letting the car idle to warm up on cold days

[SLEighride03]

what is your guys take on this?

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_c ... in-winter/

[willwren]

Not a Performance topic. Moving to General Chat.

[Bonneville92V688]

I don't see a point letting it idle to normal temp.... 15-20 seconds is long enough to get everything flowing.

What about block heaters? Can anyone say that they make a big enough difference to even consider using one? I've never had the need for one, but they offer them here anyways. I just don't think it gets cold enough here to use one.

[viper8907]

I don't see a point letting it idle to normal temp.... 15-20 seconds is long enough to get everything flowing.

What about block heaters? Can anyone say that they make a big enough difference to even consider using one? I've never had the need for one, but they offer them here anyways. I just don't think it gets cold enough here to use one.

I used to use a block heater before I replaced my engine, I forgot to put it on the new engine, and have never got around to it. It was very nice on those mornings in ND that were -25F to -30F.

[Skippy1827]

I would think a block heater is more beneficial to a diesel engine over a gas engine.
The experts say that new vehicles don't need warm up time because as soon as the engine starts, the fluids are in motion and lubricating. Warming up is more for the occupants, not the motor.

[repinS]

I'd be more inclined to agree with the article. Never more than 30 seconds to a minute, either to adjust climate controls or the radio.

Just take it easy until the car gets closer to temp.

[SSEi95]

I let it warm up usually. Not a fan of sitting on a frozen leather interior. Likewise in the hot summer days I will do the same thing with the AC running for a couple minutes when the car is baking.

[*B2*]

I disagree. I don't see where they address fluid viscosity which is the reason I take time to warm it up. I would rather warm the oil at a low rpm vs. a high one.

[John Deere Boy]

I just wait until the needle starts to rise before leaving the driveway.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I have a coolant heater on the Buick. Many of my trips early in the day are very short, so the engine would never get up to temperature otherwise. It's nice to go out in the mornings to a car that's been bathing in 100*F coolant for 2-3 hours prior to startup. It gets up to temperature in 5-7 minutes, and there's usable heat after 1-2 minutes.

So, my car is already warmed up. I get in, turn it on, put on my seatbelt, flip on the parking lights, and go.

[PRD2BDF]

I typically let the Saab idle for a few minutes to get the turbo warm and lubricated. Plus it takes forever for the Saab to warm up.

[myfirstbonnie]

I just wait until the needle starts to rise before leaving the driveway.

Same here. That and don't drive it hard until it does warm up. It gives a chance for the trans to warm a little also.

[00Beast]

Engines don't warm up well while idling. None of our tractors even move the needle idling around the yard for any period of time during the winter. When they're being run a little, then they warm up.

I have found my engine warms up within 10 minutes of driving, which is always the minimum I drive, so I don't worry about it warming up. Waiting for it to warm up is assinine. I turn it on, adjust the heat, radio, buckle up and take off, being conscious that I have no KR and a cold engine.

[*B2*]

Waiting for it to warm up is assinine.

Obviously an engine is going to warm up quicker when the number of total combustions per minute increases. That isn't being questioned. I'm arguing that the difference in fluid viscosity alone is reason enough not to increase the rpm's until necessary. How is that assinine? I don't think anyone will disagree that a very high fluid viscosity will not be able to protect the engine from wear as well as a lower viscosity.

[Sadden]

If you dont have a block heater here you dont go anywhere in the winter.
That simple.

Also i idle my car for at least 10 minutes every morning.
A) Fluid viscoscity
B) Creature comfort.

Normally after its been on the highway for 10-15 it will stay warm if im doing errands.
Working is a totally different story.
In the winter i get up 15 minutes early just so the car CAN idle and warm up.

If you honestly think that your car doesn't warm up while idling...
We warm up our 625 Cat every morning Via Idling.

Any gas job is going to warm up a lot quicker than that big diesel.
Compressors i work with (2000 hp diesels) need to idle for at least a couple hours before an operator can even think to rev them and start work. And they are in a heated building. Apples to oranges i know.

[00Beast]

Why do you run a multi-weight oil then? I run 5W-30 in my engine, as specified for my 2003 SSEi. My oil pressure is around 60 no matter whether it's cold or hot. That's the point behind it, to be thin while cold and thicken when it warms up.

If you want to let your car idle for a few minutes, it's definitely your choice. I'll do what I see is best. Living in MN, even when my engine has been below 0*F, I have never had issues related to oil or oil pressure. Also, I park in a heated shop when I'm at home, which has been my whole driving life till a few months ago, so I have always gotten in a 55* vehicle in the morning, and my vehicles rarely sat more than 8 or so hours outside in extreme temps.

Now I do use the remote start on our new Suburban, but that's more for heater and heated seats than for engine temps.

Like anything else, YMMV.

[willwren]

Modern oils negate the need to idle for any extended period of time. Modern engines are designed to NOT need warmup time. Idling for 30 seconds or so YEAR ROUND to get fluids circulating is fine with multi-viscosity oils in modern engines.

Any longer is a waste of fuel for the benefit of cabin heat.

[viper8907]

What about the transmission? I can tell that it's cold by the feel of the shifter, but does being cold affect anything? I'm not saying idling will help that, because the trans will warm up hardly at all idling. I'm just curious what everyone's take on cold transmission fluid is.

[sonoma_zr2]

http://www.webastoshowroom.com/images/b ... rifold.pdf

[SLEighride03]

http://www.webastoshowroom.com/images/blueheat_trifold.pdf

hmmmmm..................