merahul

I just bought a 1994 S500 and that is my only car.
I live 2 miles from my work and drive up and down,total 4 miles
One of the mechanic guy told me that trip under 5 miles are actually bad for the car engine? Does this make sense? I am confused?
Any help?
Merahul

Wintermute

Provided that the vehicle is permitted to reach normal operating temperature, it shouldn't be harmful.

MBE55AMG

That mechanic just wants you to build up your miles. :p

MB AMG

Kinda like stop and go traffic maybe... IDK.

How about revving an unloaded engine? Why is that bad?

merahul

What is normal operating temperature? I think engine stays on for 5-10 minutes, that's all I drive in the morning and in the evening.

moa4r

^same situation; live very close to work, and the car doesn't even get a chance to warm up; I seriously doubt its bad for the car unless your @ WOT b4 the car warms up, which I never do;

dlafever

WOT? Does that mean ****** On Telephone?

rdanz

Short trips are hell on the exhaust system because- cold exhaust, starting engine produces condensation , when the engine is turned off before it heats exhaust up to the point when it dries the condensation it causes system to rust out premature.

jan ken po

My mom was told this to be the case for her problem. Seems the oil is cloggin over time. On her 1st crank, u can hear metal-2-metal sound as if there is no oil in the engine. Afer it runs awhile, it is ok. timing chain checked out fine. So I figure either its oil pump. BUt any regards 2 dealer mechs said it was most likely due to short trips.

merahul

How much did she have to pay to fix this?

Thanks

jan ken po

She hasn't fixed it so far and probably won't seeing as how she has 3 other cars from which she does most of the driving/riding. She was quoted 2200-3500 for timing chain because they thought it was the making the sound. But 2nd dealer said timing chain was within specs. Said he can't be for sure that the oil pump is being affected that only the oil was clogged more than should be and that the clogging is probably what's causing it to not "grease" the engine on start thus the sound. Also said that if was truly bad pump that it would do it on every crank. He recommended using a engine cleaner, & then start changing the oil more frequently, & actually drive further than 2 the post office & back.

Moms is retired. Post office is round trip 3 miles at best. That is about all she does and has doing with the car for the past 4-5 years. The car is a 92 SE400 and has ~120k, and occasional road trip here or there, but 80% of those miles came from trips that were ~30 min or shorter.