View Poll Results: How long do you warm up you engine
None, start it and go!
305
36.40%
About 20 sec., until rpm drops to 1200.
321
38.31%
About 2 min., until rpm drops to 1000.
176
21.00%
However long it takes to get water temp up. (post what temp)
36
4.30%
Voters: 838. You may not vote on this poll
How long do you warm up your engine?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
From: IL
I fire it up in the morning and let it sit in the garage a few minutes. Maybe 2-5 minutes. Then for the rest of the day I usually only give it 30 seconds. I have noticed even doing that, when I drive down the road to the freeway (which takes 5 minutes of lights), when I ge to the freeway onramp and try to stomp it, the car is still clearly cold and perf suffers greatly. I suspect Toyota does the same thing as Honda where if the engine is cold, VTEC does not kick in at 5K RPM.
when my rpm needle makes its first drop.. which is about 10-15 seconds.
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 745
Likes: 1
From: California
I wait until the tach drops or when the engine sound drops. Then it's ready. I never wait longer than that.
Someone told me that warming up engines is a waste, especially in this California weather. Not necessary on fuel injected vehicles. But I just like to be safe and let the car decide when it wants to go.
Someone told me that warming up engines is a waste, especially in this California weather. Not necessary on fuel injected vehicles. But I just like to be safe and let the car decide when it wants to go.
I wait until the tach drops or when the engine sound drops. Then it's ready. I never wait longer than that.
Someone told me that warming up engines is a waste, especially in this California weather. Not necessary on fuel injected vehicles. But I just like to be safe and let the car decide when it wants to go.
Someone told me that warming up engines is a waste, especially in this California weather. Not necessary on fuel injected vehicles. But I just like to be safe and let the car decide when it wants to go.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: CA
i just... go? Once it's started, the shift **** goes to R and I'm done warming up. So I guess.... 2 seconds. 
I also think you should just drive. I've had cars where I always do this and they've been running for more than 160K miles. I don't think I ever warm up any of the cars unless I'm snowboarding which I start the car and "warmup" the car just to defrost the windows.
I also think you should just drive. I've had cars where I always do this and they've been running for more than 160K miles. I don't think I ever warm up any of the cars unless I'm snowboarding which I start the car and "warmup" the car just to defrost the windows.