How long do you let your car warm up?
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
About 5 seconds after start, the car is in drive and I'm running gently until the temp gauge shows halfway. If it is cool out, say below freezing, I might give it a few more seconds but I might not. If it is COLD, I'll start the car and let it warm while I scrape the windshield. No point in idling the engine to warm it up while the rest of the car is cold then expecting the whole car to run like it is warm, so I do the "drive gently" until the whole thing is warm - engine, transmission, differential oil, tires, all of it.
Been working on all makes and models I've owned for 35 years or so and haven't blown anything up yet.
ROMwife likes to start hers and let the cabin (and seat heater) warm up. Costs plenty in gas but if she's happy I'm happy.
Been working on all makes and models I've owned for 35 years or so and haven't blown anything up yet.
ROMwife likes to start hers and let the cabin (and seat heater) warm up. Costs plenty in gas but if she's happy I'm happy.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
About 5 seconds after start, the car is in drive and I'm running gently until the temp gauge shows halfway. If it is cool out, say below freezing, I might give it a few more seconds but I might not. If it is COLD, I'll start the car and let it warm while I scrape the windshield. No point in idling the engine to warm it up while the rest of the car is cold then expecting the whole car to run like it is warm, so I do the "drive gently" until the whole thing is warm - engine, transmission, differential oil, tires, all of it.
Been working on all makes and models I've owned for 35 years or so and haven't blown anything up yet.
ROMwife likes to start hers and let the cabin (and seat heater) warm up. Costs plenty in gas but if she's happy I'm happy.
Been working on all makes and models I've owned for 35 years or so and haven't blown anything up yet.
ROMwife likes to start hers and let the cabin (and seat heater) warm up. Costs plenty in gas but if she's happy I'm happy.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
0
Even when I was in "cold" California on 40F freezing mornings it takes me about 1/2 second from engine start to rolling
Diesels will never come to 80C while idling even with 100F outside. Some of my vehicles have aux electric heaters build in for comfort.
Even when I was in "cold" California on 40F freezing mornings it takes me about 1/2 second from engine start to rolling
Diesels will never come to 80C while idling even with 100F outside. Some of my vehicles have aux electric heaters build in for comfort.
Last edited by kajtek1; Oct 6, 2021 at 11:19 AM.
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Start and go... only time I let it idle purposefully is during the winter if the car is outside. That's solely to heat the cabin and is actually "worse" for the engine... comfort trumps an engine lasting 200k vs. 201k 
Reality its a couple seconds usually between starting, putting on seatbelt, getting situated (radio or whatever) and then going...
Reality its a couple seconds usually between starting, putting on seatbelt, getting situated (radio or whatever) and then going...
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 594
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From: USA to Germany
W221/W222/W213/X290
Im no auto mechanic but i do like to think of this as if you were about to work out at the gym. Not sure why you would not want to warm up before doing heavy lifting so you don't pull something or why you wouldn't take the frozen meat out of the freezer before placing it in a pot of water to cook. Just like an engine, I don't understand why you wouldn't want to let it warm up.
Yes, long term idling is worse for the engine than driving it constantly. This is why police departments where I live and in the surrounding states change their oil so frequently as they idle most of their life span. However, oil flows a lot smoother once it's up to temp or at-least a little warm. If you turn the car on in -10 degree weather after letting it sit all night in the driveway, and hit the gas (even lightly) after letting it sit for 30 seconds, the car runs like ****.
Living in New England where temperatures get down anywhere between 20 degrees to -30+ fahrenheit, i've tested this out on all my Mercedes i've owned besides my current W213 E Class. I've always had better response and a better experience when warming up the engine for 5 minutes during the winter.
During the summer/not so cold months, 2-3 minutes is fine. Summer I would do 30 seconds as there is nothing to warm up, it gets up to temperature in 10 seconds after driving in the 100+ degree weather.
If really up to you, but having tested it out on multiple cars, with my experience and what I've seen i'll always warm my cars up during the colder months. Cheers!
Yes, long term idling is worse for the engine than driving it constantly. This is why police departments where I live and in the surrounding states change their oil so frequently as they idle most of their life span. However, oil flows a lot smoother once it's up to temp or at-least a little warm. If you turn the car on in -10 degree weather after letting it sit all night in the driveway, and hit the gas (even lightly) after letting it sit for 30 seconds, the car runs like ****.
Living in New England where temperatures get down anywhere between 20 degrees to -30+ fahrenheit, i've tested this out on all my Mercedes i've owned besides my current W213 E Class. I've always had better response and a better experience when warming up the engine for 5 minutes during the winter.
