So as the title states...what is the proper way to warm up a car?

1) Idle the car in your driveway until warm

or

2) Drive the car UNDER 2000rpms until warm



Can someone explain why?

 

Where is option #3- Just get in and floor it?

 

keep the rpms at 6000 until it smokes.

 

Thats usually what I have to do. I'm usually running late for work and have to gun it anyway. It's pretty funny seeing me crouched over trying to see out of the little holes the defroster has put in the frost at the bottom of the windshield while gunning it down Rivers ave. (6 lane highway w/ heavy but moving traffic).

 

I do both.

I start the car up and let it warm up enough till the RPMs drop then i will drive slowly under 2k for awhile.

Once the coolant temp is in the middle, i will still wait another 5min before i even get on it.

 

Pretty much depends on how much time i have before school.

During Winter, On a good day ill let it run for +/- 10min, if im somewhat rushed ill let it run for +/- 5min. And If I have absolutely no time, I drive the car like a grandpa.

During the summer, I dont let it warm up at all, I just get in and drive.

 

Its actually not good for modern cars to sit and idle, the best way to warm a car up is to get in and drive, no WOT until the temperature has increased a bit, and stay below redline. Letting a modern car idle will slowly clog the cat., the computer will also adjust to this and you will lose power and fuel economy. Allowing it to idle for a few minutes won't do any damage, but I would never let a car made in the last 8 or so years idle for much more then 5 minutes if I can help it. Also those warming up the car for heat in winter, be aware you are NOT warming the trans. at all and even though the engine may be ready to go, the trans. should still be warmed up before you really give her hell.

 

Start the engine, wait for the RPMs to drop to normal idle (usually around 30 seconds), then drive gently for several miles until the engine has reached normal operating temperature. Take it easy for a couple more miles.

The reason you want to get the engine temperature up quickly and carefully is to allow the various fluids and lubricants (oil, transaxle, coolant, and greases) to warm up and fully circulate through and around their respective components.

 

Oh, and I forgot. To also evaporate condensation in the engine, crankcase, and exhaust system.

 

^^What he said

 

if its really cold, idle for about 30 seconds and the drive under 2500 until warm. If its not cold, then just drive.

 

I always let her idle for 3-4mins tops, then when I get in I shift thru the gears 3-4 times while pressing the brakes firmly. then I take it easy for a good 3-4 miles and if I feel the tranny engaging well I will open it up a little.

 

I idle for a minute or two, shift at 2.5k - 3k until warm.

 

lol, when the coolant reading is below the very bottom mark I try to keep it under 3.5-4k rpms, but absolutely never above 4k. when it's below 40 degrees out I try not to go past 3k, and I usually sit for half a minute letting it idle. If I waited until the idle dropped down to regular I woudl be there for like 5 minutes, lol.

never WOT until the coolat temp is at least above the bottom line.

 

I idle for 20-30 sec, & just drive it like I always drive.

 

I usually let the car idle for 20-30 seconds or so before moving. In my S2k, the car starts up and revs to about 2250-2500 rpm and eventually dips once the car starts to warm up. Obviously in warmer temperature, this happens pretty quick, but on a day like today, where it was about 50 degrees, I let it idle until the revs dipped down to 1500, in which at that point a light tap of the gas will drop it down to where it normally should be. It took about a 45-60 seconds for that to happen today, and I usually drive it lightly until the car reaches normal temp.

After all that's been said though, what tireguy said is the most true. The car will warm up faster when driven.

 

In the winter, I usually get in, start the car, then go about taking care of my pre-drive checklist (seatbelts, mirrors, A/C settings, radio, etc.), which takes about 1-2 minutes total. Then I will drive the car, keeping it under 3000 rpm until the engine temperature has settled into its normal operating range. No WOT or even hard acceleration until the transmission starts shifting smoothly, indicating the tranny fluid has warmed up sufficiently as well. All told, it takes about 7 minutes from starting my car to have the car warmed up enough to start to push a bit.

 

I've always been told to drive easy until the thermostate opens at around 160-180° then you can WOT it. It builds up pressure or something and no where to go until it can circulate the coolant. Idling is worse, because you aren't getting the proper oil pressures and circulation you should have.

