Warm up idling

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Anybody care to answer whether or not immediate cold weather take-offs are good for the auto transmission?

Agreed, if your drive is more then 10-15 miles, the fuel isn't going to be an issue. Shouldn't be an issue really anyway, on a newer fuel injected engine that's in tune.
 
This past October I installed a block heater on my 2002 GMC Envoy. I plug it in the night before and it makes my engine a lot happier the next morning
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IMO, a block heater is a great investment and not only gives me heat instantly but also improved my MPG from 11mpg to 13.8mpg (and its much colder this winter so you'd assume the mpg would go down more!)
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You shouldn't run a block heater all night long.

Only two hours before you start it will getit completely up to snuff for a perfect start.

1500watt block heaters are not exactly kind to your electricity bill.

Get a block heater timer for 12 bucks and you will save hundreds in power bills over its lifetime.
 
BlazerLT is right, not only does it waste your electricity bill but it will shorten the life of the block heater too. If you run it for a couple of hours before you start, as opposed to running it for 12 hours, then in theory the block heater should last six times longer before it fails.
 
When I saw Patman had posted last, I thought- here's a warm-up thread....getting locked!
Thinking about it, warm-up time depends...yes, on individule preference and conditions plus both weather and the roadway too. If someone (my wife) wants to idle so she has a warm car to get into when it's cold outside, fine. I wait at idle for just a few seconds, according to my rule (1sec/deg
Warm-up under a load, that's my best info, but another guy might live right on the expressway and need to attain and maintain 55mph in a flash....that takes it too far. Maybe he wants to idle a bit first, not so the car is warm but so the engine is readied, imo a good decision for him....if not then it's up to *him* to decide. That guy just needs to know all the facts/issues before they make a decision. I point out the soccer-mom minivans that get started and floored away 20x a day....trail of smoke not far behind.
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Yeah ... IF it was 1500 watts, I WOULD be in trouble with my electric company...LOL (and the checkbook)
Actually its 400 watts, and 1000 watts is the block heater for the GM diesel engines. According to the documentation from GM that came with the block heater (which sits before me on my desk), 12 hours is the maximum it should be plugged in, so Im definately following my directions.
Thanks anyways!
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Yeah ... IF it was 1500 watts, I WOULD be in trouble with my electric company...LOL (and the checkbook)
Actually its 400 watts, and 1000 watts is the block heater for the GM diesel engines. According to the documentation from GM that came with the block heater (which sits before me on my desk), 12 hours is the maximum it should be plugged in, so Im definately following my directions.
Thanks anyways!
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You don't plug it in for its maximum time ever...

They are just stating its' MAXIMUM limitations. But still, running a block heater for 12 hours is pointless. The engine can only get so warm and that happens in under 2 hours.

Save you money and buy a block heater timer.
 
When I lived in Iowa - most of my co-workers plugged their cars in 30 mins to 15 minutes before the day was over in the winter. Some times when I left it took longer for them to get going but for most of the cars - 30 mins was enough. Then again, it was only 0 to -5F that month.
 
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but also improved my MPG from 11mpg to 13.8mpg (and its much colder this winter so you'd assume the mpg would go down more!)
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WOW! ok, I guess I need to stop moping about my getting 15mpg city in a '97 Rodeo V6 with 170k miles and close to 6,000#. How much does that truck weigh?

Ouch, that's gotta hurt the wallet every week.
 
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WOW! ok, I guess I need to stop moping about my getting 15mpg city in a '97 Rodeo V6 with 170k miles and close to 6,000#. How much does that truck weigh?

Ouch, that's gotta hurt the wallet every week.

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Yeah its a common complaint among GMT360/370 owners. My 2002 Envoy's curb weight is somewhere between 4600-5000lbs. Im figuring, depending on how much gas is in the tank (6lbs. per gallon and its an 18.7 gallon tank).

I also have the 4.10 gears, which gives a small hit on MPG. In the summer I average 15-17mpg in the city, 19-20.5mpg on the highway.
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I didnt buy it for the gas mileage! It tows my boat like a champ
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Quote:

but also improved my MPG from 11mpg to 13.8mpg (and its much colder this winter so you'd assume the mpg would go down more!)
cool.gif


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WOW! ok, I guess I need to stop moping about my getting 15mpg city in a '97 Rodeo V6 with 170k miles and close to 6,000#. How much does that truck weigh?

Ouch, that's gotta hurt the wallet every week.

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That rodeo is not 6000lbs, more like 4000-5000lbs max.
 
Har har! Ramblin- I did my homework and googled the weight of my Envoy
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(im just razzing ya, adding some humor thats all. But I really did google the weight of my truck though)
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Wow, what a thread! I am surprised that no one commented on similar engines found in airplanes... Their SOP is to start up, idle till temps are in the normal range and then go.

In an automotive engine, my SOP has been to start the engine, and wait till the high idle drops to normal, then drive gently until the temps are in the normal range.

I do agree with others here that the engine is only one component that has lubrication that is affected by temperatures. There's the transmission, transfer case, and differentials, not to mention the wheel bearings and everything else in the driveline and suspension. Just because your block heater has your engine nice an toasty doesn't mean that everthing else is as ready to go.

For me, once the engine idle has settled, the entire system gets warmed up best by driving - gently.
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As for not being able to see due to condensation, just apply anti-fog treatment to the inside of your windshield. And as for ice sticking to your wipers and windshield, buy a car with a heated windshield or at least apply a product like RainX to prevent ice from sticking. Also install heated wipers, which work great. It's been over ten years that I've had to use any of that stuff, but it surely still exists.

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First of all, the rain-x anti-fog product is pure #@$%!, reduces visibility more than it helps. And coming from a guy who uses Aquapel(same effect as rain-x but longer lasting), let me tell you it doesn't help with the ice. You still have to wait for your defrost to make your windshield warm enough for the ice to fall off, or keep using the fluid to soak it down...

Also, I haven't seen heated windshields...wouldn't they have to put the strips through the glass like on heated rear windows??
 
I have never really done "warm up" times for my car. Not until this week...its been negatives all week long with windchill at -20. When I start the car it SCREAMS. I tried ince(stupidly) to simply drive it easily after oil pressure got up, man did it not want to drive. Tranny wouldnt shift either.

Now in these extreme temps, I let it sit for a few minutes and then move it. Engine doesn't cry anymore, as much anyways.
 
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