Warming up?

[T_F_E]

Alright so after school its been getting pretty cold lately. To go home I go straight onto a 55 MPH highway then home. My question is how long should I sit the parking lot and warm up so I don't cause any damage. I drive about 10 miles on the highway.

[JDMLegacy]

I don't know how helpful I'll be lol but I alway let my car warm up, I wait untill the needle on the rpms drops below the 1 befor I go, it usualy takes 5 mins or so,

[Huffer]

Alright so after school its been getting pretty cold lately. To go home I go straight onto a 55 MPH highway then home. My question is how long should I sit the parking lot and warm up so I don't cause any damage. I drive about 10 miles on the highway.

You shouldn't sit any longer than it would take to moon-walk around the car 3-4 times.
Normal driving and acceleration is fine, just don't beat the crap out of the car while merging on the freeway. With correct driving and timing you should be able to shift through the gears to hit 55mph in 4th without hitting 3500rpm.

With temps around here in the lower 20s I will allow my car to sit until I can get the windshield clear of snow and ice, then I'm out of the parking lot and into 40mph traffic. Just don't romp on it. Letting it sit and idle until it hits "operating temp" is not good.

http://www.freewebs.com/night_elves/moonwalk.gif

[JDMLegacy]

Haha I always get out and moon walk around my car!!! Hahaha!! Rodger I love you!! Haha

[AussieDan]

Huffer's method may be unorthodox, but he is correct :smt002

Driving the car gently will get it up to temp faster and minimize the wear on the motor.

[T_F_E]

Alright so after school its been getting pretty cold lately. To go home I go straight onto a 55 MPH highway then home. My question is how long should I sit the parking lot and warm up so I don't cause any damage. I drive about 10 miles on the highway.

You shouldn't sit any longer than it would take to moon-walk around the car 3-4 times.
Normal driving and acceleration is fine, just don't beat the crap out of the car while merging on the freeway. With correct driving and timing you should be able to shift through the gears to hit 55mph in 4th without hitting 3500rpm.

With temps around here in the lower 20s I will allow my car to sit until I can get the windshield clear of snow and ice, then I'm out of the parking lot and into 40mph traffic. Just don't romp on it. Letting it sit and idle until it hits "operating temp" is not good.

That exactly what i was doing, I was fine not getting over 2500. Thanks

[Magoozle]

I agree, let the thermostat do it's job and your engine will be fine. Really you can just get in and drive, the thermostat will stay closed until the coolant inside the engine warms up.

[T_F_E]

Yeah I am getting some piston slap though that goes away after about 30 seconds so i'm waiting about that long

[2.5GT]

I let the car sit at idle for about 5-10 seconds. Then slowly take off, and limit the car to under 30mph until i get out to the main roads :eek:

[scubydu]

Sorry guys, I have to disagree. While the moonwalk method sounds good in theory, I find the chicken dance to be much more effective and a lot more fun. Plus, it warms you up at the same time as the car.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/12/ChickenDancegif-1.jpg

[T_F_E]

rofl, thats a signature worthy quote

[impreza_GC8]

Letting it sit and idle until it hits "operating temp" is not good.
I'm curious how letting the car idle to operating temp is bad for the car. Any further information you can provide to support this?
I'm the kind of guy that will go out, turn the car on, come back inside and finish up a few things then come back out in 5-7 minutes with the car warmed up completely and blowing heat.

[2.5GT]

I'm assuming the oil isn't pump to where it's needed when idling for that certain period of time.

[Huffer]

Letting it sit and idle until it hits "operating temp" is not good.
I'm curious how letting the car idle to operating temp is bad for the car. Any further information you can provide to support this?
I'm the kind of guy that will go out, turn the car on, come back inside and finish up a few things then come back out in 5-7 minutes with the car warmed up completely and blowing heat.

It's best practice. An engine sitting just idling results in a slower warmup time and as a result increased wear on all components.
An engine that is started, and then moderately driven until coolant reaches appropriate temperature sees a much reduced warm-up time and as a result less wear and tear on the components.

[peugoby]

Roger nailed it on the head. Your engine is least efficient when it is cold. Prolonging the time it takes it be become efficient is causing more damage than if you were to let the car sit for 15 seconds and then drive it gingerly until fully warmed up. Your also burning the most fuel when you start your car.

[nubs1094]

bingo! i'm with what huffer and peugoboy said. also machinists tell you when you first get your engine back together and start it for the first time, to raise the rpms and not to let it idol, i don't remember whether this was because of warm-up to expand the components or because you want an excess of oil on the moving parts. the only thing i would question is if the turbo would be affected by the colder temps?? or would the exhaust take care of that fairly quickly?

[T_F_E]

thanks everyone, something i had never really thought of

[impreza_GC8]

Cool thanks! I'm in total agreement after hearing those responses.

[Mikey97D]

I will agree and disagree with some statements here.

If you don't warm up your car long enough, and the motor is making additional racket from being cold, you are causing more damage than allowing the car to sit idle too long. Another words, if the gaps between the bearings are not correct and the hydrodynamic wedge is not keeping parts (bearings surfaces) apart, you are causing inefficiency which we hear as noise. This causes damage to those surfaces. Don't idle a car all day, but give it enough time to get close to an operating temperature so there are no "noises". Also take into consideration in what region you live in. During the summer, the vehicle will not need much warm up time here in New England, but during the winter additional warm up time is going to be needed. I usually start my car and go back inside to brush my teeth and say good bye to the family. Probably takes 5 minutes which usually seems about right for 10-20 degree F night for the car to warm up and get the windshield defrosted with the winter package.

For engine rebuilds. The reason engine builders do not want you to idle the car is because they are seating the rings in the cylinder. Engine builders do not want the engine to stay at any rpm for any length of time for the first few heat cycles. There are lengthy discussions alone on whether to have the cylinder wet or dry of oil for initial start up.

Mike

[Zedhead]

Seeing as it gets extremely cold up here (-25F this AM) I'll tell You that allowing the engine to warm is extremely important. It doesn't mean idling for 30 mins. As stated, drive conservatively until the engine warms the coolant, and (if equipped) the auto tranny fluid.

There are times that it takes 10 mins of idling just to get vehicles to even move at sub zero temps.

Also it's common sense to not drive until the windows are cleared of ice, snow, fog, frost.

A 17 YO was severely injured last week. He was driving with the windshield blocked by frost. Driving thru a peep hole. Pulled out in front of a cement mixer truck. He said He didn't see it. DUH!

[nubs1094]

For engine rebuilds. The reason engine builders do not want you to idle the car is because they are seating the rings in the cylinder. Engine builders do not want the engine to stay at any rpm for any length of time for the first few heat cycles. There are lengthy discussions alone on whether to have the cylinder wet or dry of oil for initial start up.

Mike

AWESOME! thanks for clearifying that

[99SUS SFD]

That's the general rule of thumb for breaking in any motor, whether it's brand new or rebuilt. Vary your throttle as much as possible. I had to do that with my snowmobile when I first got it, and my dad had to do that with a few boats with new/rebuilt motors.