Warming up the Car

[B54]

I always hear conflicting theories on this. With the winter coming around, it has been below freezing 2 mornings in a row here. I park my car outside and I usually don't warm up the engine beforehand. My step-father said it is more benefical for the the car. What is the actual syntax for cars when the temperature is below freezing?

[d0uche_n0zzle]

A minute or two to help circulate the oil. Anything else is just wasting fuel.

[Arch Stanton]

If an automatic I let the high idle settle down before putting into gear. Stick, as recommended above.

[Polack]

A minute or two to help circulate the oil. Anything else is just wasting fuel.

Unless you want a toasty warm car when you get in. The longer you let it run the warmer it get's in the cab. I own a diesel pickup, and I have to plug that fucking thing in at night or it's difficult to start. If your car came with a block heater that would save you the time of waiting for the oil to circulate.

[Fendbass22]

Just as said above...let the engine idle for a few minutes to let the oil thin out and give it the ability to actually lubricate.

Studies have been done (tried to find before I posted, I will still look) where letting the engine idle (no load) up to operating temperature created more wear and tear on internals then driving the car carefully, under load, with low RPM's and not full throttle. With the engine working under load more heat is generated quicker.

So, let the oil circulate for a minute or so then drive the car carefully (RPMs below 2500-3000) until the car is at normal operating temperature.

[abudabit]

God damn I'm glad I live in Texas. Even the rain is comfortable here.

[B54]

God damn I'm glad I live in Texas. Even the rain is comfortable here.

Well, I live in Georgia, so I consider myself pretty lucky compared to most Northerners and extremely fortunate when I think about all my relatives in Russia.

Thanks for talking about the manual transmission, I drive a manual, it didn't even occur to me that would matter.

[THE FEZ MAN]

my one truck has a block heater. i loved it. if a car has a carb i would let it warm up till its off high idle and the choke is off most of the way (if you can find a daily driver thats carberated) but for fuel injected i just start it up let it even out and go unless its below freezing or frost then i start my truck when i go out for the paper and let the dogs out, i crank the heat, its about 15-20 mins, i have a very short drive to work so if i dont the damn thing wont ever heat up.

[roche]

I always hear conflicting theories on this. With the winter coming around, it has been below freezing 2 mornings in a row here. I park my car outside and I usually don't warm up the engine beforehand. My step-father said it is more benefical for the the car. What is the actual syntax for cars when the temperature is below freezing?

It is a shame they don't teach that kind of thing in medical school. :action-sm

[Beeman99]

I find this interesting. It's been below freezing up here now for a couple of week at night, not super cold, but still below freezing, and I'll let my truck run for a couple of minutes to circulate the oil and heat the seats, but that's it. I don't start plugging it in until the temperature is consistently around -10F, and we'll get weeks of -30 to -40 up here, and as long as any of my vehicles, diesel or gas are plugged in, they start great.

[tmarlboro]

Just as said above...let the engine idle for a few minutes to let the oil thin out and give it the ability to actually lubricate.

Studies have been done (tried to find before I posted, I will still look) where letting the engine idle (no load) up to operating temperature created more wear and tear on internals then driving the car carefully, under load, with low RPM's and not full throttle. With the engine working under load more heat is generated quicker.

So, let the oil circulate for a minute or so then drive the car carefully (RPMs below 2500-3000) until the car is at normal operating temperature.

I seem to remember that study. I always send the wife out about 10 minutes before I have to leave for work to start my truck. Then if I plugged it in the night before I have to check it as she forgets and has ripped it out before.

[Dopie Opie]

As long as the car does not have a carborator (sp) there is no mechanical need for warming the car. Thats coming from a mechanic, but everyone has their own opinion.

[PCLoadLetter]

After about two-three minutes, the only benefit to warming the car at idle is that the car's heat will work more quickly. The benefit to the ENGINE is at best nonexistent and at worst causes MORE engine wear.

[THE FEZ MAN]

my old lady tried to drive off with mine pluged in. when you plug it in run the cord infront of the drivers door and over the mirror so you cant get into the car with out almost tripping over the cord

[Kool Aid]

I would just let it run all night, that way you don't have to worry about starting it up...

[Beeman99]

I would just let it run all night, that way you don't have to worry about starting it up...


scary part is in parts of Northern Alberta, Yukon, NWT, and Alaska, that is commonplace. Same with leaving their guns outside in the winter to prevent condensation on the rifles.

[Sack of Chisels]

What the christ does "plugging in" a truck actually do? I've seen people doing it but don't get the point..

