When I start the car manually, I only let it run for about 30 seconds before moving it. These cars really don't warm up until moved, otherwise it takes a while. When I get to the park-&-ride after work, I usually auto-start the car as the bus pulls in to help it warm a little more since pulling out of the lot is very dangerous and I need power when I hit the gas. To aid in warming it up, I usually keep it in first gear through the lot and after the 3 way merge of cars leaving, I usually have the temp 2-3 lines above the C which is enough. In the winter, I auto-start and warm up for 5-10 minutes ..... bad, I know, but that's the price of the luxury!

 

Warm up for 10 seconds, then easy does it on the road till normal operating temp.

 

OK so I'm gonna stop warming my cars up. I only started the process about 2 weeks ago due to a thread I read on here. I have no doubt my MPG numbers will increase again after the mediocre 28mpg I've been getting recently.

 

I would reduce my warm up time to 30sec but I don't like the idea of puttin my car into gear at almost 1.5k rpm.

 

unless you have a carb...that shouldnt happen...idle problem? do the ole' tap.

 

By the time my seatbelt is buckled and I've rolled out of the garage a good 30sec. has gone by. But the engine isn't pushed 'til it's at normal operating temps.

Even tho' the oils drained into the oil pan overnight, I believe there's still a film of oil on the moving parts, and it doesn't take long for oil to get pumped back through the engine. The problem of cold-engine driving has more to do than just the oil. Metal expands when warm, and so the tolerances when cold are greater, another reason to treat the engine nice 'til warm.

The brakes deserve a good warm-up too, with easy stops 'til they heat up. A rotor that's 0° that brakes hard gets way too hot way too fast.

Then there's the idea of driving long enough for the exhaust to fully heat up to burn off any moisture/water that's inside of the pipes. Short trips in any kind of weather is hard for the exhaust. Unless your system is all stainless that is.

 

i dont let my car warm up.
i just get in and go.
idk if this is good tho, cuz i do a LOT of short trips.
basically this is my schedule:


3 mile drive to school.
--one hour later--
3 mile drive from school to a class at another school
--one hour later--
3 mile drive back to the original school
--one hour later--
3 miles back home


basically thats it. then the occasional trips to the gas station, grocery store, wherever.
i have yet to take a trip of any decent distance in my car, and ive had it for about 2 months.

 

prolly not the best thing for the vehicle...

 

Not and idle problem just start up rpm is high. Goes up to 1.75k then drops to 1.5k within about 5-10sec. After about 4mins of warm up it'll drop to 750 rpm.

 

If I need to clear ice & snow off the windows, that'sall thelonger I let it idle.