 

As some people said, I will start the car, the "cold idle" would be at 1500-1750 RPMs and I usually drive when its settled right at 900-1000 RPMs usually 3 or 4 minutes. Gives me time to get on my seatbelt and get comfortable...

 

There are a few variables to consider. If you have an iron block motor, then getting in anddriving will limiting the rpms isnt so bad. But i have heard from a few engineer buddies that an aluminum engine should be idled for a few minutes and then driven lightly until it reaches normal operating temp. They say that the aluminum block expands and contracts much more than an iron block does, and by just driving it cold, the pistons could potentially damage the block. I dont know if there is any truth to it. But one misconception that people have is if they let the car warm up to operating temp, then they can go and beat up on it. Then they wonder why they have tranny problems later on. WARM the tranny up before beating on the car, it has moving parts and needs to be at a certain operating temp as well. There is nothing worse then shocking a cold drivetrain with some hard driving.

 

I've found that mine warms up to normal operating temp quite quick - maybe 1 miles of driving tops. I let it idle for 15-30 seconds, slip it into gear, and keep the revs under 4k for about 5-7 minutes.

 

After 1 mile of driving, I'd have 3-4 bars lit up on the display by the temp

 

Keep the revs low.

 

LOL what r u ? a woman? hehe

u must have a long commute to work.

 

neither for me.

I like to let my car idle for at least a minute before driving off, then I keep the rpms fairly low and stay out of boost until the car is completely warm

I also let it idle for a minute before shutting it off if I have been doing any spirited driving just before shutdown.

 

I believe Road & Track had an article about this a few years ago. Basically opinions vary widely, but they said (if I remember correctly) it would be best to let the car warm up at idle for 20 - 30 seconds, and then go easy on it for a bit until it's at normal operating temps (ie a few mins of driving).

 

This matches exactly what I do, and exactly what I have read from multiple sources. Regardless of the outside temp... car warms for 30 seconds, then drive gentle until the engine is warmed up as indicated by the temp gauge. Works out well b/c typicaly I'm on local roads for a while, so by the time I can open the car up, it's warm and ready to go!

Since this isn't an option in your poll, choice #2 is close enough and receives my vote

 

The best way to warm up your car is to go to the gas station and give your car a gasoline car wash, then just light it up on fire.

 

1. Wake up
2. Shit, shower, shave
3. Auto start the car from inside the house
4. Get Dressed
5. Get in my car and throw it into D.

 

Interesting idea for you guys... The word on the hybrids is that you should not wait for the car to warm up. Just get in and start driving like normal. The reason is that they won't go into the engine off (power saving) mode until the engine warms up completely. Using a hybrid for multiple small trips (i.e. you only use it to go a couple of miles to the store and back) you won't get nearly the mileage they claim than if you take longer trips in it.

Supposedly, babying an engine during startup is not needed. Idling more that 30 seconds prior to going is a waste.

 

Well in my cars handbook it says warm the car up before driving. Then wait at least 5 mins before revving past 5000 rpms, if not it will damage the turbo.

Edroe, are you talking about an evo? Just asking since you have one in your av

 

Yeah, I was asking because I normally don't have time to warm/idle for longer than a couple minutes so I usually wait till the car's rpms start to drop off and drive off in low rpms for the first five minutes.


I rarely hit 5000 rpms in the evo Thanks fifty, just got the car myself and I haven't had time to look at the manual.

 

congrats on the purchase, i love the car, when did you get yours?

 

I drive a car from 88 so I let it warm up until the temp gauge hits the first tick (about 2-3mins) and then go easy for the first couple of minutes.

 

Picked her up in July. I just started modding my evo. I just couldnt help myself

So far sitting in my closet is a vortex generator, wikerbill lip for spoiler, UK EVOLUTION IX badge, a shorty antenna, oem brushed aluminum shift knob, and swift lowering springs (I plan to get coilovers very soon). Ill post pics once she's lowered

 

Interesting you mentioned "let it idle for a minute before shutting it off if I have been doing any spirited driving just before shutdown". This is a very good idea if you have been driving at speed on an interstate for a while. The reason is it helps to cool down all sorts of parts, from the engine to the exhaust. In particular, valves.

Let's say you pull off of an interstate right into a gas station after a bit of driving. Let the engine and car come down easily and let it idle for a minute or so before shutting it off.

Nice that you brought this up.