Its getting cold (for some). How do you warm up in the morning?

[Jesda]

I'm going through about 500 pages of Land Rover Owners Manual materials. In the "Warming-up" section it says:

Quote »DO NOT warm-up the engine by allowing it to idle at a slow speed. In the interests of fuel economy, it is advisable to drive the vehicle straight away, remembering that harsh acceleration and labouring the engine before the normal operating temperature has been reached can damage the engine.[/quote]Just wondering how everyone warms up their Qs.

[CrimsonQ]

I let it run for at least 60 secs, then of course its easy going on hr from there till operating temp is reached.

[Q451990]

Idle until it's into the normal range, then drive gently if it's not up to the middle mark. Remote start makes it easier to warm up it up

Heath

[Haitian_King]

It hasn't been that cold yet. No frost, but a lot of dew in the morning and late at night.

I'm definitely thinking of putting in a remote starter. Do you guys have any suggestions?

[beancan]

Get in start it.. close the door, seat belt, mirrors and drive away gently within 15-20 seconds.. The quicker you start driving, the FASTER it warms up.. Be gentle till its halfway up on the gauge.

The reason, a cold motor uses ALOT of gas to run. The quicker you warm it up the better.. Better fuel economy, and less unburned fuel getting past the rings contaminating the oil..

If it runs smooth, drive off immediately

[Haitian_King]

Is that right? I thought you were supposed to let it sit and warm up. Wow. Did not know that. I was always told not drive with a cold engine.

But 15-20 seconds, the car is still bone-chillingly cold and the steering wheel makes your hands ache.

Then again, aren't you in Texas?

Any suggestions on certain types of remote starts? Where my car is parked at school, I have to walk quite a bit down a hill and through the parking lot. If I could start it from the top of the hill, it'd be less unbearable by the time i got there.

[Jesda]

I had a remote start on my first Q that was the "CrimeStopper" brand. The range was AMAZING. I could be inside the house in the basement in the dead center of the house (no windows) -- when my morning alarm went off, I'd hit the remote start, shower and get ready, then almost a half hour later walk outside to a defrosted and toasty Q45. Big waste of fuel, but tremendously pleasing when you don't have a garage.

Remote start is even better in the summer. The only concern is to make sure your cooling system is well maintained. It would be unfortunate to idle the car with the AC running, then come outside to an overheating and destroyed engine.

[Q45tech]

Important to understand the OIL LUBRICITY DOESN'T become decent until the oil exceeds 120F.

Why they make oil and coolant heaters to plug in when it's cold outside for those who don't have heated garages for their fleet.

The best method is to relocate to the South....................I was reading that 67% of those surveyed [2010 random] want to leave NJ as soon as possible due to high taxes etc.

[Haitian_King]

Where do I plug these heaters in?

The only thing I know that people up north do is put a light bulb on the engine (or something like that) because it gets so cold that the fuel turns to jelly.

[cccpman]

these are not diesel cars, your fuel wont be jelly in your state

Its snowing here, the way I like to warm them up is just start the damn car, turn on the heater, go inside for a couple minutes and come back outside. The Q heats up amazingly fast if your driving at any speed, in a minute or two you will be warm and pleased, without so much wasted gas

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. That's what I'm used to. Start the car, turn the heater on, get out and scrape off ice and snow and then drive away.

[AlabamaDan]

The best method is to relocate to the South........

Don't tell them that! They might take you up on it. Just what Atlanta needs, more traffic.

[AlabamaDan]

Oh, and I crank, buckle, settle in for a min and take it easy. But then I keep my Q in a = garage. So it doesn't get too cool.

[Jesda]

Just what Atlanta needs, more traffic.

But it moves so quickly!!!

[maxnix]

Important to understand the OIL LUBRICITY DOESN'T become decent until the oil exceeds 120F.

The best method is to relocate to the South.

A couple of guys I know from Jersey love Texas and are never returning to NJ.

Quote »In the interests of fuel economy, ... [/quote]Not the life of your engine, it might be noted.

[96Qowner]

In my part of the country, most of us have engine heaters - either a block heater or a tank heater. We plug them in when we get home and unplug 'em in the morning. So that's not a problem.

