Jiew

Anybody driving their 63's in the winter? Was wondering if there is a proper way to warm up the motor. And also how long should be idled until it is actually bad for the motor. I reside in canada with winter tempuratures hovering around -10 degrees.

chrisridebike8

Drive the car gently. I start the car, let the idle settle back to its normal speed and then drive. Just drive part throttle in C mode until the oil temp starts flashing. It's bad to idle a cold motor in your driveway. It's much better to drive at light load to warm it up.

HBC350

That's just not right. I would move.

realjones88

The best way to warm up the car in winter is to drive it. Avoid high RPMs/full throttle until the oil temp is up to operating temperature. While idling warms up the oil, actually driving will warm the brakes, engine, transmission, tires, etc.

norb

I use the AMG display and am gentle with the rpms until the oil temp reading stops flashing.

tfthach13

Emphasis on NOT letting your car idle in park! Contrary to common belief, this is not a good way to warm up an engine. At cold start up, just wait until the RPM needle settles down to around 900 (you can actually hear the engine quiet down slightly when this happens), and then just drive at lower RPMs until the oil temperature stops blinking.

g-f

Yep easy to say when you're living in California.

Tuesday morning, -30c (that's -22f for those still living in the dark ages ) car was completely frozen due to a mix of fine hail and freezing rain we had the day before. I let the C63 idle for a while.

Would I let the car idle for long period of times, all the times? No. But -30c on a completely frozen car, well, even if I wanted to drive away shortly after start up, the car was still covered in ice.

The CAA says to let idle from 1-2min in cold weather before driving off. No hard acceleration before the car is properly warmed up.

Jasonoff

Other than taking longer to warm up and wasting fuel, it won't harm anything if you're going to drive it after it has been idling.

Letting it idle then shutting it off will collect condensation in the exhaust.

Quadcammer

also condensation in the oil.

That said, the idea is to get the engine up to temp as quickly as possible and the best way to do that is to drive it.

Jasonoff

That's still going to happen if your drives are short.

dchl21

I do warm it up for awhile before I start driving it gently .... but im crazy ...

deanmc

PreFL oil temps flash when cold? My FL oil temp stays blue until 176F, then turn white.

Jalopnik just had an article on car warm ups: http://jalopnik.com/yes-warm-your-da...old-1678251730

ToXicXxX

I drive mine in the bitter cold of Calgary... I park in a heated garage though!

After work, since it's outside, I turn it on, finish cleaning up, then hop in. Oil is usually at about 50C by then. By the time I'm home oil is at 110C or so.

Jiew

thx for comments and replies guys.

Roswell

Interesting thread.

So starting up the car, rolling out of the garage to warm it up for 10-15 minutes then drive it back in is bad for the car? (for those who store their cars in winter months like me)

I was recommended by AMG instructors at the AMG performance tour to do so to let the fluids circulate, prevent flat spot on tires & charge the battery vs letting the car sits for 5 months in winter w/ battery tender.

Actually, I've been doing this for 4 winters now & not a problem. Keep in mind I flush my oil in the spring time though.

Merc63

Roswell, if you are going to start your car in the winter, you want to let it get up to tempature all the way so any moisture will evaporate. Letting it run for a few mins will create moisture in the exhaust, engine etc. you're better off leaving it alone.

If you drive your car in the bitter cold, the best thing you can do is plug the block heater in over night. This warms the coolant and block. Start it up and let it idle for a coupe mins and drive away.

Jasonoff

We have one?

Roswell

Merc63, unfortunately I can't drive the car around to warm it up faster as I don't have collision coverage only fire/theft insurance over the winter.

So is it safer to warm up the car til the oil light stop flashing? Thx for the good infos guys.

Merc63

Yes let it idle up. It will take some time but it will.

Best bet is to just leave it sit all winter and change oil in the spring before you fire it up.

Jason, ya there is one, you probably need the cord. It will plug on the block where the element is.

Jasonoff

Interesting. I have always parked in a garage so I has never been a concern. I'm between homes (yup I'm homeless lol) with only outdoor parking this winter.

Assuming it's in the manual but where on the block is the connector? Can you reach it from the engine bay?

Merc63

Ya you can reach but I am not sure where it is. Dealer would know

looney100

Heating the block overnight is a tremendous waste of electricity. Set a timer to turn it on 60-90 mins before you leave and it will be as warm as it's going to get.

looney100

If you can't drive it, don't start it. The car doesn't care that it's cold out when it's not running.

Merc63

False. 60-90 mins is not enough in this weather we have had lately. Heat doesn't just magically stop. The block and fluids will warm up. 3-4 hours are minimum in -20c + weather.

looney100

NR Can says two hours is plenty...

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/effici...on/idling/4423