Do you guys warm up your car?
I usually get in my car, start it and go. I live in St. Louis and it does get cold here during winter times. A friend of mine was telling me he warm his car up for like 4 minutes before driving. I don't believe it is necessary to warm up the car.

 

I wouldn't suggest going anywhere close to WOT until the temperature guage is within the normal operating range but I don't believe any of the modern day engines need more care and feeding than that.

Except in Fairbanks in the wintertime.

 

I always try to give mine a little time to warm up. If it isn't warm when I start driving, I don't push it until it is warm, but it doesn't take too long once you start driving.

 

when i start my car up in the cold mornings, i usually warm it up until i see the temp pass the "C" or move up to normal... sometimes when i'm really late, i just head out after say 30 secounds since i gotta go.

 

I always wondered about that

I was never really sure what to do so i always let it warm up a little. At least past the "C"

 

HUH??!! Not on my RX, i might not WOT in the first 2 minutes, but never really idle the car. Im getting rid of it in 3-4 years anyway, why bother.

 

Me too, I start it and go... And when I go I mean goooooo....

 

I jump in the RX and crank it up...if only I had some place to be

haha...j/k

 

Most machanics that I have spoken to recommends you starting your car for about 30 seconds, then drive it slowly (under 2000 RPM) until the car warms up. It is not good to let your car idles in one place for a long time since it keeps the RPM at one level for a long time that could lead to engine wear.

 

Let me try to break some myths ... that is if you believe.

Start engine and wait till the oil starts circulating (2 or 3sec)
If you idle and stay put, the engine warms up slowly, and it will warm up more quickly if you drive.
The quicker the engine warms up, lesser is the pollution.
Engine reaches thermal equilibrium and ideal operating conditions when the temprature gauge stops moving (around 1/2 way point). If you want optimum performance stress the engine at that time and not before.

So the engine wear is only in the first few secs. Rest has to do with polution and burning gas without getting best milage. [ignoring wear due putting more "R" in higher rpms with the engine cold ... in fine print]

Salim

 

hum... i live in upstate new york and it does turn REALLy cold during winter. I added a remote starter to my car (very good for winter) I start it 15 mins before i have to leave home and when i jump into my car, itz all nice and warm inside I hardly ever warm up my car during summer tho.... i drive slower until my temp rises.

 

My Lexus car manual says to warm up the car for no more than 10 seconds and then driving off. It implies that it's a waste of petrol to warm it up stationary any longer. I guess as long as you don't push it for the first 1/2 mile or so, it's fine.

 

I start and then drive gently for the first couple of miles. Most (80-85% according to SAE) wear occurs at startup, and gentle driving does not stress the motor.

But the main reason is to enhance cat lightoff, for reduced emissions. The engine warms up much faster under load and so does the cat.

 

I step into my RX 300
- Start it up
- Watch all the dashboard lights go off
- Buckle my seatbelt and adjust it
- Pull my Ray-Bans out of the overhead compartment
- Place my Ray-Bans on my face
- Look in the rear-view mirror
- Throw it in reverse
- Look in the rear-view mirror again (I'm at approx 15 sec. here)
- Back out of the carport
- Throw it in Drive
- Slowly drive 300 ft to the end of my driveway
(I'm at approx 30 sec. here) and
- Accelerate moderately up to 55 mph
- Gone!

Warm-up, Shmarm-up!

 

Nice write-up! but ray-bans?? Damn u must be around 40, got my first ray-bans when i was 15 and never had one after 18. Too Top-gun 80s for me.