Winter Idle to "warm up" Car

[Gt-R R34]

So i've always been told to warm up your car, doesn't seem like the case, does anyone more car-inclined then me, confirm the story.

From Yahoo

Those of us who live in a four-season climate are used to the idea of allowing our vehicles to warm up on a cold winter's day. But with the technology in today's automobiles, is this still something we should be doing? The simple answer is no. For the most part, letting your vehicle idle for long periods of time in the cold is not only bad for the environment, but can cause serious damage to your engine and emission system.

In the past, most vehicles employed a carburetor to deliver fuel to the engine. Today, almost all cars, trucks and SUVs on the road use some form of electronic fuel injection. In a cold engine, the computer management system tells the fuel injectors to stay open longer allowing more fuel to flow into the engine in part to keep the engine running cool. Trying to warm up the engine at slightly above idle speed is actually doing the reverse and inviting additional problems.

Cold engines produce a much higher level of unburned hydrocarbons as fuel needs heat to burn efficiently. Even the best catalytic converter is unable to process 100 per cent while running at maximum temperature, so allowing the engine to idle for extended periods of time can start to clog the system.

In addition, spark plugs may also become plugged or dirty due to inefficient fuel burning. Older vehicles required regular maintenance, calling for spark plugs to be changed every 30,000 km. Today, almost all engines employ an electronic ignition system that requires spark plugs to be changed at intervals in the range of 100,000 km. An engine at idle for extensive periods of time could dramatically shorten the life of your plugs, causing you to spend hard-earned money on unnecessary service and maintenance.

A better approach is to start your vehicle and let it run for up to one minute before driving away. This will allow fluids to begin flowing through the engine and then warm up to efficient temperatures under normal driving conditions.

Should the temperature outside dip below freezing, allow a maximum of four to five minutes of idle time before driving away. This should be just enough time to clean off any snow or ice that may have accumulated on the windows. While you may not be warm as toast on the way into work or school, you will benefit by saving money at the pump and garage and by driving a vehicle that runs cleaner and more efficient for many years to come.

[ShyGuy]

I agree with the article. You don't really need to warm up the engine. Just don't drive hard until the engine is warmed up to normal operating temperatures.

When you just sit there and let the car idle your engine is warming up but all the other drivetrain related fluids remain cold. Just take it easy for the first 10-15 minutes from a cold start.
Posted via RS Mobile

[CanadaGoose]

Warming up isn't relevant for modern gas vehicles. It's practically an old wives tale

Modern car in the winter: turn it on, let it idle for 10-20 seconds to allow oil flow to all the major bearing surfaces, and drive smoothly and slowly (low rpm) till it reaches operating temp. Engine will warm up faster and more evenly. The only time you even want to let it warm up any longer is -10 or 15 or 20 or lower.

Only case I can ever see warming the car up for longer then that, is if you're going to reach your destination before the engine reaches operating temp, which is bad because condensation forms in the crank case. In this situation it wouldn't hurt to allow it to warm up longer before leaving.

[MindBomber]

I've seen many articles with these facts, so I've been allowing my engine to warm up for 1 minute before driving, but keeping the rpms below 2000 below fully warmed up.

[sonick]

I made a post about this last year, led to a huge debate; mainly due to people people not understanding the point and arguing that they like their cars warm when they get in, or people arguing for the sake of arguing saying they've been doing it all this time and their car still works.

Original post: http://www.revscene.net/forums/psa-d....html?t=599044

[CanadaGoose]

Should the temperature outside dip below freezing, allow a maximum of four to five minutes of idle time before driving away. This should be just enough time to clean off any snow or ice that may have accumulated on the windows.

One thing to point out - in the winter, most people get in their car, turn it on, and then blast their heat and fan right away! NONONO not only is it blowing cold air, it will actually take your car longer to heat up that way. Turn it to windshield defrost, turn the fan to the lowest setting, and keep it there till the engine starts to heat up.

[PJ]

^this man speaks the truth.

I usually let my car warm up for about a minute and just take it easy driving.. I don't think you'll have any problems even if you start it up and go right away..
Unless you're redlining on your first few shifts from a cold start.. then you might have problems.

[bloodmack]

My car idles at 2000rpm when cold and about 2 -3 minutes in it starts to hunt for idle 1500 - 800 rpm for about 5. I usually don't drive my car when it idles at 2k rpm but when it starts hunting i drive. I only put the defrost on medium if my car is foggy other then that if im in a rush i squeegee my windows :P. My cars from 1994 engine has about 150k on it.

[donjalapeno]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

I agree with the article. You don't really need to warm up the engine. Just don't drive hard until the engine is warmed up to normal operating temperatures.

When you just sit there and let the car idle your engine is warming up but all the other drivetrain related fluids remain cold. Just take it easy for the first 10-15 minutes from a cold start.
Posted via RS Mobile

couldnt of said it better myself, just drive slow until the temp meter goes to the middle.

[metal]

I don't think I've ever warmed my car up for more than a minute. Like everyone else said, just take it easy until you reach normal operating temperature.
Posted via RS Mobile

[CanadaGoose]

Here's something to think about.

I used to have a 08' Civic SI, running castrol 10W30, I must've started that thing cold and redlined it onto the freeway atleast 20 or 30 times lol, I'm not proud of that, but I did it, and I never had a problem with it. And I'm talking -20C and colder when I did that.

Sometimes it was so cold out, I was afraid I was going to blow some seals turning the steering wheel because the fluid was so thick. There were days it was so cold I could abruptly let off the clutch, and it would still engage smoothly because the fluid was so viscous the pedal moved like molasses. Those days I let the car warm up 10 mins tops, and it was more for creature comforts then anything else. Realistically as long as your engine oil is rated for the right temperature, and you drive away slowly and keep the rpms low till it warms up, there's really no need for extended warm up on modern gas cars.

