine is most efficient at its desired operating temp.
When I drive the WJ I let it get a bit warmer, it has the 42RE transmission and they DO NOT LIKE the cold........
It's it best to let the engine get up to operating temp before driving? I've heard it's not good to let an engine sit at idle for extended periods of time, so I am wondering what the proper amount of warm up would be.
The only thing bad I would think (other than 0mpg) would be fuel dilution.
If I still have T5 in it come winter I usually set until the idle calms down, If I have switched over to the PNZL HM 5W I set long enough to turn radio on and clean the window with wipers. If I had the time every day I would set until it was almost to temp, purely because its my understanding that an engine is most efficient at its desired operating temp.
When I drive the WJ I let it get a bit warmer, it has the 42RE transmission and they DO NOT LIKE the cold........
I used to get everything ready (put on seat belt, adjust mirrors ...) then start the engine and shift into reverse to back out of the garage then drive easy for the first couple miles. Now I start the engine then put on seat belt, adjust mirrors ... waiting 10-15 seconds for RPM creeping down to less than 1100-1200 then start driving.
I give it 20-30 seconds in the warmer months and say a minute or two in colder months. I do it to let the fluids circulate fully. I don't let the vehicle sit and idle for extended periods( usually - once in a while during winter during snow clean up ). Just wastes too much fuel.
I never start it and just go right off however if it has sat for any length of time. Especially if it sits overnight.
I never start it and just go right off however if it has sat for any length of time. Especially if it sits overnight.
An engine will warm up quicker if it's under light load. Idling in neutral won't gain you heat as quickly as low speed driving will. I try to let the water temp get up to normal before hitting highway speeds.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
I give it 20-30 seconds in the warmer months and say a minute or two in colder months. I do it to let the fluids circulate fully. I don't let the vehicle sit and idle for extended periods( usually - once in a while during winter during snow clean up ). Just wastes too much fuel.
I never start it and just go right off however if it has sat for any length of time. Especially if it sits overnight.
This is my routine unless I've got the kids with me in winter. If I'm taking the kids
I let the car warm up enough to blow heat then hit the road.
I've discovered in my charger that it takes 12kms to achieve 180f oil temps,and how I drive there really isn't any flooring it,unless I'm playing and having some fun.
Regular driving I rarely get to 3000rpm,so even cold or hot I'm easy on it.
I give it 20-30 seconds in the warmer months and say a minute or two in colder months. I do it to let the fluids circulate fully. I don't let the vehicle sit and idle for extended periods( usually - once in a while during winter during snow clean up ). Just wastes too much fuel.
I never start it and just go right off however if it has sat for any length of time. Especially if it sits overnight.
This is my routine unless I've got the kids with me in winter. If I'm taking the kids
I let the car warm up enough to blow heat then hit the road.
I've discovered in my charger that it takes 12kms to achieve 180f oil temps,and how I drive there really isn't any flooring it,unless I'm playing and having some fun.
Regular driving I rarely get to 3000rpm,so even cold or hot I'm easy on it.
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