warming up your engine..
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Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 136
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From: SE united states
2009 CLK 350
warming up your engine..
I let the engines on most everything I have warm up a little, before leaving..
now Iam hearing its not a good idea.
Start it and take off..
opinions?
now Iam hearing its not a good idea.
Start it and take off..
opinions?
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
My opinion has been that the reason for the warm up is because of the viscosity of the oil and heating up the catalytic converters. Once the oil is flowing well enough to replenish the film protecting the engine from the last runs, probably 20-30 seconds, the engine is good to go. The rest of that warm up is for the cats, so you minimize the pollutants.
I generally let it run at 30 seconds or so on cold startup. By the time I get out of the neighborhood the engine temp is near normal.
I generally let it run at 30 seconds or so on cold startup. By the time I get out of the neighborhood the engine temp is near normal.
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^ What he said.
I like how the car keeps the RPM higher for a bit after a cold start to get things flowing. After the RPM drop I wait a couple more seconds and drive off to reach operating temperature as quickly as possible and minimize cold operation.
I like how the car keeps the RPM higher for a bit after a cold start to get things flowing. After the RPM drop I wait a couple more seconds and drive off to reach operating temperature as quickly as possible and minimize cold operation.
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Midlands, UK
CLK W209
Problem is while the engine oil is warm, the drivetrain behind the engine isn't warmed through. Hence its still not ready to be driven any harder than if it were just started. It does say in the handbook to start and go asap. Warms this up more evenly, prevents unnecessary combustion...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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2004 CLK320
Some people do warm up the car for 10-15 minutes; especially people with remote starter. Question is besides gas consumption, does this practice harm the car in any way?
Last edited by mis3; Dec 25, 2016 at 01:48 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: New Jersey, USA
2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Convertible
If I don't warm up the car on very cold mornings (35 and below) it shakes badly on a highway and very hesitates during acceleration. Acceleration is sluggish itself on cold engine.
If I do warm up (10-15 minutes) I get non of them. Plus I don't have to scrape windows and interior is warm.
(no garage)
If I do warm up (10-15 minutes) I get non of them. Plus I don't have to scrape windows and interior is warm.
(no garage)
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Joined: Jan 2004
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2004 CLK320
Last edited by mis3; Dec 25, 2016 at 09:34 PM.
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Warming up the car by letting the engine idle will cause harm 100% of the time. This is simple physics, it's not really for us to debate. If your mechanic assured you that it doesn't, you just haven't prodded him enough.
One point of wear is the engine. The article mis3 posted is great at explaining how "warming up" does little to warm up the actual engine, even though warm air fills up the cabin.
The other point of wear is everything between the engine end the road. Transmission and driveline do not get warm by sitting. And when you drive off thinking your car is warmed up and ready to be pushed, these thing take a beating.
merceBENZ, you have another problem with your car. It should run without hesitation, even it it's been sitting in sub-zero temperatures for a while.
Zavato, this argument is as old as "What spark plugs should I use?" and "Should I use MB-Approved oil or can I just go with Johnson's Baby Oil?". Make you own decision, it's your car to bugger up. Just don't argue with science with made up arguments. You can believe something to be true, but that doesn't necessarily make it true.
One point of wear is the engine. The article mis3 posted is great at explaining how "warming up" does little to warm up the actual engine, even though warm air fills up the cabin.
The other point of wear is everything between the engine end the road. Transmission and driveline do not get warm by sitting. And when you drive off thinking your car is warmed up and ready to be pushed, these thing take a beating.
merceBENZ, you have another problem with your car. It should run without hesitation, even it it's been sitting in sub-zero temperatures for a while.
Zavato, this argument is as old as "What spark plugs should I use?" and "Should I use MB-Approved oil or can I just go with Johnson's Baby Oil?". Make you own decision, it's your car to bugger up. Just don't argue with science with made up arguments. You can believe something to be true, but that doesn't necessarily make it true.
Last edited by shadenfroh; Dec 27, 2016 at 04:34 AM.
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NO LONGER ACTIVE
Actually, an automatic transmission will warm up with just the engine running since the torque converter is heating the fluid and the pump is running which will circulate it. But that point is moot because there really is no sense in letting a modern engine warm up anyhow. I don't worry much about it here as it doesn't get bitter cold. We see some single digits (Fahrenheit) maybe one or two mornings a year. At the most, I wait until the idle speed drops below 1,000 before putting it in gear.
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Actually, an automatic transmission will warm up with just the engine running since the torque converter is heating the fluid and the pump is running which will circulate it. But that point is moot because there really is no sense in letting a modern engine warm up anyhow. I don't worry much about it here as it doesn't get bitter cold. We see some single digits (Fahrenheit) maybe one or two mornings a year. At the most, I wait until the idle speed drops below 1,000 before putting it in gear.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 429
Likes: 5
From: New Jersey, USA
2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Convertible
Originally Posted by shadenfroh
Warming up the car by letting the engine idle will cause harm 100% of the time. This is simple physics, it's not really for us to debate. If your mechanic assured you that it doesn't, you just haven't prodded him enough.
One point of wear is the engine. The article mis3 posted is great at explaining how "warming up" does little to warm up the actual engine, even though warm air fills up the cabin.
The other point of wear is everything between the engine end the road. Transmission and driveline do not get warm by sitting. And when you drive off thinking your car is warmed up and ready to be pushed, these thing take a beating.
merceBENZ, you have another problem with your car. It should run without hesitation, even it it's been sitting in sub-zero temperatures for a while.
Zavato, this argument is as old as "What spark plugs should I use?" and "Should I use MB-Approved oil or can I just go with Johnson's Baby Oil?". Make you own decision, it's your car to bugger up. Just don't argue with science with made up arguments. You can believe something to be true, but that doesn't necessarily make it true.
One point of wear is the engine. The article mis3 posted is great at explaining how "warming up" does little to warm up the actual engine, even though warm air fills up the cabin.
The other point of wear is everything between the engine end the road. Transmission and driveline do not get warm by sitting. And when you drive off thinking your car is warmed up and ready to be pushed, these thing take a beating.
merceBENZ, you have another problem with your car. It should run without hesitation, even it it's been sitting in sub-zero temperatures for a while.
Zavato, this argument is as old as "What spark plugs should I use?" and "Should I use MB-Approved oil or can I just go with Johnson's Baby Oil?". Make you own decision, it's your car to bugger up. Just don't argue with science with made up arguments. You can believe something to be true, but that doesn't necessarily make it true.
