I have mechanical gauges on my older cars, so I wait until I see the needles get to start up pressure (about 60 PSI) before putting in gear; that's it. I try not to to step on them hard until the coolant gets to 150 or so, even though I keep reminding myself of how the 289 was first run after its rebuild (2000ish RPM for 15-20 minutes).
How many of us oil nerds still "warm up" your car?
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I let her run until she comes off of high idle (maybe 15-20 sec?) then let her roll after ensuring we have oil pressure. Don't know how I got into the habit of checking oil pressure.....call it growing up with some really atrocious rides where you can never be too careful!
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
Grampi - there are so many other factors in the longevity of your Corolla that it's hard to say harmful or not...but most cars run rich until warmed up...and are slower to warm up idling than being driven gently...so, you get more fuel dilution of the oil, washdown of the cylinders, none of which is good for the engine.
I am not saying stand on it when it's cold...I am saying just drive it gently after 15-20 seconds of idling...the only thing that extended idling does is use more fuel for the same # of miles...and I don't see the point in that, unless you've got a compelling reason (and I listed 2 of mine) to spend that fuel on not going anywhere...
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
Grampi - there are so many other factors in the longevity of your Corolla that it's hard to say harmful or not...but most cars run rich until warmed up...and are slower to warm up idling than being driven gently...so, you get more fuel dilution of the oil, washdown of the cylinders, none of which is good for the engine.
I am not saying stand on it when it's cold...I am saying just drive it gently after 15-20 seconds of idling...the only thing that extended idling does is use more fuel for the same # of miles...and I don't see the point in that, unless you've got a compelling reason (and I listed 2 of mine) to spend that fuel on not going anywhere...
I idle for about 20 seconds and drive easy for the first 3 miles or so, then I have to get on the interstate to get to work on most days.
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
I'll take the above post by Astro14 as an OPINION!
To say that idling is "Bad for the engine and oil" is completely FALSE unless you post some scientific lab data showing so.
I'd say it's almost impossible to show any HARM from idling, since i'd say it's almost impossible to test this by taking the engine apart (minus doing UOA and looking at the fuel content, which is pointless, IMO)
I personally idle my cars in freezing temps to give the oil a minute or so to start flowing to all the critical areas before any serious LOAD is added to it. Sure today's oils flow really well in freezing temps but not as well as it needs too, IMO.
My 98 Camry V6 idles @ 1,600rpm during the summer months when started cold but idles 2,100rpm during the winter. The RPMs quickly drop to 1,500 within 30-45 seconds after start up and that's pretty much when i engage the auto transmission. (which i wouldn't want to do @ 2,000rpm.)
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
I'll take the above post by Astro14 as an OPINION!
To say that idling is "Bad for the engine and oil" is completely FALSE unless you post some scientific lab data showing so.
I'd say it's almost impossible to show any HARM from idling, since i'd say it's almost impossible to test this by taking the engine apart (minus doing UOA and looking at the fuel content, which is pointless, IMO)
I personally idle my cars in freezing temps to give the oil a minute or so to start flowing to all the critical areas before any serious LOAD is added to it. Sure today's oils flow really well in freezing temps but not as well as it needs too, IMO.
My 98 Camry V6 idles @ 1,600rpm during the summer months when started cold but idles 2,100rpm during the winter. The RPMs quickly drop to 1,500 within 30-45 seconds after start up and that's pretty much when i engage the auto transmission. (which i wouldn't want to do @ 2,000rpm.)
I might give it a few seconds if it's cold...basically long enough to figure out what music I want to listen to.
If there's ice on the windshield, I let the truck run while I scrape it off.
Beyond that, I don't think allowing warm up time would do me much benefit. It takes the truck a long time to warm up if it's just idling.
If there's ice on the windshield, I let the truck run while I scrape it off.
Beyond that, I don't think allowing warm up time would do me much benefit. It takes the truck a long time to warm up if it's just idling.
I always warm up my cars, and always will. It's worked good for me in the past over 1 million miles on all of my cars combined, and none of them have engine problems. And none of them burn any measurable amount of oil.
Why change something that isn't broken?? < lol
Why change something that isn't broken?? < lol
Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
Grampi - there are so many other factors in the longevity of your Corolla that it's hard to say harmful or not...but most cars run rich until warmed up...and are slower to warm up idling than being driven gently...so, you get more fuel dilution of the oil, washdown of the cylinders, none of which is good for the engine.
