Perpetuating the cold idle myths
- Thread starter dparm
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: Errtt
I remember some years ago dad had a car that had a "cold" lighted indicator. It was green. He would wait till the green cold light went out before dropping into drive to go. Can't remember, but want to say it was an Impala.
My Dad had a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 in the early 70s and it had a cold light as well (it was blue). He would let it idle until the light went out and then would drive away. It had a 352 FE engine in it that lasted about 275K before it gave out; not too shabby considering the quality of oil + carburetors of the day.
I have 3 vehicles with "Cold" lights and their manuals. It does say not to drive the car until the Cold light goes out. I've followed this and all 3 keep going still.
Originally Posted By: Errtt
I remember some years ago dad had a car that had a "cold" lighted indicator. It was green. He would wait till the green cold light went out before dropping into drive to go. Can't remember, but want to say it was an Impala.
My Dad had a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 in the early 70s and it had a cold light as well (it was blue). He would let it idle until the light went out and then would drive away. It had a 352 FE engine in it that lasted about 275K before it gave out; not too shabby considering the quality of oil + carburetors of the day.
I have 3 vehicles with "Cold" lights and their manuals. It does say not to drive the car until the Cold light goes out. I've followed this and all 3 keep going still.
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: johnachak
How is letting a car warm up a little incorrect? Granted, 3 minutes is a bit much. I let mine warm up till the idle drops somewhat. I am not putting my car in gear with the engine doing 1500 rpm, sorry.
They're giving people the impression that you should just go start the car and let it sit in your garage or parking space for a while before you actually leave the house. That is wrong.
d
I have to give you that one for sure.
Originally Posted By: johnachak
How is letting a car warm up a little incorrect? Granted, 3 minutes is a bit much. I let mine warm up till the idle drops somewhat. I am not putting my car in gear with the engine doing 1500 rpm, sorry.
They're giving people the impression that you should just go start the car and let it sit in your garage or parking space for a while before you actually leave the house. That is wrong.
d
I have to give you that one for sure.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've been letting my charger run for half an hour before moving these past few weeks of brutal cold we've had. I pay for the gas and I'd rather hop in to a warm car than freeze my tail of for half an hour.
I couldn't care less what the bitog police think of my starting procedure. Go outside in -35c and then chirp.
Does your car have a block heater? Did you ever think it might be useful if you're routinely encountering such temperatures?
I've been letting my charger run for half an hour before moving these past few weeks of brutal cold we've had. I pay for the gas and I'd rather hop in to a warm car than freeze my tail of for half an hour.
I couldn't care less what the bitog police think of my starting procedure. Go outside in -35c and then chirp.
Does your car have a block heater? Did you ever think it might be useful if you're routinely encountering such temperatures?
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I couldn't care less what the bitog police think of my starting procedure. Go outside in -35c and then chirp.
Agreed. To get in at -35 C and drive away after the 30 seconds that Nissan/Infiniti recommends would require me to hold my breath for an extended period to avoid the windows from frosting over.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
I can get the stupid punched in garage door argument, but you have to be pretty brain dead to do that.
Part of 4WD control is being able to start the car in gear with the clutch engaged to control ascent or descent...Aussies would pitch a fit if they took that ability off them.
One can still do a "push start" with a manual equipped car (at least in my experience). It's just that the starter circuit won't engage without the clutch depressed.
I couldn't care less what the bitog police think of my starting procedure. Go outside in -35c and then chirp.
Agreed. To get in at -35 C and drive away after the 30 seconds that Nissan/Infiniti recommends would require me to hold my breath for an extended period to avoid the windows from frosting over.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
I can get the stupid punched in garage door argument, but you have to be pretty brain dead to do that.
Part of 4WD control is being able to start the car in gear with the clutch engaged to control ascent or descent...Aussies would pitch a fit if they took that ability off them.
One can still do a "push start" with a manual equipped car (at least in my experience). It's just that the starter circuit won't engage without the clutch depressed.
Ahh, okay, now I understand the difference. Some people do intentionally disable the safety to allow remote starters. I wouldn't be surprised if that also happened with the 4x4 crew, too, then.
Ironically, I knew one farmer who got killed because he didn't properly understand the clutch safety on a Case tractor from many years ago. He pressed the clutch and couldn't start it. Well he didn't realize how finnicky those starter safeties were on Case tractors. If you even had a thin mat under the clutch pedal, you couldn't start the thing; the pedal had to travel all the way to the floor. He thought the safety device had failed, so went outside to short across the starter. Needless to say, it didn't end well for him, because the thing was in gear.
