Lakerz4sho

Yea or Nay? I've been reading conflicting info. regarding the subject.

ShoremNJ

I just start to drive

mb_horseshoe

I wouldn't hesitate to say yay, but that recent 75-tips article got me thinking.

I live in Southern California, and right now it's 60-70 degrees out in the morning at 6:30am when I start my car. I generally let it idle for about 1 minute before taking it out - at which point I drive fairly slowly until the temperature reaches normal driving temp.

During the winter months, probably wait for 2-3 full minutes - and I wait until the temp gauge reaches normal driving temp before turning the heat on.

I used to wait 5 full minutes in my Japanese cars, but I think with the 0w-40 engine oil it's okay to start driving a little sooner.

My 2 cents.

AsianML

I just wait for the high idle to drop to normal idle and drive away. That's about 30 seconds. Even in well below freezing weather here in Michigan.

racetested

This is one of those debates that will go on until the end of time.

You'd think there would be a definitive answer but the water get's muddied with so many opinions that the actual truth gets lost.

Me, I don't know exactly but just use common sense. I give the car a few seconds for the oil pump to get things going, don't accelerate like a maniac until the motor gets to operating temp and all has been fine in 18 years of driving.

451/443=EW

I think 1 min warm up is too long, these are new cars and are designed better then ever before. I warm mine up for about 20-30 sec's and drive easy off the line and let the car get to speed limit a little slower. After the car temps are normal its back to regular driving. This only takes two blocks or so. The point of warm up is to let the oil coat your motor, and drive easy so you dont put pressur on clyinders and seals. I wouldnt hammer it just after start up but, im also not gona sit there till the temps get to normal. That takes way too long and simply is not nessasary.

GDawgC220

It's best to start driving after starting the car. The longer you sit and idle, the more gas it consumes (since it consumes most when the engine is cold) and more wear you put on it. By driving it, you accelerate the warm up process. Notice how if you let it sit and idle to warm up to operating temps vs start to drive it, how long it takes?

Like Racetested said, just take it easy on the car in getting it to warm up...easy acceleration, keep the RPMs down, etc.

jstaneff

Especially in cooler months (Oct through May) I don't stress the car much until it warms up, and that can take about 9-10 minutes (maybe 4-5 miles on the freeway after getting to it). Warm is at 90C on the temp gauge. But that doesn't mean I wait before driving. When I switch on, I'm engaging reverse and heading out of the garage. I have been doing that since the 70s when we decided that idling wasted gas, and not one of my engines has suffered from it.

narky

+1 I'd also add that by driving, you are essentially sucking up more oil into the engine, lubing it up faster.

I was told so by a mechanical engineer who specialized in combustion engines. His dream in college was to go work for BMW, but he ended up designing components on the new F-35 fighter jets, and is now at Boeing. He's also a car nut. I believe him.

GDawgC220

Also keep in mind, coolant temp != oil temp. The oil temperature takes longer (probably twice as long as the coolant temp) to get up to operating temps (where it burns off condensation).

nbturbos

Right GDawg. i wouldn't go by coolant temps. Even tho that might be at regular operating temps the oil pressure will still be high and is dangerous to rev the engine high with too high oil pressure as seals can fail.

But, again that's my opinion....

micropower99

Just drive, always have been doing this for years. But I do not go hard on the engine at all (I go very soft on the engine) until it reaches the normal temperature (95 degrees or so)

MB Fanatic

You don't need to warm the engine before engaging a gear to drive. The catalytic converter will be hot within a few seconds.

When the engine and drivetrain are cold you will notice that shifts are firmer and the car shifts at a higher RPM, this is to warm the engine up quickly and get the secondary cat's to clean the exhaust stream.

Oh Cool

If the car has been sitting for a long time say for example overnight I always give it a chance to run till the oil circulates for at least 20-30 seconds before engaging the transmission. You can tell when you start it up, the engine momentarily sounds like it is running louder or slightly rough running until the oil circulates then the engine idle smooths out.

GDawgC220

The engine sounds like it is running louder because it is. Its designed to have a higher idle when you first start it up (after it's been sitting for a while) to bring the car up to temps quicker.