Engine warm-up in the morning. Is it necessary?

It's not a matter of noticing a difference. What it is, is a matter of potential (not guaranteed, but potential) damage that could be done to the engine over time.

 

True I was just letting him kno they're aren't sending a signal immediately...

 

Interesting replies...I usually give it a minute or two and then drive it easy until my temps are around normal. It sounds like a loud fan under the hood for the first 30-ish seconds and then it quiets down, I never shift into drive until that noise quiets.

 

Oil light out you got oil pressure the modern oils are fine even to -30 the pour temp of a 0W20 syn. oil is -57F. It warms up a lot faster moving than it does sitting. The O2 sensor does not have any effect on a cold engine it is in closed loop and runs on tabled parameters till the o2 temp is up. It's a warm day today here all ready in the low teens.

 

Start and go here. I let it warm up if it is carbureted, but it's not so I don't.

 

this lolol.

I get in and go. I don't get on it till its warm tho.

 

I too like to wait the 30 seconds for the fan to slow down in which time i am getting settled in. Also dont like how she doesnt shift that first time until 35mph that someone said depends on the temp getting up to spec. How about belts in the cold though? Mine are super screechy loud now and goes away as it warms up

 

That guy gets the reply of the year award!

 

I start mine then put on the seatbelt, back out of the shop sit and watch the door shut, then it's down the road. I live on a 2 lane state highway but I accelerate slowly keeping the rpm below 1800. Depending on if its cold or COLD the temp gauge will be rising about 1 to 1 1/2 miles down the road then it's up to 60mph. If not at home I give it 30 seconds or so to get the oil flowing then also just accelerate slowly as it warms. I got used to this back in the 70's and 80's when I lived in Germany, not allowed to let vehicles set and idle over there. I've only had one oil related engine failure in any vehicle I've owned, many of which went over 200,000 miles. That was a Dodge 318 that the oil pump failed on in Truth or Consequences, NM during a road trip and that one had about 280,000 miles on it at the time, the engine internals still looked good when it was pulled so I racked that up to chance.

 

I might give mine a minute, but 10 minutes is overkill.

 

I think the big difference in responses is due to what people consider cold. When temperatures are 0 or colder here in CO, I will let mine warm up for 5-10 minutes. If I am in a hurry I will let it warm for a minute or two and then drive slowly down the road until it starts to warm up.


People that say 10 minutes is overkill probably do not try to get in their trucks and drive when it is -10 outside!

 

I spent 20 years in northern NH. I'd drive cold (going easy), but if I could I'd warm it up just because I hate freezing myself.

Your engine has oil pressure in a matter of seconds (try 1-3 seconds). You don't need to run for minutes to get fluids moving.

 

Wow! Such varying responses. I'm surprised at what some people said though.

It's one of my worst pet peeves when someone jumps into a cold car (like 30-40f) and immediately speeds off.

In both of my cars, when started from cold, they idle around 1500-2000. It only takes about a minute for the idle to drop to 1000-1200. That's when I'll usually drive off. They are both OBD1 cars though, none of that 10 minutes to get out of the cold start RPMs.
Both my cars are manual, and I've never experienced an issue with my clutch or brake systems when cold. If you do experience this, there is water in your lines. Your clutch and brake systems need to be bled every ~2 years to get rid of moisture in the lines.

My truck almost immediately throws heat out, even when cold, but my Honda takes a good while to warm up. I've found out that letting it sit when cold helps it put out heat faster than just driving away.

Also, what BamaToy said is 100% spot on, especially with regards to engine wear.

 

30 seconds max, just go easy on it till its at full temp..

 

^^^^^^ That! I wait like 2 mins. Seems stupid for me to care about maintenance/ synthetic oil in an attempt to extend my vehicles life and not even give my truck a chance to warm up. The engine is meant to run when its hot, not right after its started

 

what is worse starting the engine and taking right off at high rpm's or starting up for a few seconds then turning the engine off.

 

Think about it - you're providing the same scenario, except one has the rotating assembly moving about 10x as fast.

 

From my old high school auto shop days, I usually end up starting my truck and waiting a few seconds, between 20 to 30 seconds before driving off. My logic is that the truck needs some time to get the oil circulating and pressure up in the engine. I drive lightly until the coolant temp reaches normal. Necessary? who knows. But its built into my subconscious so why fight it.

My shop teacher told us "how would you feel if someone yanked you out of bed then immediately told you to run down the street as fast as you could ?"

 

I wait until the idle drops down. It usually starts about 1500 ish, and holds for a minute. then it dips to about 1000 and I take off.