To idle, or not to idle.

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acranox

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I've heard both, what's the consensus? On a cold morning, is it best to leave your car idling until it warms up (1 minute, 5, 10??) or should you just start up and go?
Also, what factors should be considered? For example, FI vs. carb?

I'm of the opinion that the car should be driven right away. It just seems that cars aren't made to idle, they're made to drive.

--Peter
 
I agree. I had a Honda Civic...the manual said that the car would be ready to drive away (gently) in a minute or less, no matter how cold it was.

Ironically, the new Malibu comes with a remote starter as optional equipment.

Frankly, having owned both Honda and GM, my money is on the Honda advice being better
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My old SAAB owners manual (if a Swedish car isn't a cold weather car what is?) said idle for 30 seconds and drive away slowly until engine was at normal operating temp.

NOW, the question is do you want to freeze yourself while babying the car?
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After about 30 seconds it makes no difference to the engine weather you let it idle or not. You're not doing it any favors, nor any harm. I let it idle every morning for about 10 minutes because I want it to be warm.
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I let mine idle for 5-10 minutes in the winter. Not because I want the engine to be warm, but because I don't want to freeze to death.

To me, a little more fuel in the oil... whatever the affects may be aren't worth freezing my cheeks off.
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In the summer, I remote start it as I'm grabbing stuff and ready to head out the door. Probably 30 seconds or less of idleing.
 
Leave all Fans and heater etc off if possible (open the window if you have to) and "drive" it as soon as you can. Just as soon as you are sure it wont fall apart, "GO" slowly and easy until warm... A car warms better when moving
 
Strongly disagree with the "no idle" crowd. There are many other parts to a car that need to get warmed up besides the engine. Letting the car idle a few minutes doesn't cost much as far as gas goes and what little fuel that finds itself in the oil will get burned off or the vapors will run back through the PCV to the intake system. You got to give the car time for all the metal to expand and get within operating tolerances. Have you ever seen commercial engines "crank and go?" Just look in any truck stop, those big rigs are always running. Also, look at your temperature guage, it would show that there is a range for "normal" operating temperature. I sure as heck would not be driving my car unless it was in that range. It was put their for a reason. I know, these guages today aren't 100% accurate, but they give you a good "guess-timate."
 
You mentioned "big-rigs", so I had to chime in...
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I've had plenty of experience with those machines, and yes, you can idle all day long with a diesel (No throttle body, so idle fuel consumption is very little), but unless it's really hot or really cold, there is no need...

In trucks though when starting, you have to wait a minute or so for your air pressure to come up, and by then, the engine has settled into a nice little idle...even grossed out, you can just ease right on out.

My thoughts on idling? Your car or truck is there to serve YOU!

Let 'er idle for a few minutes to warm up...I'd rather have 1% higher fuel dilution and corresponding higher wear numbers than freeze my keester off every morning.

More importantly than idling to me is NOT to get on the throttle hard until the vehicle is warmed up...I see this all the time!!
 
It's funny to hear guys from Kentucky talk about freezing their keister off!
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But seriously, there have been many sub 0F mornings here in Toronto this year, and I always start my car and immediately pull away. I plug into the block heater so my engine is not completely cold, but the interior of the car is still cold. Sure, my hands and feet are a little frozen for the first few minutes, but it doesn't take long for that to change. Just drive super slow during the first few minutes after a cold start and you will allow the engine, trans and rear end (if RWD) to come up to temperature nicely.
 
Sorry I took the time to reply to a cold weather question since I currently live in Kentucky...

If I informed you that I've spent a good deal of time in Boston, MA as well as spent time in winter in Fairbanks, AK at UAF would that make my cold-weather thoughts more valid?

Lets get some members here that are stationed in Siberia so you people in Canada and the northern states can no longer reply to any cold temperature questions!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Jelly:
Let 'er idle for a few minutes to warm up...I'd rather have 1% higher fuel dilution and corresponding higher wear numbers than freeze my keester off every morning.
Click to expand...
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4* this morn and -15* or so wind chill. I wake up to the sounds of somebody down the street revving the whee out of their ride.
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Oh well.
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[ January 23, 2004, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyO ]
 
quote:
Originally posted by dickwells:
Now we got guys from Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky giving us advice about cold weather practices! I gotta grin bigtime!
Click to expand...
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lol

It was 9 here the other morning when I got up. To me, that's cold. I can't imagine what it must be like further north, nor would I like to find out.
 
Well as Johnny said about this morning temps. I just went out turned her over. When the Oil pressure hit 60 psi, I put it in gear and drove off. Of coarse I drove it easy until the water got up to operating temp.
I must be different than the rest of you thin blooded guys. If I'm going to be cold at least I'm going to do it while driving somewhere. Cold doesn't bother me much. Heat like being in South Florida in August is a different animal.

[ January 23, 2004, 03:39 PM: Message edited by: ALS ]
 
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