NguyenPervert69

What's up guys,

I just wanna know if you guys let your car warm up before driving. I try to most of the time, but sometimes some cases don't let me and I have to get in and go right away. I hate doing that, especially in this cold weather we're having right now. I noticed that the car starts up very loud and I hear like a popping noise in my exhaust for about 15 seconds, and then after about 30 seconds the car completely quiets down. I usually try to let the car sit for about 5 minutes minimum, but like I said sometimes I can't.

So again, I just wanna know if you guys warm up your cars before taking off?

snowmuch

I warm my car just because I dont want to get into an ice cave

dol4er

I just wait for the RPMs to settle down and take off. Then I drive with minimum trottle until the engine warms up. Actually, if you drive, your car will warm up much faster.

Knightmare69

I try to warm my car up as much as possible specially since mine is Turbo. If I can't then I don't pass 2500k rpms or more till it is.

chewychiu

I usually remote start it for at least 5 mins. If I don't have time then I wold wait for the RPM to settle then drive no faster than 35mph to slowly warm the car up to optimum performance temperature.

MDMercedesGuy

It's an age old debate.

Long story short - it has been shown that it is better for the car and the environment to drive away soon after the engine is started, and to be gentle to it until it warms up.

One thing I have noticed that makes a huge difference at least on the C250 is whether or not the climate control is on. If it is off, the coolant temp gets up to operating temp decently quick on a cold day. Turn it on, and watch the gauge drop like a missile. It seems that the 1.8 doesn't generate much heat at low speeds + it doesn't hold that much coolant so the heater core has a pretty sizable impact.

Also remember that coolant temp <> oil temp. Just because the coolant is hot does not mean the oil is up to full temp.

RuskiBenz

I agree with MDmercedesguy I turn my on let the needle drop below one which take few seconds and drive under 3k rpms till it warms up and keep the climate control off since it takes longer to warm up

Cleanbenz

I always warm it up until the RPM's settle and then drive it. That's usually only the first time I drive it in a day, otherwise it's still warm when I get in so I can just take off. I drive a lot for my business. Manual trans don't like being driven unless warmed up a bit, jerky shifts when cold.

C300Sport

What you are hearing is the engine running rich during the warm up. Some of the rich, unburned fuel mixture makes it into the exhaust before lighting off, causing the popping, gurgling sound. I actually love the sound and it is even more pronounced if you have an x-pipe.
I would advise to wait about 15 seconds, about the time the fuel mixture begins to lean out, before beginning to drive gently. Don't drive hard until your car is fully warmed up.

Splizzey

I try to warm it up until the temp reaches normal running degrees. Usually only in the morning or when I first start it for the day. Sometimes I'm in a rush and just go without warming and I end up feeling guilty like I'm mistreating my child or something. Lol! Idk if warm ups are really necessary or not but I've always warmed up all my cars since I got my first car, I think it's just cause what my dad always did growing up I guess.

C300Sport

Your dad warmed his car up because some of the old carburated cars could be realy beasts before they got up to temp. Your habit of warming your modern fuel injected car up is actually doing more harm than good. The slow, slow idling warm up will actually cause more deposits in the engine and moisture in the crankcase.
I wouldn't advise ever warming up for more than a min or two....of course if you are trying to melt a ton of snow/ice, it is more than just about what is the best for your car.

Splizzey

Wow! thanks I had no idea I could be doing any harm. I'm no longer gonna warm it up, it's kind of relief to know I don't have to wait before I take off now lol.

kjb55

+1.

vmzi

warming up/idling your car for more than 5-10 seconds damages your engine significantly and also consumes lot of fuel. Modern day cars do not require warming up/idling, but, if you're warming up your car only for the sake of keeping your body warm and not bothered about your engine's life then you can go ahead and warm up your car for 5-10 mins everyday.

Warming up/Idling - myths busted, check the below url:

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/idling.html

MDMercedesGuy

The turbo doesn't change anything on it. Keep the revs low and stay off the boost and it will be fine.

kev10

Looks like I am the only one that doesn't warm up car for any seconds.

I have to leave home very early in the morning, so every morning is a hassle for me. I typically start the car and then back it out of garage right away. I used to follow a different process: start the car, buckle up and settle down, and drive. But the alarming chime of "not buckling" is so annoying that I had to change the procedure and buckle up first.

chewychiu

Well if you have your car in the garage, it will warm up faster as you're driving it. Mine is parked outside...... =(

RavenMDX

interior garage, always warm and perfect

C300CA

Always garaged. I do not warm up but drive slowly the first few minutes.

togaclk55

+1

Rodpwnz

I am always torn between warming up or gassing it a little to hear that extra growl. Especially with my x pipe, I love the sound of my exhaust in cold weather. I always kinda stayed under 4k rpms when below the 80 mark on the temp gauge.

Glyn M Ruck

MDM has it right. Start the car and let it achieve stable idle. Drive away immediately without demanding peak power or using high RPM. This will warm the engine quickly & minimise wear. Also minimises enriched running which can wash oil film off of the cylinder bores.

kevink2

Good Point. Not only does the heater core cool the fluid, but on some settings, the cooling fan for AC will come on and blow cold air across the engine.

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kevink2

Extra warm-up for the turbo may show itself in cold boost response. I beleive the tubo bearings are free floating bushings, which see a lot of drag when the oil is thick. I found this to be true on my prior turbos.

And if you are in a cold weather location, use the approved Castrol 0W-30 for even better warm-up and mpg's. Going from Mobil1 0W40 to 0W-30 got us an extra 2 mpg's on 400 mile trips.

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Knightmare69

Actually in Hong Kong the recommended oil is Shell Ultra 5w40