How long do you Idle?

I wait until my UltraGauge says the engine temp is at 120 degrees and drive slow until it reaches 170 degrees. Then I'm off!

 

Lol I didn't say they were plastic

 

Remember that just because your coolant is at 170* in the block, it doesn't mean your engine oil or transmission oil are even remotely warmed up. It takes 10-20 minutes of drive time for them to reach near operating temps.

 

I start my truck and let it sit for about 2-3 minutes. If its really cold outside, below 40, I'll let it idol for at least 5min or more.

Typically in the summer here in Az I'll let it run for 10min before I get into it. But that's just so the AC can cool down the truck.

 

When I do let my truck warm up its just for a few minutes then I call it good.

 

Those springs didn't break because they were cold. Valve springs break for one of three reasons: mfg defect, under-designed, or being rev'd too high.

Formula One cars use pneumatic valve closure because springs alone aren't fast enough.

 

Agree to disagree.

 

LOL!

That was my ONE complaint about my Duramax.

Had it not been for the heated seats, I would have just worn a parka on those cold California mornings when it's only 40 degrees.

My commute to the office was about 25 miles, or to the job site could be 50-100 miles.
The heater was not blowing hot at 25 miles. I could feel "warm"... but it wasn't hot. Took a good 35 to really get it up to temp.

 

Except I'm one of the guys that gets good mileage, doesn't burn a drop of oil in 5k, and only "warms up" long enough to light the headlights and fasten the seatbelt.
From there, I'm 3 blocks to the freeway and 70mph.

 

Bingo.

The engine killer is not lack of warm up time... it's the 5-mile commute.
It's the grocery store runs.
The engine might get up to temp, but it is not maintained there long enough to boil off the condensation from the oil, resulting in corrosion and sludge formation.

The worst thing you can do to an engine when a vehicle is in winter storage is to start it up and let it idle for 15 minutes to "warm it up"
Ya... gets it nice and warm and all kinds of water gets sucked out of the winter air and into the oil.

Park it, drain it, fog it, and bring the battery inside where it's warm and cycle it on a Battery Tender once a month.

 

Usually a couple mins for me...much quicker than the atleast 10 minutes of warming up my old diesel semi...starts like shit on cold mornings haha

Off-topic sort of, but anyone know if we have an oil pressure gauge code for our scangauge 2 yet?

 

Until all the dash warning lights turn off.