How many of you warm up your cars in the morning before you drive off? Like starting it up and letting it sit?
I remember reading on one of the threads that the new cars like ours don't need to do that anymore or you can just start driving as long as it wasn't under a particular tempurature? Is this a myth or what? Or does it really matter?

 

If you're in Cali, i wouldn't think you get the weather there to require warming up your car. I always do in the winter here, but right now it's -30 degrees celcius. In the summer i just go.

 

when i had my manual accords if its like -35 id let it sit for 5 minuets while im in it, then i just kept my shifts below 2500 rpm

the cl is the same reutine if its not -35, get in, start car, ajust coat and pants(lol), seatbelt, brake, foot brake, put it in gear and drive with shifts under 2500.

your car warms up better under load..

 

For me, I like to warm it up if its below 15F for at least 10 minutes. I hate the cold with the car. Everything is noisier, stuff rattles, plastics creek, etc.

 

States this in the manual. Always follow the manufacturer guidelines.

 

I let it run for a minute or two before driving.

 

My dad owns a 2006 Honda Ridgeline and in the owner manual it says that only 1 minute warmup is all it need to be driven safely but I don't know about our CL's. I usually let it sit for 5 minutes but right now we are getting temperatures as low as -30 so I let it sit for 10-15 minutes

 

When its cold (any thing below 15 deg)I usually will start it up as im getting ready in the AM. It will usually run for 15 min before drive off.

 

I live in Cali and while it isn't cold...I let it always warm up for about 30 seconds.

Ha ha...adjust pants (like what piro91 said) install stereo faceplate and what not...LOL

 

Ya in the cold it's a must, i think. It just doesn't shift the same if it's not warmed up. The gears are grindy. But some people never warm it up here, so who knows.

 

u should warm it up in the cold. when it's warmer, i still do, but for less time. gotta get everything flowing before i drive off

 

im not sure if it matters at all for the good of the car... but i hate being in a cold car... i dont drive my CL in the winter, so it never gets really really cold, unless its the end of november/beginning of december before snow starts. But my winter daily gets warmed up solely for comfort as i hate cold cars, no heat, and rattles...

 

Same hear. And I don't rev it past 3000rpms until its up to operating temp.

And warm up times depend on the viscosity of the oil you are using.

 

I remember seeing in my manual somewhere that your supposed to have the car on for atleast 1 minute in any temperature before driving. Personally I let mine sit untill I see the engine heat needle is above the "C".

 

Hahaha warning up your car. What is that? Put the key in the ignition start it up and go. But then again I live in South FLA.

 

I think you should run your car for at least 30secs.. get some oil flowing in the heads and such before putting some load.

 

Agreed. That is my philosophy.

 

^^ +1

 

I let mine warm up because I am in Charlotte, NC now; don't have coolant, I run water wetter and water... so I gotta make sure its not frozen like it was this morning at 15º

but that was a record low...

 

I don't think it's so much an issue to let it warm up, as it is an issue with getting the cold oil to flow to all parts of the engine. If its -20 then your oil is going to flow like peanut butter. (not really, i know). I ussually only let it warm up if its been out over night and not in the garage, and thats only to let the ice defrost. I do notice the tranny does NOT like to run when its below 10F out. Have to wait a few miles for it to warm up.

 

warm up is not needed unless its like much below freezing. I never warm up my car, its a waste. I have synthetic oil

 

the car warms up way faster while actually driving, just dont gun it

 

that I agree, you should not floor it right after a cold start in freezing temperatures. But actual idling is BS, unless its like below 0F. I've been using synthetic oil, it flows freely at cold temps, so there should be no concern.

 

Shit today was 8º and that shit was frozen again.

 

I usually let the car warm up to about 150 degrees (displayed on my ScanGauge). It usually will not have the 'stumble' these cars are known for soon after one starts out in the morning, nothing but smooth driving.

 

I always get this really loud first shift when the car is cold...

Any way to prevent that?

Doesn't seem like something warming up resolves but once the car has been driven...it shifts fine.

Just that first initial shift.

 

from what i've heard/read many newer cars don't need warm up (at least in cali), just drive normal or keep it under 2500 rpm. i do that while i drive 60% of the time anyways

 

With temps so cold here in Toronto for the past few days, i usually let it idle for about a min or two. Cars today dont need much more than that. Just enough to get the oil swooshing around is all whats needed.

 

here's a nice little article that sums up what the industry recommends:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/0...dling-time.htm

now note, you aren't even in a cold climate.. so you should be 'warming up' at most 30 secs to get the oil flowing, that's all. personally, i'll start the car and if there's snow it'll run until i've cleared all the snow.

 

The article is a nice summary. I had a block heater installed when I bought the car initially, but I haven't used it even once! I usually turn the car on and clean it up (or wait 30 seconds) and it's ready to go. I just don't shift past 3k until the engine is all warmed up. Like the article said, on really cold days I have to wait until the heater is able to keep the windshield clear (nothing like having your breath freeze on your windshield as you try to drive!). It's been nice and cold this past week. Thankfully it should be warming up tomorrow.

 

I live in L.A. and if I dont let her warm up to at least the second notch on the temp guage it feels as if she will kill. WTF???

 

Even when it's been well below zero I start and drive. Warms up fine while driving.

 

You might want to invest in a remote start alarm for those of you that live in cold climates. I am in Texas and use mine a LOT with either the A/C or heater going depending on the time of the year. There is nothing like your cars interior ice cold on 100 degree day when you get in.

 

-24F here and car started no problems last week.

I start the car wait 1 min and go. or I start the car scrape it off and then go

 

I usually do It when I'm in no hurry, otherwise I just GO!!....it doesn't get that Cold here in TX.

R.

 

This thread made me take out the ol' "Acura CL 2001 Owner's Manual" and do some searching :thumbs up:

I think I went over it pretty thoroughly and found nothing in the booklet about 'warming u' your car in cold weather. Only a "How To" guide of starting the engine in cold weather/high altitude.

So does this mean the car doesnt need to be warmed up in cold weather? :scratches head: