letting your truck warm up

The reason the car companies tell everyone not to warm up their engine is based on the phony energy crisis lie. I'm sure they pretty much have to say that or the goobberment will come down on them and start asking them why they are telling people to warm up their engines. Then, of course, there is the phony global warming lie which was debunked over a decade ago. That's for those that even fell for it to begin with.

I for one am not going to start my engine up when it's -10 outside and take off. I could care less what ford or anyone else says. In warmer climates I can understand it. Where it getss cold, well, it's you're engine and i'm sure Ford and everyone else will be more than happy to take your money for a new engine.

 

LOL! Well I guess you know more than Toyota Motor Corporation

 

You should have actually read what I said regarding WHY they tell you that. It's just like with the old Caddy I own. In the owners manual it says in big capitol letters to NOT disconnect the air pump. The same thing for other emissions gimmicks of that era. They make you think your engine will blow up pr something if you did any of that. Of course, the fact of the matter is that back in the 70's that stuff was just all an add on that ruined performance, lowered fuel mileage and after about 50,000 miles it didn't work. I removed all that crap years ago and the Caddy never fails an emissions test because I maintain it.

The point I was trying to make is take into consideration WHY they tell you what they tell you. I for one am just sick and tired of these loonies trying to make me feel guilty for driving a car that uses gas.

If they really cared about the environment so much they never would have started the ethanol scam which has done nothing but increase fuel consumption and destroy the environment along with starving 10's of thousands around the world who depend on corn for their staple food supply by driving the cost of corn up.

I might also point out that I have run 5 tanks of gas through my 2004 4X4 Tacoma since I got it a couple of months ago. I have gotten 20mpg no matter how I've driven it. Highway, city, shifting at 2000, 3000, 3500 or 4500rpm and a mix of both highway and city. That includes letting it warm up. I know, I should feel guilty.

I just put in 88 octane non ethanol gas on the last tank and filled it back up this morning with the same. I got 22.9 mpg on the last tank with non ethanol gas. I'll see if I get the same once this tank runs out. Since they are so worried about saving gas why don't they take the ethanol out of it? It's well known it increases fuel consumption and absobs moisture out of the air which can't be good for any engine.

These companies are all under the gun of the EPA which is not a friendly agency at all which is putting it mildly. I wouldn't be surprised if they fine companies for not telling people to not warm their cars up. Considering the criminal activities they have been engaging in over the past five years which are getting worse compared to what the have been doing for decades.

 

I warm it up for a few usually.
More for my old bones than mechanical reasons.

 

I've had the heat on in mine for the last 4 days. It's nice today though. It has been known to get warm in the summertime every year for a long time now. At this time of year there have even been warm days right before it gets cold in the winter time. There has always been normal climate change. It's been going on for centuries. I was driving in the snow in Montana a few weeks ago. A few years ago I was driving in snow down near the Mexican border south of Tuscon, AZ. Just a year ago I was driving on ice down in southern California on I-8 just east of San Diego.

 

That's another good reason to warm them up when it's real cold outside. So the defroster works and you don't freeze half way to work.

 

would barely drivin above 25 mph be bad or a good warm up? I live a mile into the neighborhood in GA.....

 

i would think so. as long as you go easy and it takes you a while to get there.

 

If you only live a mile from work that would be considered "extreme driving" by any vehicle manufacturer. It would require more frequent oil changes because the condensation that gets into the oil from hot and cold cycles never gets burned off.

If you're driving like that all the time it's best to take the vehicle for a good half hour drive once a week when you get the chance. You need about 20minutes at full operating temperature to burn out any water from condensation that collects in the pan. oil temperature is always lower than water temperature so you can't judge the oil temp by what the water temp gauge says.

Short trip operation will also eventually rust out your muffler and exhaust system for the same reason. This would pertain especially to you if you live in GA where the humidity is very high. You'll notice on a cold day that there is water dripping from your exhaust when you fist start it up. If it doesn't get heated up for long enough the water just sits in there.

That's why I always try to live 10 miles from work. When I didn't I took long drives every weekend.

 

I think he was saying he lives a mile deep into his neighborhood rather than a mile from work....and yes, a nice easy 1 mile run before hitting bigger roads would be a decent warm up in my book - 'cause that's what I do.

 

I let it warm up and wait until the RPMs level out. I learned to drive in older cars with carbs, so it's always just been habit.

 

If that's the case I agree completely. I putter out of my subdivison, before I hit 2500rpm or 30mph. The rpm part is more important IMO, than what speed, but probably would not go over 45mph or so, in 4th gear on my 5 speed manual in the first 2 minutes of operation.

My normal daily drive is 3.5 miles each way, so I feel for you.

 

Yep, it's a little over a mile to get out of the neighborhood, then you sit at a stoplight, so it's warm by the time Im on the highway.

 

Thanks for the info. I always wait til the revs drop and below 30F I use a oil pan heater because of the piston slap at that temp or below. I didn't know the reason was hypertuetectic pistons so I thank you for that.

 

I'm a new (2006) Tacoma owner and have yet to drive it in the winter, but I have read the owners manual thoroughly. It clearly states to warm up the vehicle by driving it. So that's what I'm gonna do.

 

You'll do just fine doing that, despite the warnings from the aluminum hat crowd.

 

Memories of leaving the house at 0345 on a winter morning.
Pull the choke, start the 1968 Jimmy I had. Light a smoke and sit until it runs at half choke. Pull out the driveway, idle through the silent neighborhood until I hit the highway intersection. Pull out on the road and then push in the choke.
I'd usually hear the night DJ on KWY intone it is 402 and time for the traffic report which always made me smile out in the boonies.
Heat took a little while, but it was a blast furnace once it warmed up. Heater core was as big or bigger as many new radiators.

 

Heh. My Dodge is the same way. Takes a while for all that coolant to get warmed up (plus the engine's a big lump of cast iron, which also takes a while to get warmed up). But once it's up to temp, it'll roast you out of the cab. The heater core on that thing is easily twice the size of the one in my Tacoma.

 

I had heated seats in my grand cherokee, id guess there were pressure sensors in them. Even after letting it run unless my butt was in the seat they stayed as cold as the rest of car.

Leather seats may look good buck they suck in 90% of any weather.

 

I live in FL so my Taco is warmed up before I start it