How long do you warm your car up?
- Thread starter james21
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Most will agree it seems logical that the colder the car is the longer you need to idle to get up to acceptable temp....so, I'm just trying to quantify it with a usable formula. I accept it's biased toward the "idling less" approach, but it's a starting point. Above freezing, sure...start it and drive off. Below freezing, a few seconds is very reasonable. The formula still seems accurate through zero f...half a minute, right? Well, if it's really is -30f, maybe you want a bit more than a minute ...but if you are plugged-in maybe not. Does this all seem accurate for a FI car?
Warmer temps (50+), I let it idle about 30 seconds, by this time the RPMs have seriously dropped. In colder temps (below 50), I let it idle for about a minute, and I drive "like an old person" (or so people say, but I see old people driving way faster than me) so it warms up gently.
Patman
Staff member
I start and go immediately, no matter how cold it is. And my UOAs in the wintertime still show extremely low engine wear. The key is to drive very gently until the oil warms up. I don't even let the engine go over 1500rpm until the oil reaches at least 80F.
With my winter Caprice, if I don't have to clear the windows I start it up let it run for about 10-20 seconds while I put on seatbelt, set the radio, etc. then idle down the 1000ft rock driveway at my house, by the time I'm on the gas at all it's been running over a minute and I just drive it very easy up to the country road speeds of about 55mph. If I'm in town somewhere it gets about 30-40 seconds warmup time then I just try to be gentle on the gas.
If I have to scrape windows I start it put defrost on and by the time I'm on the road its been about 3 or 4 minutes.
If it's colder than -10F I'll give it 5 or 6 minutes. I have trouble driving if my whole body is shaking from the cold.
If I have to scrape windows I start it put defrost on and by the time I'm on the road its been about 3 or 4 minutes.
If it's colder than -10F I'll give it 5 or 6 minutes. I have trouble driving if my whole body is shaking from the cold.
If it's below 10 degrees or so, I run out with coffee in hand, start er up, lock the door (I have 2 keys), fly back in and let it idle for sometimes as much as 10 minutes while I have more coffee and watch the news. It's still gonna get upper 30s mpg even while doing this and I could care less about fuel dilution etc. I'd rather drive to work warm and happy!
It is illegal in MD and Washington, D.C. to idle cars unattended in order to prevent car thefts.
It's illegal here as well; I'm more concerned about which newspaper article to read while I take a #2!!
I let the car warm up while I scrape it off, and i take my time scrapping it off, so probably 5 minutes. If the car doesn't need to be scrapped off, I still let it run for a couple of minutes, to make sure the defroster works. There is nothing worse than starting to drive a cold car, and havng the windows fog/ice over from the wind cooling off the window! I think this is safer too.
If I don't have to scrap a few seconds but drive slow for the first 5-10 minutes. If I have to scrap 2 or 3 minutes max. No sense in wasting gas.
Start and go .... drive moderately until temp gauge starts to rise (and piston slap subsides) and you're good to go.
Your question is timely. In Los Angles we are having a cold Santa Ana (wind that blows from the desert to the ocean, sometimes with winds up to 50-75 miles per hour in some areas) and the temperature fell to 45F, brrrrrrrr. It was so cold I had to wear a jacket for the first time this winter. To protect the engine I let it warm up for 30 seconds before driving off. If we have another day like this I'll have to call in sick.
I just let it get its oil pressure up, once its up and the engine smoothes out, I go.
I do drive it gently for the first 4 miles until I reach the highway. by that time its well into operating temps.
I do drive it gently for the first 4 miles until I reach the highway. by that time its well into operating temps.
3 degrees this AM.
Started the engine up after sitting all night (2am) outside. High idle around 1800-2000k in the Toyota.
Waited for most 30 sec and drove away. Was at 2900 rpm in less than 3 mins. 2900-3000 rpm for 45-50 mins.
My UOAs show no wear.
Much better drive home than going to work. Had to sit on the freeway for 45 mins in one spot and watch a life-flight land within 100 yards of me due to someone who can not drive their SUV...
Hundreds of engines sat there idleing for a very long time going no where..
Take care, Bill
Started the engine up after sitting all night (2am) outside. High idle around 1800-2000k in the Toyota.
Waited for most 30 sec and drove away. Was at 2900 rpm in less than 3 mins. 2900-3000 rpm for 45-50 mins.
My UOAs show no wear.
Much better drive home than going to work. Had to sit on the freeway for 45 mins in one spot and watch a life-flight land within 100 yards of me due to someone who can not drive their SUV...
Hundreds of engines sat there idleing for a very long time going no where..
Take care, Bill
I hear you, I'm just a little south of you down in Oceanside. We hit 38 here this morning according to 2 of my trusty thermometers.
I agree with Ramblin Fever that it's best to let the RPMs drop below 1,000 My 05 Chevy Trailblazer does this in about 15 - 20 seconds, my wife's 05 Camry takes about a minute. I believe in easy driving the first mile or two also. (Easy to do since it's just over a mile from my driveway to the freeway on ramp)
+1 on the "till fast idle ends, then driving it easy until warm" scenario.
I'd heard about fuel dilution...what kind of problems does it theoretically cause?
I'd heard about fuel dilution...what kind of problems does it theoretically cause?
JHZR2
Staff member
Best advice anyone could give.
JMH
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