But our cars typically sit outside all day at work, unplugged, and while the days are warmer, "warmer" may simply mean that it gets all the way up to -5 instead of the -25 at night. So we still have to deal with starting cold cars.

I've read about all the methods recommended and the reasons for them, Just like anywhere else in the country, most drivers here don't put more than 50,000 miles on their cars, so you never really can detect long-term results. My Accord has always been plugged in at night, treated no differently than summer in the mornings. During the cold afternoon starts in the winter, I've just let the idle settle in - maybe 30 seconds, and then put it in gear and driven it. No thought of a WOT, and gentle driving until fully warmed up - 5 minutes, tops. Seems to have worked just fine, so far.

I let the Q idle until the temp needle moves. When not driving it, it stays plugged in all winter, day and night.

An engine will warm up a LOT faster driving vs idling. I tend to believe the recommendation to idle for 30 secs and then drive it gently until warm.

[AlabamaDan]

I wouldn't mind having a block heater or something for our winters especially my jeep when I'm at hunting camp, but I'm too lazy to install. Sometimes it gets down to the teens. I've thought about that oil dipstick heater from JC Whitney - it's probably elcheapo.

[maxnix]

96Qowner, I think Q45tech's post was especially meant for you. At least you are coping.

Move south.

[96Qowner]

LOL, the cold keeps the riff-raff out.

And Dan, the best/easiest would be a block (headbolt) heater - skip the silly dipstick thingy. And they aren't terribly expensive - under $200, installed, IIRC.

But you'll have to put up with goofy looks and questions from Southerners about the cord and plug hanging from your bumper.

[maxnix]

LOL, the cold keeps the riff-raff out.

What we say about the heat. Ya'll come in the summer, ya heah?

But you guys have all the salty roads.

[Acecool]

If you let it idle while you get ready or whatever, it damages the engine slowly...

Drive it right away, but gently.

[maxnix]

If you let it idle while you get ready or whatever, it damages the engine slowly...

Well yeah, as opposed do damaging the engine more quickly when the rpms are elevated when it is as cold.

[DrewQ45]

This is where you benefit a lot from using full synthetic oil. It's viscosity is stable and it distributes faster through the engine. Changing your thermostat regularly is important too. My car warms to operating in just a few mins of driving.

My procedure? Start car, listen and wait until the initial clatter of oil-starved components disappears in a second or two. Back out of garage and drive out slowly keeping below 1500 RPM for a few blocks....keep below 2500 until needle starts climbing. With a new thermostat, the needle climbs so fast I'm good after roughly half a mile. (Plus I'm in the south)

[Haitian_King]

Yeah. While it really just stays in the teens or higher, I think I'll just idle for 30 seconds to a minute and then drive gently.

[NightRiderQ45]

I honestly let my car run until I see the temp. hand moves or i'll let it idle while I'm doing something in the house (deep winter temperatures). Once it moves, I drive off. Some people state that it's a waste of gas, heck speeding is wasting gas, but I don't care. I refuse to drive off until my car is at good operating temperature. The NightRider will always be pampered.

[maxnix]

This is where you benefit a lot from using full synthetic oil. It's viscosity is stable and it distributes faster through the engine. Changing your thermostat regularly is important too. My car warms to operating in just a few mins of driving.

Exactly right! Start up wear is significantly reduced and warm up is quicker for the lubricant in that it reaches the required operating viscosity at a lower temperature.

[Haitian_King]

Well,

I had my dad take my car to the shop for my last oil change, so I have no clue if it's a synthetic or standard. I checked it today and it was still an amber color.

My transmission fluid however was brown. Didn't smell burnt but judging by color, I think it needs to be replaced soon. When I bought the car, the dealer told me that all fluids had been replaced. But that was back in January. I take it it's time to change?

[qship96]

better read your own quote again if your transmission fluid is brown!

[Haitian_King]

Well it sure as hell isn't pinkish-red.

I'll probably get it changed this weekend.

Every weekend the Q takes a trip to the shop. Hopefully this stops soon, eh?

[qship96]

do it soon,as transmission is a weak spot on early q-does it have a drainplug? if so,do multiple drain/fills until you can have pan dropped,filter changed,magnet clean