View Poll Results: how do u warm up your car? Which way is best?
until it drops below 1
28
20.90%
only a few seconds/not really at all
62
46.27%
about a minute
44
32.84%
Voters: 134. You may not vote on this poll
how do u warm up your car?
Fact: Idling doesn't warm up the trany, tires or brakes. Watch F-1 race to see how they warm up the entire car.
Fact: Idling does more harm to the catalytic converters.
Common sense: ease up on the gas pedal after cold start. Slowly accelerate until optimal condition, Oil Temp at 3 bars.
Fact: Idling does more harm to the catalytic converters.
Common sense: ease up on the gas pedal after cold start. Slowly accelerate until optimal condition, Oil Temp at 3 bars.
the poll indicates that we have no real answer
there is too much speculation
does anyone know of an lexus address i can write where we will get a real answer by someone who actually knows the car and information behind it
theres has to be an address where i can get a response from????
there is too much speculation
does anyone know of an lexus address i can write where we will get a real answer by someone who actually knows the car and information behind it
theres has to be an address where i can get a response from????
F is for Fraud
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 0
From: Québec
Fact: Idling doesn't warm up the trany, tires or brakes. Watch F-1 race to see how they warm up the entire car.
Fact: Idling does more harm to the catalytic converters.
Common sense: ease up on the gas pedal after cold start. Slowly accelerate until optimal condition, Oil Temp at 3 bars.
Fact: Idling does more harm to the catalytic converters.
Common sense: ease up on the gas pedal after cold start. Slowly accelerate until optimal condition, Oil Temp at 3 bars.
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I live in southwestern Ontario and the temps drop pretty low here during the winter. One thing I have noticed is that mine sounds like a damn diesel for a while until warmed up - I'd say about until I get close to the middle on the temp gauge. This only happens while accelerating though, my dad's old f150 was similar. The engine sounded really rough when accelerating while cold.
Hopefully this is normal, maybe i should be warming it up longer.....
'09 is 250
Hopefully this is normal, maybe i should be warming it up longer.....
'09 is 250
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 503
Likes: 16
From: Houston, TX
I let car idle for about 4-10 minutes before I leave for work and drive exponentially harder as the car warms up and has served me right for years on many of my vehicles. If a car is not warmed up properly cars shift very harsh, clearances are to tight etc. Ofcoarse dependant of situation to low of climate weather etc, there is a point to where you will need to drive the vehicle to not cause excessive wear in warm up.
in my factory bmw M handbook, it says to never start and idle the car. its says to start car and drive immediately so the whole car can warm up the same (diff fluid etc).
so usually when the high idle drops, im gone. I know people who rev their car to warm up their car then drive off. Good luck to your valves.
so usually when the high idle drops, im gone. I know people who rev their car to warm up their car then drive off. Good luck to your valves.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)
Brett Foote
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Valves don't care about cold oil temperature. They hardly get any oil at all, and they're sliding friction anyway. Rod bearings do care about cold oil temps and they will be very unhappy if you starve your oil supply because they depend on continuous oil flow to prevent metal on metal contact.
BMW is right. As soon as your oil pressure light goes out, drive the car and put a light load on the engine to warm things up quickly without damaging anything. Idling is horrible for service life.
BMW is right. As soon as your oil pressure light goes out, drive the car and put a light load on the engine to warm things up quickly without damaging anything. Idling is horrible for service life.
oh yeah i remember this thread
The conclusion i came to was to start driving after a few seconds
10-15 then just not rev to high or push the care to hard until the temp builds up
I believe this is the best method
The conclusion i came to was to start driving after a few seconds
10-15 then just not rev to high or push the care to hard until the temp builds up
I believe this is the best method
Hi
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 4
From: PA
I will typically allow the car to warm up for a minute or two before taking off. This is typically the amount of time it takes for me to plug in my cellphone, setup my iPod, or plan my route in the nav. It takes about 5 minutes for the car to reach operating temperatures here in the summer, which is roughly the amount of time it takes me to get to the highway's on ramp. I take it easy until I hit the on-ramp and by then the car is at operating temp, so I can start playing around a bit.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: HI
I warm up my F in the morning for about 3-5 min depending how late i am to work. No less the 3 min tho. When starting to dive, I usually dont drive more than 2k rpm for about a min for the tranny to really warm up. I drive the norm after it throughout the day. It gives me a peace of mind.