Idle for Warmup or Drive for Warmup

Hello All,

I saw a thread earlier where they were talking about the winter vs. summer gas. I think it was Chris4x4 mentioned that the engine runs extremely rich until it gets to operating temperature.

So I was wondering which would be more fuel efficient, to idle parked for a bit before driving or simply pile in and go? I have always done the former but thought I would check and see since I am new to this type of engine. It seems to warm up pretty quick so I am leaning toward letting it warm a bit before taking off.

TIA

 

i sit there and let it idle and warm up, thats what i do. but im interested in what others do as well

im guess ill drive it off right away without idling lol chris 4x4

 

I can't sit and idle for more than 5 seconds. I'm driving.

 

I don't know much about trucks or engines so don't take my input as strongly as others.

I turn the truck on, let it idle until the revs go down which will take 30 seconds to 1 minute and then go. I don't wait until the needle shows it's warm. i Live in San Diego so the weather is never really 'cold'.

 

I tune other cars (GM's) using HPTuners and there are parameters that make the car run higher rpms until a certain temperature is reached. Remember, the colder it is, the harder it is for the fluid to thin out to adequately protect the vehicle (oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc.) until it reaches a sufficient temperature. What the temperature threshold is for these trucks, I don't know, but I won't try to floor it until I get hot air blowing out of the vents.

 

I let the engine warm up for at least a minute.. Like doc said, I was taught that cold oil doesn't get into the motor as fast, and could wear out parts faster if you don't idle. I always idle my dump truck before and after driving.

 

That's about the same thing I do, but I also drive away slowly and do that in till it gets up to temp.

In the manual if I remember right, it says that warm up is not needed but it does recommend driving away slowly.

 

I let it idle for as long as it takes my body to get used to the freezing ass cab. About a minute, then I drive it easy for the first 5 minutes and by then the needle has started to rise so I drive normally.

 

+1. It's better for the cat converter and you are not wasting fuel. Just don't drive it like you stole it until it's warmed up.

 

I figure by 15 seconds or so, you have good oil flow to all of the engine internals. I then engage the transmission and take it easy until temp gets above 160 or so.

 

i give it a few min in the morning to warm up

 

I let mine warm up, I can tell he doesn't like running in the cold, so I give it about a min, in the winter I give it 5. and if I need to go right away I drive a gear or two higher to give it some time.

 

Does this go for people living up north in the freezing temp as well? I thought that this would somehow screw up the engine or other things. I have a remote starter because I have no patience to sit in a car for 5 minutes to let it warm up.

 

I would like to add to my post. It may also be a good idea to let it warm up for a longer time in colder temps. Your oil may get a little thick, and it will be harder for it to pump up.

But you can always run a oil pan heater.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/52827-oil-pan-heater-mod.html

 

-3 this morning I let my truck warm up for 5 minutes. If not, The windows would all frost up on my way to work and I wouldn't see a thing.

 

That is the way I was doing it also last winter. When it is cold it takes a couple of minutes. Then I will just drive her easy until the temp gauge starts to move up.

Thanks

 

I start it up, crank the heater. Then go back out there after everythings has melted off the windshield and drive away. Scraping ice suck.