acn684

"Your bright idea: Each winter morning, you patiently fend off frostbite while waiting for your car to warm up--assuming it will then run more efficiently.

The dismal result: "There is not really any advantage to idling your car," says Scott Sluder, a development engineer at the Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center in Knoxville, Tenn. In fact, Sluder says, one test shows that cars use three times more gas when idling in cold weather than when they are driven right away. You end up spending more money at the pump.

Next time around: As soon as your vehicle settles into a smooth, low idle--signaling that oil pressure has stabilized--put it in gear. The engine warms up better when it is being (gently) driven."

that was from msn.com this afternoon.

I've had mixed stories? so should i let the idle warm up till the temp reaches at least the C mark on temp, or usually for me 1000 rpm's on idle. Or should i pull it out slowly and run gently until it warms up?

bz268

The owner manual says that to warm it up first. It also says that not to rev it high if the engine is cold.

I always warm up my car for a minute or so.

Ellas9

I warm the car until the revs go down by 200 or so rpm. Here's what I mean...when its 0 celcius outside the car is cold and starts revs at about 1500 or so rpm and then after about 45 seconds or so will fall in rpm to about 1200 or so rpm - it will keep falling over the next few minutes. When it first falls to the 1200 or so level I go. And I go very gently, I don't usually rev past 2300 rpm or so until the temp hits operating temperature range - then again I don't rev much anyways. Just wait for that sudden drop of a couple hundred rpm from the highest cold idle and go gently. If you go when the engine is very cold, you will hear valve tappeting noises because oil is not flowing effectively. If you wait too long, you burn fuel for nothing and risk building water in the exaust and sending the catalytic converter to the grave earlier.

jlukja

I usually wait about 30 sec. for all the fluids to circulate and then drive it easy for the first few minutes.

GIBSON6594

Severe Maintenance Schedule
Follow the "severe" schedule only if you drive in one or more of these conditions most of the time:

* Trips of less than 5 miles (less than 10 in freezing weather)
* Extremely hot weather (over 90 degrees F)
* Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving
* Trailer towing, car-top carrier, or mountain driving
* Muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads

Alin10123

I give her a few seconds to idle and settle down after i start her up. Then i drive her gently until the temp guage shows normal. If you dont drive it, you wont heat up all of the oil. Not all of that oil is circulating when you are at idle and just letting her sit there when cold. Only parts of it will warm up. You need to get the oil pumping.

bradykp

i think it's just an old thing to do with older cars, and newer cars no longer need this. oil has come a long way as well.

i read almost the same sort of article in consumer reports, and everyone agrees that idling uses more gas than turning the car off and then restarting when you go again.

i forget what the time was, but i read that if you're idling more than x seconds (i think it was 30 but not sure), you should just shut the car off and then restart when you need to go.

sauceman

I believe it's 10 seconds. At least that's what MB says for their diesels.

If it's really cold, I'll let te TSX a few seconds to get the cold oil running around, then drive off and shift at 2k till it's warmer. If you listen well to your engine, you can hear it when it's well oiled up, the sound becomes much smoother. No need to keep on waiting then, you're good to go.

Plus, a little gentle torque on the engine will let it heat up quicker and safer than just letting it run cold uncharged.

psteng19

These days, it's more about lubing the engine than warming it up.

jpt

I hit VTEC in reverse out of my parking spot as soon as the CEL turns off.

afici0nad0

haha

i let the rpm's drop by 100 before taking off...

A Cake On

I can't hurt to let it warm up for a couple of min just to get all of the fluids at or above the low temp on the gauge. I usually let it warm up for a couple of min and baby it for the first ten min or so.

Riley_canuck

Best to warm it up while driving (not sitting). Of course let it idle for a few seconds before taking off slowly to get oil moving.

The advantage of warming while driving is that the entire drivetrain gets warmed up. By warming just the motor but having a cold drive train is that it's hard on the other parts of the system (tranny for one).

fuckleberry

I coast 2 circles around the block
(or if I'm alone and have time, till the temp needle comes up to normal position )

waTSX

Meh...it's always been about lubing the engine.