Ironically, I knew one farmer who got killed because he didn't properly understand the clutch safety on a Case tractor from many years ago. He pressed the clutch and couldn't start it. Well he didn't realize how finnicky those starter safeties were on Case tractors. If you even had a thin mat under the clutch pedal, you couldn't start the thing; the pedal had to travel all the way to the floor. He thought the safety device had failed, so went outside to short across the starter. Needless to say, it didn't end well for him, because the thing was in gear.
Of course a hundred years from now, we won't be having this conversation; all the cars will be electric.
Honestly, if we are here in 100 years, and continue doing stuff at the rate we are doing stuff, there won't be any cars, electric or otherwise...
Where on Earth we think we are going to get the electricity to replace transport fuels...
Where on Earth we think we are going to get the electricity to replace transport fuels...
I think there's plenty of natural gas for transport trucks; and most people don't drive their cars more than 80 miles a day I wouldn't think; easily doable with an electric car.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Start car, put on seatbelt and drive off sensibly.
Biggest thing I have problems is people starting with their foot on the clutch...I hate the idea of stationary thrust bearings starting loaded (millions of Jeeps don't seem to have a problem with the oil film left on them)
Clutch interlocks prevent the car from starting without the clutch pushed down. They can be defeated, but sometimes it's more hassle than it's worth.
I let the car idle for 10-15 seconds, then put it into gear and drive slowly for the first few minutes. It doesn't help that 2 minutes after the car gets started it's doing 55 mph due to the roads around me. But hey, that's what synthetic oil is for!
Start car, put on seatbelt and drive off sensibly.
Biggest thing I have problems is people starting with their foot on the clutch...I hate the idea of stationary thrust bearings starting loaded (millions of Jeeps don't seem to have a problem with the oil film left on them)
Clutch interlocks prevent the car from starting without the clutch pushed down. They can be defeated, but sometimes it's more hassle than it's worth.
I let the car idle for 10-15 seconds, then put it into gear and drive slowly for the first few minutes. It doesn't help that 2 minutes after the car gets started it's doing 55 mph due to the roads around me. But hey, that's what synthetic oil is for!
AT -10F I'm letting the vehicle for five to ten minutes. At 20F and above I will just drive after idles down, usually less than thirty seconds. But at some point the noises are too much, plus nothing feels right--stiff clutch, gearshift, etc. it's also nice to have a pinch of heat to keep the windshield clear, and not to have to drive with the window down.
I've noticed that at 20F both my truck and Jetta can take 15minutes to come up to temp. That is driving time, mind you. Actually the Jetta might not even crack the thermostat in that time, it just has heat. If it takes that long to warm up I'm not sure a few minutes of idling hurts.
I've noticed that at 20F both my truck and Jetta can take 15minutes to come up to temp. That is driving time, mind you. Actually the Jetta might not even crack the thermostat in that time, it just has heat. If it takes that long to warm up I'm not sure a few minutes of idling hurts.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
Originally Posted By: supton
AT -10F I'm letting the vehicle for five to ten minutes. At 20F and above I will just drive after idles down, usually less than thirty seconds. But at some point the noises are too much, plus nothing feels right--stiff clutch, gearshift, etc. it's also nice to have a pinch of heat to keep the windshield clear, and not to have to drive with the window down.
Pretty much my feelings too. Saving gas or not, sometimes you just gotta give it a few before rolling off.
AT -10F I'm letting the vehicle for five to ten minutes. At 20F and above I will just drive after idles down, usually less than thirty seconds. But at some point the noises are too much, plus nothing feels right--stiff clutch, gearshift, etc. it's also nice to have a pinch of heat to keep the windshield clear, and not to have to drive with the window down.
Pretty much my feelings too. Saving gas or not, sometimes you just gotta give it a few before rolling off.
Patman
Staff member
Originally Posted By: TFB1
All you people bragging about frosting their willies on a cold seat and saving gas by driving off without warmup should either carpool, or move closer to your jobs... Either will save far more gas than a few minutes idling...
Or move to Florida!
All you people bragging about frosting their willies on a cold seat and saving gas by driving off without warmup should either carpool, or move closer to your jobs... Either will save far more gas than a few minutes idling...
Or move to Florida!
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Where do they get the electric from ?
There's a few thousand years worth of uranium out there.
Where do they get the electric from ?
There's a few thousand years worth of uranium out there.
- Status
Similar threads
