Starting your vehicle

OK be gentle you guys,
So my dumbass just found out that it is not ideal to start driving right after you start your vehicle, and that your suppose to wait 10-20 seconds before driving HAHA. Anyways Ive been doing this for about four years ever since I got my Tacoma (2018). Im sure there were many many times that Ive waited 10 plus seconds, but mostly I just turn the key release the e-brake and go. When I start it, it is usually at 1500 rpms give or take. Anyways is there any damage that I might have done that I should be concerned about, or em I freaking out over nothing ?

Thanks.

 

I’m sure it’s fine. Starting the motor and immediately driving it is probably better for the motor than the people who let it “warm up” for a minute or two before they drive it every time. Idk, I’m not a mechanic. I’m sure 1,000 people will post here shortly all saying different things lol

There are a lot of other threads about the topic I believe.

 

It’s not the engine you have to worry about but the transmission should be warmed up for few min in frigid temps. The engine coolant warms the transmission . The power steering fluid in super cold weather is very thick and should be allowed time to warm up as well

 

You're fine... the truck will outlast the availability of fossils fuels long before anything you've done for the last 4 years becomes an issue.

 

Thanks!

 

Well I live in San Diego, where its generally warm, so.....
But thanks appreciate it.

 

Thanks. Yeah the truck seems to drive perfect, knock on wood.

 

The transmission ain’t gonna warm up hardly at all by idling, it’s not at any load there. And by hardly at all, I mean 10 minutes of idling and probably 10 degrees of warm up. Better off just going and letting it do its thing.

 

The big thing you want to avoid is high revving and extreme loading on the engine, until it has pumped the oil into the heads. With my truck, I can hear the engine "quiet down" once oil has entered the heads (15 seconds or less). Aside from that, warming an engine up to operating temperature is unnecessary.

 

For the most art unless the windows need defrosting I drive as soon as it's started and seat belt on. Easy on the go pedal and wait until it's to normal temp before driving it like I stole it. Never had an engine issue in 50+ years. That's why all of my vehicles have an engine temp gauge.

 

The slow start up isn't for the truck.

It's for you.

You need to check mirrors are correctly adjusted, look for dash CEL lights, people that can get run over, windows that are ice and fog free, seat is adjusted, steering wheel is adjusted correctly, seat belt is belted...lots of other important stuff as well

Then you can take off.

 

Uhh this isn't NASCAR. If you're the only driver you should only have to worry about people near you.

 

You forgot something, make sure your post-it notes are current and arranged properly on the dash. That is what my better half does...mostly at traffic lights.

 

Normal conditions, just a few seconds, the old reasoning was to give the charging system a chance to catch up with the starting draw.

Batteries have a lot more reserve now, but it still makes sense.

In the winter? You gotta let it warm up. Pistons are shrunk and slapping, oil is thick. I usually suggest 30-60 seconds around freezing. More time the more cold it is.

Summer, I do zero if its warm start, 10-30 seconds in the morning.

 

Disagree, letting my truck warm up for 10 min idling and then driving the trans shifts perfectly. If I just start the truck and go in cold weather the first few shifts it deff doesn’t like it. Suppose it depends on the climate you live in, the trans warmer/cooler uses hot engine coolant to warm the trans fluid

 

If I have time or its under 35F or so I remote start the truck and let it run for 5ish minutes mostly for me. I do believe you save some wear long term letting oil temps up before driving but its by no means required in temperate weather.

Give it 60 seconds and drive it kind until it warms up. Changing your oil consistently is far more important.

 

Yeah Im a stickler for Oil changes. I get mine changed every 3,500 - 5,000 miles. EVERY! time.
Never have I ever let it go past the 5,000 mile mark.

 

The reason your trans doesn't shift when cold is the computer is holding it in a lower gear to make the engine warm up faster. It's an emissions thing.

 

I've been practicing the 10-30 seconds after startup for 30+ years now.
Never seemed to be an issue.

 

Think about it like this... When you first wake up in the morning do you jump right out of bed and immediately start going or do you take a few seconds to stretch and come to life.