As the title states, how long do you let your car warm-up before you start driving it. There are going to be different answers for different climates I assume, but usually for me, I try to let the car get 1-1.5 minutes of running before I drive it. By then it reaches the 1 RPM mark. Outside temp is usually 87F+.

I know it's kind of an odd question, but I just feel like I see so many people just hop in their car and go within 15 seconds of starting it up.

 

i let it warm but till its at least halfway past the "c"

 

All temperatures 30 seconds. Then drive at a moderate pace less than 3K RPM for me until the engine warms. Everything that I have read says that excessive idling from cold actually does more harm than good. One of the reasons why I have always avoided remote start other than me parking in a garage as well.

 

The correct answer for all climates is to start it and go. That is the best thing for the car and for the environment. Idling when cold is bad for the drive train.

That doesn't mean that you won't get people telling you that they idle their cars for long times but it still isn't good for the car.

 

Agreed. Pretty much sums up what I said in my previous post. Which bring me back to remote start being such a stupid device IMO.

 

I agree with ceb, it idles just long enough for me to buckle up and get settled in. Don't forget you want to warm up the transmission oil. Just drive easy for a few minutes.

 

All you're doing is wasting gas.


as the other fine gentlemen pointed out, its more efficient if you get in and drive easy....



I dont think its bad for the drive train, as each component is covered in oil.
it's just bad for fuel economy, as you're idling and wasting fuel.



you could idle all day without harming a thing (has any one ever locked their keys in the car while ignition on!?)
you could probably see your gas gauge needle falling as you wait for a locksmith or road side assistance

 

I just start and go, unless its really really cold outside then I start it, go back inside for 2 minutes then grab my stuff and go.

 

The idea is to warm the engine and drivetrain as quickly as possible. You can only do that by driving it.

Cold oil doesn't flow well and engines/drivelines run without proper lubrication wear quicker.

You can idle a warm engine until you run out of gas without any harm - with the exception of wasting gas - but idling a cold engine increases wear.

 

ive always been taught its bad to drive right off the start, so i guess i'll do this tomorrow since i sit in some traffic even at 6.30am

 

Same here. I have always read it's best to let it warm up for awhile to allow the oil to move around the engine. Although I have read idling isn't the same as actually driving the car, I never heard excessive idling would harm the car. Hmm, guess i'll keep it under 30 seconds from now on.

 

Start and go. Just keep RPMs down until engine temp comes up.

 

Basically the car was meant to be moving while the engine is running. The fan turns on after engine is in excess heat. Preventing it from getting that hot is key. Letting your car idle to warm up is purposely reaching that threshold.

There are a lot of things uneducated people tell other people to do. A lot of these times these uneducated people have some kind of merit like writing for a paper or being on TV... like the people saying to use wasp spray as self defense spray.

Air should be circulating in the engine bay while car is on. Sure this can't be helped in traffic or at lights but that is why you have a fan.

 

I let my car warm up to me!

 

That was pre-emission controls and tight engine tolerances. We had fairly thick oil that sat in the engine and driveline and warming up the engine was normal practice - no more.

 

Start the car, remove my phone from my pocket and place in the cup holder, put on seat belt, check mirrors and drive... about 15-20 secs sounds about right

 

Sounds about right. I put the key in ignition, start the car, put my seatbelt on, back out of the garage and go.

 

i started just driving off after starting and after driving it slow (not easy to do) it seems to be smoother? seems to warm up quite quick as well i guess..


new question!

how long do you wait until you turn off your engine once parked!?

or should i start a thread

 

I leave mine running in the garage all night. This way the oil is nice and slippery so I can floor it out of the driveway in the morning and get to work faster.

 

Lol I noticed this too today. Felt butter smooth!

 

OMG you made me laugh! good one sir

 

This is probably a well kept secret, wonder if it will catch on!

 

This was already beat to death on another thread, but for me it is pretty much start car, put in gear within 30 seconds, drive off slowly. It is about a mile with a couple of traffic lights before I hit the highway, so by the time i hit the ramp, I am already at temp, and it is bombs away. In very cold days, I may take it easy on the ramp, but generally, if above freezing and car has been running about 5 minutes, I'm good to go. As long as the temp gauge is off the peg, there shouldn't be an issue.

My neighbor has remote start on her Subaru and she runs that thing for 10 minutes before even coming outside. To each their own.

 

Your neighbor is likely more concerned about warming the engine for her sake (heat through the vents) and less so for the engine itself.

 

This is exactly it. My brother does this to his G37S in the winter (sigh). Runs outside, turns on the car, GOES BACK INSIDE TO TAKE A SHOWER, then leaves.

Good bye car, gas, and the environment.

 

These are the same folks who leave the car running while pumping gas or going inside the store.

 

No doubt.

 

 

I might have done that a few times..

 

after 30sec.. you can just drive like an old lady and the car will slowly warm up. This is more efficient than letting it run idle for a few minutes.

 

i never warm up the car... but i do drive with low rpm to warm up like other says.. why waste gas and ruin the enviroment? unless your car is more than 10 years old

 

Depending on outside temperature, I'll usually let the car idle for a bit less than a minute. My driveway's slightly inclined, so I back out of the driveway in Neutral, then go into drive and "coast" downhill as far as I can...when I notice the temp gauge level out, thats when I'll get on it to enter the onramp with some "spirit"

 

I probabaly warm my car up for 10-15 seconds before taking off. Down here in Houston TX the weather tends to be hot or warm almost year round except in January-March or so.

 

^ MORE HOUSTON PEOPLEEEEEEEEEEEEE YAYYYYYA!
Come check out the Houston thread even though it's pretty much dead now a days lol

https://acurazine.com/forums/texas-3...91655/page378/

 

Guilty but warm! I do the same between November & February in Toronto while clean the snow off and / or unbury it from the damn snow plows!

 

if you're in a cold environment try a block heater... cheaper than a remote starter and does not waste gas

something like this... i just googled this
Acura TSX ENGINE BLOCK HEATER KIT 08T44-SEC-200 @ AcuraOEMparts.com - Acura Parts from Delray Acura

 

Better yet, spring for a Webasto supplemental heater - runs on gas and heats coolant/oil and your interior. Uses less than a liter of gas for an hour of runtime. I've had those in several cars in Europe and they work great.

 

If it's 70 or below I let it warm up until it is running at normal idle. If warmer I just wait a couple minutes. Either way it's not very long thanks to my garage.

 

70 or below

 

Happy I don't live in the NE. lol