douggie

Was wondering if you guys let your engines warm up before driving off? If so, how long and is there any special method to make it warm up faster?

GNO

Instead of just letting the engine warm-up, try a drivetrain warm-up. Start the car. Let it idle a few seconds. Drive off slowly. Take it easy the first mile or so.

The old practice of letting the vehicle sit a idle for several minutes is dead. The engine will warm up faster under load (i.e. driving, not siting at idle) and other drivetrain components get a chance to warm up as well when moving.

But if your windows are all frosted up inside, it'd be safer to wait until the coolant is warm enough to provide the heater enough warmth to keep you windows clear.

douggie

Hmm, that makes sense. No wonder i've heard people said (can't remember exactly) that if you drive an auto, you can shift the gear in reverse and step on the brake/parking brake and idle this way a few minutes before driving off.

Thanks GNO.

Fulminatus

I've heard ppl say at least 10 seconds, and some say 30 seconds, for the oil to lubricate the system first.

Then after that, it depends on the weather I guess.

Of course the car warms up faster if you are in gear and especially if you are moving because you are working the engine. That will generate heat.

BUT, which way is better? I don't know.

I've heard some people say idling is a bad way to warm up your car. Something about low rpms, I can't remember. They didn't give convincing enough reasons on that side of the table in my opinion.

I don't know if there has been any real studies at all on this.
Take everything w/a grain of salt I say =).

MAD323

well i turn the car on before i get in .. then walk around it kickin the tyres ... lol
then idle it to the end of the drive ..(500m )
by then the nedle has started moving ....
and the windows have started to clear ..lol

Sal's "J"

My wife says that I'm really **** about how I wait till the car warms up a bit before I drive off. I usually wait about 2-3 minutes on a warm to slightly cool day before driving, now if it's COLD then 5-10 minutes before I drive off. Yes, it's true that the engine warms up faster when it's moving, but I don't know how ya'll drive, but when I go...I GO! and I woudn't try to go like that on a cold engine. But it's all preference or beliefs I guess.

ZackyFarms16

im sorta the same way, but ever since i got my P5 ive changed a bit. Usually i only care for warm ups in the mornings(live in southern cali so theres no snow, but just cold). and so usually what i do is turn the car on, then walk to the trunk and but my back pack in their and go back and sit in the car. then i reverse out of the garage to the bottom of the driveway and wait usually a minute or two. the whole process of the back pack takes like 30 seconds at the most. and so anyways i like to wait a few minutes or even until the needle starts to move significantly. Or, if im late ill just go but not work the engine hard at all, like ill keep the RPM's under 3 until the needle moves to the middle.

Exception: when i go snnoaboarding and get back to my car, i turn the car on and just let it sit on while i change outta wet snow cloths. So in snowy conditions i honestly let it warm up for a good 10-15 min. however i know this isnt possible to do every morning for u people that live in snow.

douggie

Anyone experience some difficulty in starting a very cold engine? My car was parked outside for 5 hours in 28F weather (no snow) and when I tried to start it just now, it felt like it was not going to start (but it did, just with some struggle)

Worried because this is only the beginning of the winter and my car is only 2 mths old. My old 95 civic starts right up in negative F temps!

DBR

from what i've read, i'd agree with GNO, ie weather permitting, drive away within 15 seconds.

the reason idling is a bad way to warm up the engine is that, at low revs (below 1200 rpm) the oil pressure is too low to circulate the oil thru the oil passages, and there's insufficient splashing to lubricate the cylinder walls.

my auto reference manuals don't discuss warm-up practices, but they do discuss how to break in a newly rebuilt engine. here goes:

motor trend auto repair manual..."as soon as the engine is started, it should be set at an rpm equivalent to 20-30 mph, or slightly over 1000rpm. this allows the oil to circulate through the engine galleries well, and throws oil onto the cylinder walls."

stockel auto repair and service..."as soon as the engine is started, set the idle speed adjustment screw to produce an engine speed of around 1200 rpm. this will insure good oil pressure and throw-off will be sufficient to lubricate adequately the cylinder walls."

i'm embarrassed to admit how old these books are (1968) but i don't think anything's changed in this regard.

i guess it follows that if the engine is on a fast idle, at least 1200 rpm , idling is ok.