pongydoo

Is it true that you don't really have to warm the car up in the morning (when the car is cold)? Right now, I warm all my car up in the morning until the water temp is warm and the rev drop to 500rpm (on the LS). But my friend told me that when you warm the engine up, the transmission isn't warming. You suppose to warm the engine up at the same time you warm the transmission. So he says start the car for 30 seconds and drive slowly (below 3000rpm) until the water temp is up that way you warm both engine and the transmission at the same time. He also says that when you warm the car up it is bad for the transmission as it doesn't get warm. I know that in the old days when the car have carburator you need to warm up before you can drive. So if anyone can provide me with some explanation on the newer car (fuel injector) would be great. Thanks in advance!!

Gene Young

My understanding is that it is better to warm the car up by driving moderately rather than sitting still. Sitting still wastes gas and takes the car longer to warm up. The sooner it gets up to temp the better. A warm car is a happy car.

Gene

Lvangundy

I was atually discussing this with a 2000 cadillac STS owner. In his owner manual the book specifically says NOT to warm the car up. Just to start it and drive. He mentioned that aluminum blocks need to be moving to be cooled because they get hot quickly.

I kinda disagree with this, no matter what I'll always warm my car up for about 1-2 minutes in the early morning.

jahummer

Wouldn't it also have to do with where you live and climate? Northern, colder and winter climates may benefit from 1-2 minute warm up but southern, warmer and summer climates probably would not require warm up.