How long do you warm your car up?

[james21]

Just curious. If it's below freezing, how long do you wait until you drive off?

 

[AndyH]

30-60 seconds...or a bit longer if the windshield is covered in frost/snow/ice.

 

[james21]

I just try to keep the rpm's below 2500 until it gets fully warmed up

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

Till it concludes to drop from fast-idle.

 

[Greggy_D]

In the morning, I let it heat up for 5 minutes when it's below freezing. Leaving work, about 1 or 2 minutes.

 

[JavaMan]

I open the garage door, take it our of gear, crank it up, take the emergency brake off, look for traffic and let it slowly roll out of the garage onto the street. That is my warm up.

 

[Eddie]

30 Seconds if below 30 F. and 60 seconds above. I also drive easy till the temp gage is at normal which is 4-7 minutes.

 

[james21]

JavaMan, I take it you have a heated garage?

 

[craigq]

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Till it concludes to drop from fast-idle.

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Ditto, I normally wait until the engine drops out of fast-idle...

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Like Chevy2, and then drive real easy until warmed up, and beyond..When it's cold, it isn't just the engine that suffers, your belts and the components they drive, the tranny, suspension, tires, everything needs a little time to warm up in cold weather.

My humble opinion, YOUR mileage MAY vary!

 

[james21]

I always figured the rear axle has to be like tar

 

[Oil Changer]

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In the morning, I let it heat up for 5 minutes when it's below freezing. Leaving work, about 1 or 2 minutes.

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This is exactly my procedure. Might be a Michigan thing.

 

[Nebraskan]

Below 32 I let it run while I clean the ice off the windshield, side windows and rear. The rear defroster helps. Then I drive rather conservative until the temps in the car is starting to warm up considerably, probably 5 minutes+ from starting.

And yes the rear axle on cars with rear end differentials are like tar.. especially at -35F and below.

 

[Da Game]

5-7 minutes or when it idles down from fast idle, since both of my cars are outside, the weather varies here in Chicago. December thru March it can run from -20* to 50*.

 

[JAG]

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Till it concludes to drop from fast-idle.

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Ditto. That is the best way to minimize cold start wear as long as you are gentle with the throttle and rpms. "Warming up" by idling is a joke.

 

[JonS]

About 30 seconds when it is colder than 0. Then i just idle down the streets for a mile r so.

 

[BrianWC]

I try and drive mine gently but it goes so darn fast even under 2500 rpms that I feel I'm defeating the whole purpose....Good thing it doesn't get really cold here.

 

[Ken42]

Hope in Start, buckle up shut the door and take off down the highway at 50 mph.

By this time the fast idle to super heat the cats is finished.

Ken in WA

 

[Auto-Union]

Simple- I idle 1 sec for every degree below freezing F. +22f = 10 sec, +12f = 20 sec, -8f = 40 sec, etc.

 

[JavaMan]

"JavaMan, I take it you have a heated garage?"

No. I do live in deep South Texas where our temperatures generally don't get that cold. I don't think anyone down here has a heated garage; maybe an air conditioned garage (which I don't have). Maybe I'm not letting it warm up enough.