During the summer/not so cold months, 2-3 minutes is fine. Summer I would do 30 seconds as there is nothing to warm up, it gets up to temperature in 10 seconds after driving in the 100+ degree weather.
If really up to you, but having tested it out on multiple cars, with my experience and what I've seen i'll always warm my cars up during the colder months. Cheers!
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2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS
No warm-up for any of my cars. (Unless I cannot see through the windshield. 
)
Many years ago a very good mechanic told me that you drive a car on the temperature gauge. I will keep RPM's low when cold, and will not switch the car off immediately after some "spirited" driving.
)Many years ago a very good mechanic told me that you drive a car on the temperature gauge. I will keep RPM's low when cold, and will not switch the car off immediately after some "spirited" driving.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Im no auto mechanic but i do like to think of this as if you were about to work out at the gym. Not sure why you would not want to warm up before doing heavy lifting so you don't pull something or why you wouldn't take the frozen meat out of the freezer before placing it in a pot of water to cook. Just like an engine, I don't understand why you wouldn't want to let it warm up.!
Prolonged idling washes oil coat from the cylinders, making accelerating wear.
On modern engines that can also mess CATs and DPFs.
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From: US
2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
For any brand of engine, I always warm the engines a bit. Either let the idle settle from the start-up until it reaches low idle on its own (W212-M276 @800RPM), or let the thermostat show that it is alive (especially in cold winters), i.e. it shows it is warming up (not necessarily "operating temperature), and drive it gently until it warms up before stepping hard on the throttle
.
These M276/M278 engines with the chain tensioner/check valve issues (not all of them) should be idled at least until the noise goes away
, i.e. oil pressure reached proper levels.
.These M276/M278 engines with the chain tensioner/check valve issues (not all of them) should be idled at least until the noise goes away
, i.e. oil pressure reached proper levels. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Never warmed car up on any car I have owned. I turn key car starts and I drive off. Does not matter if it is 110 outside or minus 20. I just turn key and drive off .Even when car has snow on it I wipe snow off car. get in car and drive off. Car warms up as I am driving. It may be the wrong way to do it but after over 60 years of driving it never hurt any of the cars I have owned.
Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 158
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From: Madison, Alabama
13 E550 Coupe & 99 C280
I always let it come down off the start-up idle to normal before shifting it into gear.....for those that biatch about the price of motor and trans mount prices, you'll thank me! Torque converters hate it as well! As I once was told long ago....an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!!!
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 681
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From: FL
2012 E550 sedan 2019 E63 Wagon
People think MB made warm up cycles because they were bored. Warm up cycles are not done at idle. They are above idle speeds, so no harm done. Once the cat is heated up, so is the car. Going earlier even on warm weather, will trap water vapors between the cat, and the combustion chamber. Even if your car sleeps in the garage (like mine).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
People think MB made warm up cycles because they were bored. Warm up cycles are not done at idle. They are above idle speeds, so no harm done. Once the cat is heated up, so is the car. Going earlier even on warm weather, will trap water vapors between the cat, and the combustion chamber. Even if your car sleeps in the garage (like mine).
You need to drive the car to use the cycle.
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 594
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From: USA to Germany
W221/W222/W213/X290
In New Hampshire, clearing defrosting the windows during winter means at least 10-15 minutes of warming up haha. It gets to the point here where the engine doesn't want to turn sometimes -_-
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 594
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From: USA to Germany
W221/W222/W213/X290
Lol "40F freezing mornings"?
that's freezing?
try -35F throughout the winter. 40F weather im wearing a T Shirt and in shorts.
Warm up for 1-1.5 minutes in that weather.
Anything below 30F warm up for 2-3 minutes. Don't think about it too hard you'll hurt your brain, and your engine
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I grew up in "cold" Poland, but close to Baltic Sea, who made winters mild.
It wasn't till few years back, when business trip took me to No Dakota in -30F weather, what was 1st time in my life at this cold.
Not anymore. I know people can get desperate to make money, but all should have some limits.
It wasn't till few years back, when business trip took me to No Dakota in -30F weather, what was 1st time in my life at this cold.
Not anymore. I know people can get desperate to make money, but all should have some limits.
Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 175
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From: Tremonton, Utah
2014 E350 Sport 4Matic Sedan
I let the car idle in the garage for perhaps 5 - 20 seconds, just so I'm comfortable oil is starting to circulate. Idle the car out of the garage and down the driveway, then let it idle down the the stop sign on my corner. Gentle driving until the oil temperature gauge comes off the peg. In warm weather, that only takes a block or so. In winter weather, less than half a mile. After that, I'm good with WOT.
