Extra Cold Car Starting

[Mike Jung]

(A person at work asked me this.)

How long do you 'warm-up' your car outside (when it is like below -18C / 0F, without plugging in a engine block heater)?

What is everyone else's opinion?

I told her:
- until the engine sounds like it smooths out (minimum 1 minute to let the fluids get moving around) & don't drive hard on the car until the engine is up to normal operating temps
- for me on my GA, I like to wait until my rpm gauge reads like 900 or below; which is like 3 or more minutes idling without touching the gas & the interior heater fan is set to OFF (the car 'warms-up' faster if the heater is OFF or if the fan is set to low)

Someone else told her that they never 'warm-up' the car. They just start the car & go. When it is that cold; that can't be good for the car (where motor oil starts to thicken/gel & freeze)

Good thing for Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil, block heater & remote starter
Note to self: Got to remember to set the timer on my block heater for more time -> wind chill really sucks out any heat from the engine block.
It sucks to start the car in the morning & the car acts like it was not even plugged in

[StarFire]

For me, I let the engine heat up some, if I'm in a hurry, I'll wait until I hear the rpms starting to drop...normally around 1300ish rpms cold, starts dropping then to around 1200...I'm good to go. Granted I don't push it much until I see the temperature up to normal operating temps.

As long as you let the fluids start moving around (mainly oil) for a minute or so, you should be good.

I've never had a problem with a car doing it this way either.

-=StarFire=-

[02PONtiac!]

Originally posted by StarFire
For me, I let the engine heat up some, if I'm in a hurry, I'll wait until I hear the rpms starting to drop...normally around 1300ish rpms cold, starts dropping then to around 1200...I'm good to go. Granted I don't push it much until I see the temperature up to normal operating temps.

As long as you let the fluids start moving around (mainly oil) for a minute or so, you should be good.

I've never had a problem with a car doing it this way either.

-=StarFire=-

oh what the heck, I just start mine and go. I give it about 40 seconds and I'm driving. These motors will last plenty long and I will probably get rid of the car at 100,000 miles.

[Mystery8]

I wait until i feel warm air coming out of the heater. That way i know the oil is flowing, and it's good to go.

What's with you guys and high idles? Mine idles between 600-800 at the highest. AFAIK that's close to normal.
Who had the 1500 rpm!

[BMOBYLE]

Mystery8 your not a dweeb!!! I am

Like any machine best operation is warm

Sh!t I run downstairs in my skibbys start my car then go get dressed by that time the bmobyle's warm and ready to roll.

I definately need remote start

Sorry about the skibby's comment fellas
I just really think it's important to warm the eng up first before "ROWLIN"

[Mystery8]

Lol@bmobyle



Yeah it is a good idea to let your car warm a LITTLE bit so you don't crack the block or pop hoses or something something.

[koolZ71]

i usually wait about 5 to 10 min..just kinda wait till the tach drops to 1k

[Costa]

Originally posted by Mike Jung
(A person at work asked me this.)

Someone else old her that they never 'warm-up' the car. They just start the car & go.

Actually this is true. I have had someone explain to me why the car doesn't need warm up...but I don't remember the reason.

But just like all of you, I still warm up the car for a few minutes before I take off. Let me tell you, when it's -20 degrees Celcius outside, and the engine is really rumbling loud when you start it, it just sounds like you shouldn't drive the car till it warms up a bit.

Might go kabooooooom! Just joking!

[Hot_Stud18]

I usually wait about 1 min. although it was just a smidge over a min. last night leaving work because it was -2 degrees. But usually I see people at work just fire up there cars a immediately run out and these cars arent newer either they are from the 80's to early 90's with well over 100k and some even have close to 170k, so I am going to have to say that heating up really doesnt matter to a car because if they been doing that the whole life of the car don't you think they would of had major problems with it?

[Mike Jung]

Originally posted by Costa
...Might go kabooooooom! Just joking!

There was someone on this board in the prairies (Canada), that started their car in a past winter: broke a crankshaft & something else

Well, anymore I start the car and go, maybe let it sit for a minute or so. I just go nice and easy for the first few minutes and don't stomp on it till it's warmed up. I was using way toooo much gas when I let it sit and warm up.

I live in Wisconsin and I plug in my block heater whenver it gets below 32F. I always try to let my car warm up until the oil temp needle hits 100F. The good thing is, when I have the block heater on all night, the needle always hits at least 100F as soon as I start the car in the morning, no matter how cold it is.

Here's thr truth. Bagging your car while it is cold will do harm to it in the long run. It is perfectly fine to start it up and drive it right away as long as you take it easy. Driving really easy on a cold engine is the same as letting it idle. Coming from a man who lives where it was -42 C for a week strait the other day you can be sure that I researched this.

[Kitt]

AHHHH.... gotta love hot'lanta.... Albiet its 14 F here right now

[Hot_Stud18]

Originally posted by Kitt
AHHHH.... gotta love hot'lanta.... Albiet its 14 F here right now

Now this is the kind of forecast I like to see in the dead of winter http://www.weather.com/weather/local...red&whatprefs=