[DonTheTrucker]

What the christ does "plugging in" a truck actually do? I've seen people doing it but don't get the point..

Diesel engines have "glow plugs" that are used in the ignition process. These have to be warm enough to start the engine before you can crank it. Engine block heaters also help with flow of oil I believe since diesels use more oil.

Personally I run my big trucks all the time no matter what the weather.

[Hudson]

Umm grew up in Pa. I don't drive a truck, but have worked alot in the early morning...and in cold temps!
I was told by a mechanic to let my car warm up to let it idle for about 5 min...lets the engine to get warm and lubed...I also gleaned from Public Radio that taking an old wool blanket, a plug in garage light on an extention cord....does the same for really cold times...(-20 celsius) as a block heater

[tmarlboro]

What the christ does "plugging in" a truck actually do? I've seen people doing it but don't get the point..


On a gasoline engine the block heater fits into the engine block and keeps the engine block and oil warm, cuasing less wear and tear on the engine when in cold weather as the oil will flow more freely, thus, less draw on the battery. But on colder days I still send wife out to start my truck early.

[D.H. Jenkins]

It's simple - if it drives fine, it's warmed up enough - if it doesn't, it isn't.

Carburated vehicles need to "warm up" due to the way they mix fuel & air (fuel reacts to the cold surface of the intake manifold by condensing, instead of remaining suspended in the air). Properly running (gasoline) fuel injected vehicles do not suffer from this problem.

Diesels have a problem because they're impact-ignition engines, not spark-ignition and require a warm block to work properly.

If it gets extremely cold in your area, you can get an aftermarket magnetic oil pan heater and/or switch to a lower viscosity oil to decrease cold-start wear.

[funnybonez]

After reading this, you fuckers made me warm my car up for 3 mins, Neutral out of the garage and let it roll out to middle of the street. Thank god my hood is 25 mph, so drove below 2 rpm until temp. is at normal. Then gun the gas on the highway at 80-85mph......

[PCLoadLetter]

Diesels have a problem because they're impact-ignition engines, not spark-ignition and require a warm block to work properly.
"Impact ignition"? Never heard that one before. I'd call a Diesel "compression ignition".

[Sinn Fein]

In warm weather, I start it up, adjust the radio, and then go. In colder weather, I give it a few minutes or so. Generally, I'll go out ahead of time and start the engine, then go back in the house and let things warm up. I also run synthetic oil, trans and gear fluids which flow better in cold temps as well.

[martianvirus]

In the past I use to start it up early. But now I just go out to the car, start it up and then go. It's the manly thing to do.

[PCLoadLetter]

I can't speak for impossibly cold conditions as I haven't experienced them... But for everything down to the minus-10degF range, warming up the car for more than a minute or so doesn't really do you any good unless your point is to warm the interior of the car a bit. Once your idle speed settles down, get it moving. Just don't accelerate hard or zing it out to redline and you'll be fine.

[D.H. Jenkins]

"Impact ignition"? Never heard that one before. I'd call a Diesel "compression ignition".

I'd say the Ford Pinto was an excellent example of a car with impact ignition.:icon_mrgr

He's right, though - where I got impact ignition I'll never know, but I'm going to blame it on war footage and the handgun ammo thread.

[PCLoadLetter]

I'd say the Ford Pinto was an excellent example of a car with impact ignition.:icon_mrgr
Well played, sir!

[kid afrika]

I also gleaned from Public Radio that taking an old wool blanket, a plug in garage light on an extention cord....does the same for really cold times...(-20 celsius) as a block heater

Sounds like a good recipe for fire.

[PCLoadLetter]

Sounds like a good recipe for fire.
Yeah, this "recipe" mystifies me. What are you supposed to do, wrap the blanket over the engine and aim a work light at the blanket? What is a "garage light" (is that the same thing as a work light)? Why the specification of an extension cord? Why the blanket at ALL?

Give us more detail, Hudson.

[Hudson]

Those work lights with the hanger thingy.. drop it down under the hood then put the blanket over the engine to keep heat from escaping...and let bake for 30 min...I got it from The Tapper Brothers.

[Hardcore Pride]

Its like stretching before you go out and run.

[WOWmagnet]

Damn....my car's in gear before the starter is finished spinning down!...warm or cold weather.
I just buy a new car when the gastank gets empty anyway

[d0uche_n0zzle]

Sounds like a good recipe for fire.

Wool doesn't burn too well. Now back to the field with you. :action-sm