AdamC

Experts say it's ok to drive after approx 1 minute of warm up no matter how cold the weather. Did you guys notice that rpm drops at the rate of 100 rpm per 10 sec when you first started your car in the morning? Just my observation...

DjElucid

I noticed that it drops fairly quickly. I have heard that you definitely should not sit there and wait for your car to warm up. But instead drive it slowly after 1-2 mins after turning it on and keeping the RPMs low warming up the car, until it's at its normal temp.

fdl

I think during break-in it might be a good idea to let it warm up, especially after sitting all night. I still do it though, let the rpms drop to about 1000 and the temp pass the lower mark then I go and even still take it easy for the first couple minutes.

tycoon

I’ve been warming up the engine all the time for the past 5 years. I don’t know what’s good about it, but I just do.

Encyclo

My habit, driving Hondas/Acuras for the last 25 years has been to drive real gently until I get cooling fluid temperature indication (needle moving up from the down stop). The engine is most fragile when it's cold and that's when it needs a break.

As far as warming up (stopped not moving) that is not a good idea. I saw a report a few weeks ago stating that pollution levels of an idling car where at least four times higher than when running.

Here in the Northern part of the continent the big thing is remote starters. I guess it's a lot easier to press a button and let your car run for ever when it's -20 in the winter instead of using a block heater, which saves fuel , wear on the engine and the environment

TWong1200

The most important to remember when first starting your car is to get the oil flowing. Plain and simple. As the car ages, extended times may be needed as parts wear. With a motor with low mileage, your main concern should be to just get the oil to the top of the motor. I wait 30secs, roughly.

AdamC

Yes sir... The cat converter needs to warm up to function efficiently.

AdamC

I hope the TSX warms up sooner especially when warm air is needed in the cabin during winter. My gf's SI takes forever to blow warm air even tho I dial the heat to max. We were practically freezing inside the car for a good 10 minutes.

TurboBanana93

I owns a Turbo car..so
I have to warm up my car..Always..
At least 2 minutes..

TSXautoXer

I read this somewhere...
For new cars during break in period, don't sit and let the engine idle. You don't need to warm up the engine. Just start driving rightaway, but kept the rpm low. Idling engine makes uneven sitting of rings.

My mechanic told me the same thing.

jackspat2

I heard it's wrong to let your engine warm up and I'll tell you why.

A lot of the wear in a car occurs before the engine is warm. Your ECU supplies a rich fuel mixture to compensate, which washes the oil off the cylinder walls and causes additional wear. Give your car a few seconds to get going and take off. It's kind of logical not to step on it though. This way, your car gets warmer faster. Idling your car is the worst way to get it warm. An idling car is a bad way to get your car warm.

I don't know really. I'm not a mechanic. I read this from another site. There's a lot of skeptisim about the overall engine warming process. In my opinion, we shouldn't have to wait at all with these new engines and that being Honda. The oil is synthetic by the way; which is a lot better than conventional.

rb1

I'm being quoted! (Or someone else coincidentally said the same thing)


Yup. The bulk of cylinder wear occurs during warmup (idling or otherwise), so the faster you get the car warmed up, the less it wears.

The fastest way to get the car warmed up is to drive it (conservatively of course until it does get warmed up). A few seconds to let the oil pressure build and then circulate after starting the car and then go...

fdl

I can buy the fact that its not good to let you car sit there idling. But I cant buy the fact that a 30 second warmup is not good for the engine. Even if you drive conservatively..you are stil going to rev to..3000-3500. I'd rather have my engine rev at 1000-1500 before the juices are flowing, than 3000-3500.

jackspat2

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rb1
[B]I'm being quoted! (Or someone else coincidentally said the same thing)

you're right. i didn't know you were here so i just changed it around a little. i didn't want to plagerize. Killer disagreed with you. lol.

rb1

I wouldn't really quibble with a 30 second warm-up (although I doubt the conditions are much different after 30 seconds than they are in say, after 10 seconds).

It's the folks who go out in coldish weather and start their car and leave it running 5+ minutes who are really not doing themselves any favors.

If you live in a climate where it gets so cold that the oil viscosity becomes an issue, then you should consider other solutions (block heater, etc). 5W-whatever (and especially the 0W-40 I now run in my VW) will flow perfectly well even below 0F.