Run that engine before moving the car

Interestingly enough our hybrid frequently never even starts the ICE at initial start up. Unless it’s pretty cold outside like this recent cold spell. Then the ICE will start immediately. But it frequently shuts off. Runs on batteries for a while and it starts back up again. Heck the first time the ICE may run in the morning is when we’re pulling out onto the small county hwy near our house. First start up if the ICE could be during that 0-55 mph acceleration. In that vehicle we have zero control over the ICE idling situation unless we hang out in the driveway forever waiting for the ICE to kick on. Spoiler: we don’t.

How many Toyota hybrid ICE’s are out there with high mileage doing fine in similar situations to suggest this waiting around business is a waste of time in relation to ICE longevity?
 
I have to idle for at least 5 minutes to get the ice frozen off all the glass
I think this is an important distinction that should be made with this conversation. I don’t believe anybody is suggesting that people should drive around with ice/snow all over the windshield. Idling to get the vehicle thawed for safety reasons makes perfect sense. So does warming up the vehicle for personal comfort when it’s extremely cold. Both of these are logical and sound.

What people are attending to, hopefully, is the OP suggesting that it is harmful to the ICE to not idle more which is something altogether different.
 
I think this is an important distinction that should be made with this conversation. I don’t believe anybody is suggesting that people should drive around with ice/snow all over the windshield. Idling to get the vehicle thawed for safety reasons makes perfect sense. So does warming up the vehicle for personal comfort when it’s extremely cold. Both of these are logical and sound.

What people are attending to, hopefully, is the OP suggesting that it is harmful to the ICE to not idle more which is something altogether different.
That is why, if car parked outside, always front toward the house, as close as possible. Windshield ice collection is dramatically lower.
 
My manual transmission Subaru Forester will stay in warmup ~1800 rpms until 120 coolant, which conveniently living in a place where I can neutral for a half mile to mile of driving before having to use power from the engine allows it to reach 120 coolant while coasting in neutral at 1800 rpms most days. And then drive gently until italian tune up temps.

I let automatics get to 100 degree coolant and drive gently until italian tune up temps
 
EA888 has exhaust manifold integrated into cylinder head. Coolant passages go around exhaust runners. It warms up much faster, has better thermal regulation and mpg is better.
Out Tiguan needs a minute to start heat in subzero conditions.
Thanks. That makes sense and why it warms up so quickly.
 
No doubt that getting cabinet heat is a priority. Still advocate some idle time. But definitely turn on seat heater and steering wheel heaters if you have them. In most cases, you will have minimal heat until the engine and coolant heat up.
Agree. Certainly do not think anything is wrong with gentle idle to warm up engines. Often wonder if setting the heater high at first will help speed engine warm up?
 
Agree. Certainly do not think anything is wrong with gentle idle to warm up engines. Often wonder if setting the heater high at first will help speed engine warm up?
That has the exact opposite effect since it draws heat from the cooling system. If you are warming up the engine while idling it’s going to warm up faster with the cabin air temperature set as cold as possible
 
Agree. Certainly do not think anything is wrong with gentle idle to warm up engines. Often wonder if setting the heater high at first will help speed engine warm up?
The opposite. On an old Sentra we had, having the heater on full blast was enough to keep the radiator ice cold after driving a hundred miles in 20f temps. Leaving the heater off in cold weather meant the temp gauge came up to operating level in half the time.
 
You will find an electrical heater grid in the HVAC system that gets the heat going way before the engine can make heat.
Recently, I discovered that (or a similar) feature in a Lexus. I imagine that there are some variations in how the heat is produced. However, it should be noted that not all cars have that feature.
 
I drive EcoBoost F-150. Radiator takes a while to heat up. So, I start it, seatbelt, XM dialed in, give it a few more seconds or so, then drive off. More time allotted if frost/ice on the windshield.
 
Do you put on a coat when it drops below 100° F?







😁
Ha, we don’t wear coats here in Phoenix, just either a light zip up jacket or a hoodie.

Our winters are upper 30’s/low 40’s in the mornings. So sometimes I actually do go start my car and pack a quick lunch, letting the heat run and the seat warmer.

But not for the engine, not worried about that.
 
Volkswagens (water cooled) have always had excellent heating performance.
The coolant valves and pump setup is brilliant and they pump coolant through the turbo which heats it that much faster. My GTI was pretty quick to get heat too.
 
I fire it up, scrape the windows and then gently drive for the first few miles when below freezing. I did give my cars 5 minutes when it was -13F early this past week.

My Rogue used to hover in the 2500RPM range until the trans warmed up regardless if I warmed it up for 5-10 minutes or drove it cold. I hated that it did that.
 
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