Warm up or not?

My older car (Pontiac Sunfire), I did 205 000 km without warming up but I drive slowly for the first minutes, except when temperature go below -15C/-20C, then I'll let warm it up to 20-30 seconds. Never had any engine issues and still going strong and I sold my car to my brother which he's never let warm it up in any temperatures.

I do the same thing with the Tacoma.

And I live in Quebec.

I know that oil need to go to some places, but it's already ready to circulate when you start. It doesn't take 2 minutes to circulate. What's the difference between idling at higher RPM because of throttle (around 2000 RPM) and driving up in that range. More, while driving, you also "lubricate/warm up" bearings in wheels and the tranny and other moving parts. You go slowly for the first minutes and then you can do wathever you want.

Letting it idling 2-3 minutes is useless. Did you knowAAA/CAA doesn't recommend to let it idle for more than 30 seconds, even in colder temperatures, because you're warming up only the engine and not the other parts. More, engine will warm up quickly while driving instead of letting it idle in driveway.

And please, be polite. World is big, to each his own.

 

No surprise here, but I'm with Chris. Besides that, he's the only one in 2+ pages who has supported his position with any kind of evidence/logic.

I let the truck warm up as long as it takes me to strap in and fiddle with the radio. When it's cold, it warms up until I can see out the windshield.

 

OK, so I'm not trying to be mean, but given Canadian stereotypes, this made me laugh out loud.

 

I think idling for more than 60 seconds just wastes fuel.

 

My warm up is the thirty seconds it takes me to reach the first stop sign... I drive slow.

 

what's this brake stand you speak of?

 

I've watched this thread and others similar to it and I'm taking the position that an engine is an engine....So I went out and looked at my VW manual and TACO manual. The Taco manual (95 model) said warm the engine before driving off. BUT....the VW manual said start and drive off immediately. Same as my 84 VW manual so when I got to Germany (where it's very cold) in 1984 I went to the VW smart people and asked them why I don't warm the engine up before drive off! Their answer made sense to me....(but what the heck do I know) When you shut your car off oil remains in/on certain moving parts of the car. When you warm the car engine up this oil is slung off the parts (lubrication) and will not recirculate until the engine is warm. So driving the car immediately after start up warms the engine and other fluids much quicker there by allowing for better lubrication quicker. I've adopted that strategy since "84" and have had no problems with my american, japanese or german engineered cars. Not an engineer just a nug head that will listen then follow directions.

For you guys in Canada maybe you can stop by a VW place and confirm what I just wrote since you do have dealerships up there. My 2004 VW Diesel manual says the same thing. Start then drive off. I think common sense says don't get in a drag race and avoid high revs until the engine gauges show the vehicle is warming up. By the way I followed the start and drive advice when stationed in Kansas during the winter as well. Anybody been to KS knows just how cold the winters can get there....

I agree with Chris 4x4. Lots of stuff going on in these engines we have these days.

 

This.

Idling and engine causes less complete combustion because the engine stays cooler longer.

Gentle revs (like acceleration) are the best way to warm modern engines the most quickly.

By the same token, that's GENTLE revs...don't start it up at 20 degrees and floor it unless you're trying to escape from zombies. Wait til the engine is up to temp (and doing its best work) before making it work for you.

 

^^ this

 

Those of you that live where it never gets below 40 shouldn't worry about this. Those of us that wake up to below freezing for half a year should at least think about it. I warm my truck up sometimes because it's more comfortable for me to have the heater running. It's all about me and not the truck. For sure I will get it running while I scrape ice/snow off the windows.

The newer modern oils get lubricating immediately and so I don't think anything about it. I'll have a new truck before this one wears out due to idling on a cold morning.

 

who the hell you callin old-you better get your head on straight! mr. hodge...at the wodge podge lodge GIT OUTA DODGE

CHRIS- yeah I know but ya came in right after me. That guy who says Chris is the only one who backed up with evidence or facts-WHAT ABOUT MY 14 VEHICLES OVER 33 YEARS?? I never use caps but gees are my words invisible or do you think I am bullshitting? You guys can google this subject and you will find plllllenty of folks defending BOTH sides of this dead horse-and both sides with facts and evidence

 

dude explain to us how idling is bad for an engine. It has oil pressure, coolant circulation, no load, normal/low RPM's and is doing exactly what it is designed to do. Please explain. the worst thing for an engine is high rpm's or excessive load ! hello

 

You must be using some very thick oil. Do you do your own oil changes? Is it really that thick when it comes out of the bottle?

 

X2 Gotta warm them up to clear the frost off the windows.

Otherwise, turn them on, seat belt, radio, sunglasses and go. Just don't try to accelerate too fast until she's warmed some.

 

yabut MY jibberwhatever rhymes-naw I'll give you a buzzcut and a whoopass myself kid

 

LOL ok hodgie you win