warm up

[johnparkyourcar]

after starting your car in the morning, how important is it to fully warm up your car? i always wait until i warm the car up before driving, and only when im in a rush i drive right after starting the car. but i was wondering if warming it up is even a good thing?

[Beancooker]

I let it warm up for 30 seconds to a minute in the summer. I am a wussy, and let it warm up until the heater starts to blow warm in the winter.

[Kendahl]

It doesn't help to wait until the temperature needle starts to move before driving off. It takes a long time, especially in the winter, for a car to warm up at idle. There just isn't enough heat being produced.

For most of the year, I start the car immediately after getting in. I let it idle while I put on my seat belt, lock the doors, turn on the lights (after dark) and put it in gear. That takes 10 or 20 seconds by which time the oil pressure is up. Then, I drive gently until the temperature needle is well on the way to normal. During bitterly cold weather (zero degrees), I may wait an extra 10 or 20 seconds before moving off and I drive extra gently until it is warm.

[fosterelli]

Most manufacturers note in the owner's manual that a short warm up period is all you need (most of my vehicles said around 30 seconds).

Idle is actually bad for your car in extended periods...I try to never idle unless I'm sitting in a McDonald's drive thru or it is only going to be a minute or two...anything more and I'm shutting her down. Anything less and I'll let her run because starting your car isn't exactly good for it either.

Everything in moderation bro.

[adren77]

yeah what the other guy said sums it up

[CoppellStereo]

i wait for my tachometer to get to idle speed, when i first turn the car on it revs and idles high, and it slowly goes down to the normal idle speed

[SVTCOBRA]

I suppose I let mine idle for about 30 seconds....maybe less before leaving.But, I always baby it leaving the neighborhood and up until it gets to normal running temp. Imo, that's more important.It's not like I jump on it at that point every morning, I just make sure I never do until at least then.

[johnparkyourcar]

so leaving the car to warm up is actually bad? i always thought that i SHOULD warm the car up...like especially if i were to go on a long drive... what makes idling the car bad? obviously i am a newbie when it comes to things like this and i would like to get some info...

[zozoka1212]

No it is not bad just not good to leave it longer period of time. You have to warm up your car.

zozo

[joe603]

I let my RPM's come down to at least 1.1 before moving the car. In colder temps, at least a min.

[johnparkyourcar]

ok so i warm it up but not long enough for the oil temp to reach normal temp? also what are the long term effects if i were to never warm up, and warming up everytime?

[zozoka1212]

Basically you using your car with not enough oil circulation. You can wear your car down faster.

I usually warm up my car till I see the temp. needle to move. That is basically when your rpm settles somewhere 1k.

Zozo

[crna1]

Dont know exactly about warm up, altho it seems if you are running right weight oil for your environment, a few sec's should get it circulating.as far as idling..no harm in that. you can idle car all day long and it will do no harm at all..certainly wont overheat, thats what fan and radiator are for. surely wont wear any parts any faster idling than driving

[zozoka1212]

Your engine running lean when idling.

zozo