[MindBomber]

Do this all apply to exclusively gas engines or do diesel engines not need time to warm up either?

[Phil@rise]

Most factory stock fuel injected cars have a cold start setting programmed in to them. This causes the engine to run at a higher RPM during the initial start up period once it idles down its safe to get on your merry way.
It varies for most cars from a few seconds to the longest I've seen two minutes and usually is about 1500-2000 rpm then it "kicks down" to its normal idle speed.
My old carbed pos I let warm up for a few minutes before driving my other fuel injected cars I let run for no more then a minute before I hit the go pedal.

[Leopold Stotch]

Originally Posted by E N D L E S S

Here's something to think about.

I used to have a 08' Civic SI, running castrol 10W30, I must've started that thing cold and redlined it onto the freeway atleast 20 or 30 times lol, I'm not proud of that, but I did it, and I never had a problem with it. And I'm talking -20C and colder when I did that.

Sometimes it was so cold out, I was afraid I was going to blow some seals turning the steering wheel because the fluid was so thick. There were days it was so cold I could abruptly let off the clutch, and it would still engage smoothly because the fluid was so viscous the pedal moved like molasses. Those days I let the car warm up 10 mins tops, and it was more for creature comforts then anything else. Realistically as long as your engine oil is rated for the right temperature, and you drive away slowly and keep the rpms low till it warms up, there's really no need for extended warm up on modern gas cars.

lol doesn't that thing recommend 5w30 in the summer?

but anyways to answer the OP

i give my car 30-60 seconds before i drive it and i keep the RPMS low. and since i drive manual i shift earlier to warm up the car, as it would if it were automatic. once it gets warm enough, like 1/4 on the coolant temp gauge, i drive normally.

[Lomac]

One other thing to think about is this: Sure, you may let your car idle for a few minutes to warm up the engine and subsequently the interior... but your transmission fluid is still ice cold. Some people equate an engine running at proper operating temperature with a car that can suddenly be redlined the moment they pull out of the driveway. Don't.

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by E N D L E S S

One thing to point out - in the winter, most people get in their car, turn it on, and then blast their heat and fan right away! NONONO not only is it blowing cold air, it will actually take your car longer to heat up that way. Turn it to windshield defrost, turn the fan to the lowest setting, and keep it there till the engine starts to heat up.

And don't forget about putting cardboard or other things in front of the radiator to reduce the cooling efficiency of the cooling system.

In winters past, I can drive 20 minutes on the highway, and the temp needle would go back down to 2 when normal operating temp is 3 bars.

[bloodmack]

Originally Posted by MindBomber

Do this all apply to exclusively gas engines or do diesel engines not need time to warm up either?

diesels will always need time to warm up as they dont rely on running but glow plugs. Also for diesels if you idle for too long it will damage it. I've heard that a diesel can eat up a few liters in 45minutes of idleing.

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by bloodmack

diesels will always need time to warm up as they dont rely on running but glow plugs. Also for diesels if you idle for too long it will damage it. I've heard that a diesel can eat up a few liters in 45minutes of idleing.

Thats what I thought, just thought I would check.

[CanadaGoose]

Originally Posted by Leopold Stotch

lol doesn't that thing recommend 5w30 in the summer?

Sorry typed it wrong! It should've read 5W30 Castrol GTX (good ol' regular dino oil ).

Although 10W30 should be safe to almost -30C.... I wouldn't recommend trying it though lol

[Alby]

i've always warmed up my car for a maximum of 1 minute before i start driving away.

is it just me or does anyone else find the article to be contradicting itself? in the beginning it says no you don't have to warm up your car, but then in the end it gives you a time frame of how long you should let it idle/warm up before driving off.

[spoon.ek9]

^ i think the point of the article was to persuade the 10-30min car warmers to cut it out. a few mins is much more reasonable!

[Dentz]

Meh, my 16 valve Jetta runs like shit when cold, so I've got to let it sit for a few minutes before driving it...kind of a 16v thing though.

[godwin]

I thought people put cardboard things on cars mainly because they are forced to park outside and the cardboard on the windshield reduces frost build up on glass areas?

I doubt putting cardboard in front of the car can actually reduce cooling efficiency that much; especially at start up. Since the system is cold anyways. Actually modern cars the grills are for aesthetics as much as they are for functionality. In fact if you look at the latest cars like the Volt etc, they close off most of the vents because closing them reduces drag Cd.

Originally Posted by SumAznGuy

And don't forget about putting cardboard or other things in front of the radiator to reduce the cooling efficiency of the cooling system.
.

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by godwin

I thought people put cardboard things on cars mainly because they are forced to park outside and the cardboard on the windshield reduces frost build up on glass areas?

I doubt putting cardboard in front of the car can actually reduce cooling efficiency that much; especially at start up. Since the system is cold anyways. Actually modern cars the grills are for aesthetics as much as they are for functionality. In fact if you look at the latest cars like the Volt etc, they close off most of the vents because closing them reduces drag Cd.

While most newer cars have smaller front grill area to reduce drag Cd, they still have some openning to allow air flow. It's not like there is zero opening.

If the weather is cold enough, while driving, there is enough air flow to keep the engine running below normal operating temps.

Maybe not so much in normal cars, but I know semi's do this and older GMC truck/vans with those huge grillz.

[Energy]

1 minute to warm the inside of the car and the engine then I'm off. No need to wait more than that really.