Warming up engine is useless and waste gas

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I sit idling in traffic jams, and at stop lights when there is no traffic coming the other way more than I ever idle my car on a cold frosty morning.
 
15s and I back out of garage. within a min I'm on the road.
Silly to warm up my car because its a 1mile drive. I do drive it with light throttle.

Oil gets changed every 4 month or so. It does get extended drives every 2-4 days.
 
My mustang is very cold blooded when its in the 40's which is typical winter over night temp i idle 3-4 mins before leaving....in the summer maybe 90 seconds.
 
If I don't need heat for defrosting, the Jeep usually gets 15 - 30 seconds (depending on how cold it is and my mood) and then drive gently until it's good and warm (coolant temp 190+, oil pressure at idle under 20). If I need heat for defrost, it'll warm up for as long as necessary.
 
When i start my Peugeot 106 which is my daily driver i turn the key , let the fuel pump prime up, then push the start button and let it idle for a few seconds and off i go, it takes about 5 minutes of driving until the heater starts blowing warm air
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Yeah, I let it run all day so I can leave the air conditioner on. That way it's nice and cool when I drive home. I gotta gas up sometimes over lunch, but it's worth it.

I thought I was the only one who did that...

In the winter I want my vehicles to comfort me, that means nine in ten it WILL be producing heat before I pull out of the driveway... May run five minutes, maybe fifteen, but I'll have heat...
 
My Avalon runs better when it's below freezing if you let it run for about a minute. In temps over say 35F 30 seconds is fine.
 
Indeed, it was about -25 Celsius a few days ago, I started and idled maybe 10 -20 seconds and took off very slowly. Agree with the fact it warms up alot faster when driving it, but not only that, I am saving gas by getting to where I'm going sooner also.
 
I wait until the high idle comes down before going anywhere. This usually gives me time to brush off the snow, scrape the windows if necessary....etc.
 
I also wait for the high idle to settle down before moving off. Usually takes 10 sec or so.
 
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Stewie
What do you guys think?

That was clearly written one year before Ontario's latest cold snap. If he wants to dress up like a snowmobiler and drive off in 30 seconds in -40, all the while avoiding breathing in his interior until the engine gets some heat into it, all the power to him.





I've never experienced -40F/C temps, so take this with a grains of salt: I typically dress for the weather, which means that driving all cozy in a car in my winter coat, beanie, scarf and gloves is a lot less daunting than being out in the actual elements. I have no problem hopping in and driving off, so long as the air is dry enough to literally absorb all of the moisture in my breath before it even reaches the windshield.

I try to be nice to my vehicles and typically don't even use the heat if it's above freezing, because I don't feel I need it, but the thing is a machine, so if it's -15F, I'll immediately crank the defrost to high after a mile or two, both to put some more load on the engine, but to also put whatever heat the coolant has absorbed into the cabin, as quickly as possible.

Also, another thing that has been brought up, that is definitely a gray area, is how the car performs. >0F the Civic seems to shift and do everything normally or maybe only a little sluggishly at firsts; however, unusual noises and shifting behavior at well below zero occasionally convince me that waiting 1-2 minutes idling before heading out might be in order.

I also idle the engine to warm up a little if there it's freezing-raining, the air is very moist, or any other condition that might require dry, warm air to maintain visibility.
How is "not using the heat" putting less load on the vehicle?
 
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Yesterday I got out and tinkered with my cars. I started the vette and old burban and let them idle for 10 min. I let the mustang idle for over an hour while I took apart the quadrajet on the ta and cleaned it.

I think it helps to run things and get everything up to temp. Keeps the mice out too.

I feel like I have the right to use my fuel as I wish. Joyriding wastes gas too.

Commuting to a job wastes gas. Get a job working at home.

Times when I put the car in gear right away, a few times it refused to go into reverse. I don't think it's good for an old auto trans to try and shift into gear too quickly.
 
About 2-3 seconds and I'm off. I don't like it idling at 2,000 rpms when cold and the engine rpms drop to around 1100 as soon as it's put in drive. I go real easy on it till it's all warmed then drive it in normal mode.
 
I usally get dressed, go in the front room grab my keys and remote start my car. Grab my lunch from the fridge and by the time i get 2 the car is been 30sec-1 min. And i drive off.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I wait until the high idle comes down before going anywhere. This usually gives me time to brush off the snow, scrape the windows if necessary....etc.


I do the same.
 
I almost always park in the garage, where it gets down to a chilly 55 degrees. It idles long enough for me to put my seat belt on.

If I park outside where it gets super cold (40 degrees) I might be nice and let it idle for 5-10 seconds.
 
On dark winter mornings, It is -10 top -15 the visibility and road conditions are difficult as it is, I don't need a fogged up windshield or sluggish vehicle. I start my work truck 15 minutes before I leave and let it warmup, clear the windshield and let the auto transmission start to get some heat. No shame in that.

Lately it's only been 20-30 in the morni so I can start and go. Frost is minimal and the truck gets co for table quickly.
My garage kept BMW is start it and go..the heated seats make up for the cold..
my FJ doesn't get morning commutes. Usually start and go. One or two times a year I have to ideal it for s while due to ice cubing.

Not really a big deal, do what works for the situation.
 
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