I am not saying stand on it when it's cold...I am saying just drive it gently after 15-20 seconds of idling...the only thing that extended idling does is use more fuel for the same # of miles...and I don't see the point in that, unless you've got a compelling reason (and I listed 2 of mine) to spend that fuel on not going anywhere...
I don't warm the engine in the winter for the engine's benefit, I do it so I can enjoy getting in a warmed up vehicle with clear windows, and if there are drawbacks because of doing this, I'll live with them...but from what I can tell, it certainly isn't doing my vehicle any harm...
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Astro14
No. It isn't good for the engine, the oil, or my efficiency in the morning...in 95% of driving, it's a waste of time, fuel and $$...
With 275K on my Corolla, a car that's always been warmed up on cold winter mornings, I'll have to disagree that it isn't good for the engine, or at the very least, it certainly isn't harmful....
Grampi - there are so many other factors in the longevity of your Corolla that it's hard to say harmful or not...but most cars run rich until warmed up...and are slower to warm up idling than being driven gently...so, you get more fuel dilution of the oil, washdown of the cylinders, none of which is good for the engine.
I am not saying stand on it when it's cold...I am saying just drive it gently after 15-20 seconds of idling...the only thing that extended idling does is use more fuel for the same # of miles...and I don't see the point in that, unless you've got a compelling reason (and I listed 2 of mine) to spend that fuel on not going anywhere...
I don't warm the engine in the winter for the engine's benefit, I do it so I can enjoy getting in a warmed up vehicle with clear windows, and if there are drawbacks because of doing this, I'll live with them...but from what I can tell, it certainly isn't doing my vehicle any harm...
I open the door then immediately start the jeep, then hop inside bang snow off my feet. buckle up and then drive slowly until coolant is at 200. luckily i live 2 miles from pavement and have a good reason to go 25 or slower. by the time I hit paved roads the coolant is at operating temps and I will slowly bring her up to 50 or so.
Generally never.
My process is get in fasten the belt, start, then after about 5 seconds to make sure everything is in order with the way the car is running I pull of and drive gently for the first couple of minutes.
By letting your car warm up for 5 or more minutes at idle you increase fuel dilution, delay optimum oil operating temperature and pressure, and INCREASE ENGINE WEAR there are certified tests to prove this I'm not sure where I can find them though.
My process is get in fasten the belt, start, then after about 5 seconds to make sure everything is in order with the way the car is running I pull of and drive gently for the first couple of minutes.
By letting your car warm up for 5 or more minutes at idle you increase fuel dilution, delay optimum oil operating temperature and pressure, and INCREASE ENGINE WEAR there are certified tests to prove this I'm not sure where I can find them though.
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15 to 60 seconds here depending on the temp outside.
However long it takes me to fasten seatbelt, adjust radio, etc is how long my "warm-up" is. Once I'm moving, I try to stay around 2000 RPM until the coolant is up to temperature.
In winter, I'll let it idle while I scrape snow and ice off.
A win/win then.
But otherwise, start and drive immediately.
A win/win then.
But otherwise, start and drive immediately.
Originally Posted By: 91344George
By letting your car warm up for 5 or more minutes at idle you increase fuel dilution, delay optimum oil operating temperature and pressure, and INCREASE ENGINE WEAR there are certified tests to prove this I'm not sure where I can find them though.
Even if this is true, I would bet the increased amount of wear is negligible...and certainly not enough to sway my decision to warm up or not...
By letting your car warm up for 5 or more minutes at idle you increase fuel dilution, delay optimum oil operating temperature and pressure, and INCREASE ENGINE WEAR there are certified tests to prove this I'm not sure where I can find them though.
Even if this is true, I would bet the increased amount of wear is negligible...and certainly not enough to sway my decision to warm up or not...
I only warm it up on days I have to brush snow/scrape ice off the car (those are usually the only days I have to worry about the windows fogging/frosting over).
30-60 secs on cold starts
10-20 secs on warm starts
1-5 secs on hot starts
10-20 secs on warm starts
1-5 secs on hot starts
I'll usually let mine idle for 10 seconds or so after startup, sometimes 30 if it's below 20* F. The only time it idles longer than that is if the windshield is foggy, etc, and it needs to defrost a bit.
I got everything ready and drive as soon as I start the engine. For the S2000, the gear is in reverse with set belt on, the second the engine fire up the car is out of the garage, but I drive easy the first 1-2 miles to warm up the engine and transmission.
For the auto trans, I shift into reverse as soon as I start the engine, and drive easy the first couple miles too.
For the auto trans, I shift into reverse as soon as I start the engine, and drive easy the first couple miles too.
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