raverx3m

iTrader: (1)

yahoo news article about warming up your car.

He says, "You don't really need to idle your car, because of the efficiency of modern fuel injection, which eliminated carburetors and chokes. The only reason to let the car idle at all is to get the oil circulating, but after 30 seconds that's a done deal. My truck has 150,000 miles on it, and I just throw it into gear and go."


http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...car-in-winter/

double wishbone

I usually sit for a minute or so, just to make sure the oil is circulated, and it's a good time to listen for funny noises, too. However, I have little evidence to support this (so maybe someone could jump in) but I always feel like warming up at idle speeds helps the piston rings warm up nice and slowly. Who knows. Either way, I think that article is aimed more at V8 gas-guzzlers than our little monsters. Most of that is talking about how people will start their cars in advance for like twenty minutes or let their car run while they go in the store (what Honda owner would do this?). I don't think my 1-2 minute warm-up hurts anything. But then again, I'm not a mechanic.

Nooch

(sorry for my lack of spell check, im in a weird browser that doesn't alert me to my stupidity).

Letting your car IDLE doesn't harm anything, yes you can sit there til the gas runs out and there won't be any problems. Driving off instantly after starting the car is a no-no though for multiple reasons.
1. Fuel Effenceny
2. Running the risk of damaging componants - no oil circulation instantly
3. Why not just let it idle for 30 seconds and be good? You aren't that in a rush 24/7.

andyz

Seems to me the Honda owners manual says something to the effect of "No matter how cold it is, your Honda will be ready to drive in 30 seconds"

horn12007

horn12007

its not like ppl immediately start their cars and immediately once it fires they gas and go.....well most dont. usually it takes very little time for oil to build up.
Isn't technically doing anything right when you start something mess it up. For example your computer right when you get turn it on, most people don't just start clicking because things are loading. Also just like when you wake up in the morning, most people won't just jump out of the bed running, they take their time and stretch.
I've heard arguments both ways, but if you start your car up in the morning, change the radio station, put on ur seat belt, then thats enough time for oil circulation.

andyz

I've seen enough average consumers get all bundled up, ready to go. Fly out the door and jump into the car seat, ready for some heat. Hit that ignition switch and it's literally milliseconds until that gearshift is in drive and we're off at FULL throttle.

That's probably bad.

raverx3m

iTrader: (1)

what about built cars with higher CR and modified internals etc?
im thinking it would benefit to let it run with no load for a bit more?
aftermarket parts are not made from same grade materials as OEM(oem ment to last long not produce top power)
like honda cams are made from steel and sk2 made from chilled iron.
which is understandable since they are not meant for street or daily commuter car.(lol 13.5CR daily commuter that idles at 3000rpm wouldnt that be great

93h2beg

so i guess is is only for people with auto tranny's... but my local tranny guy advises against it!!!!!!!!!!!!

he said if you wait for your engine to warm up, in park most auto trans are not pumping fluid and do not warm up with the engine. so when your engine is ready, you take off like a bat out of hell but ur poor auto tranny is screaming that it aint ready!!!!\
made sense to me, but i drive a 5 speed manual so it dont matter to me!

Hybrid96EK

This isn't something I would personally practice. Sure, the advent of fuel injection removes the carburetor and the choke... so the car will run significantly better when cold... BUT the oil is still cold.. and being that its a multi-viscocity oil, its not at the correct temperature that it needs to be in order to PROPERLY lubricate the engine as intended. Until it reaches normal operating temperature, you shouldn't be pounding on the car.

double wishbone

Agreed. I usually give it a good couple minutes by itself before I start driving, and then I never go above 2.5-3k RPM until it's fully at operating temperature.

That's a good point about the oil as well. It probably doesn't take too long to heat up (can someone with an oil temp gauge verify maybe?), but better to err on the side of caution.

TunerN00b

Yes, be gentle on the car until full running temp is achieved.

However, start it up, count to 10, and go. The engine will warm up the fastest,. reducing wasted fuel and piston blow by, under light loads.

And if you're worried about oil pressure right at or after startup, that is simple to fix.
http://www.accusump.com/

Ejh1206

WARM UP YOUR CAR, it is a must....!!!!


Guys and Gals think about every moving part within the vehicle especially when its freaking cold out. The drastic temperature change within the engine calls for a warm up before acceleration...!!!!!

You have so many parts I don't want to sit here and list them all...!!

Warm your car up for a minimum 2 minutes (65F and Up) 5 minutes or MORE and no not 15 minutes (64F and Less) better yet install a warmer in your car engine bay to reduce the drastic temp changes...!!!!

94' Prelude SI 269,000 miles same engine....!!!!

Sliced Beard

the only reason I warm my car up is so that when I get in and head off to work, the heater blows nice and toasty. No need to freeze my jiblets off unnecessarily.

98civdx

I noramlly let my car warm up untill the RPM's drop, unless it is below 30 degrees or so. Then I will let it go untill my temp guage gets to the lower line, and go.

I live in WA in the winter it gets kind of cold, and I am not going to freeze my ***** off.

ohsnapzafingcu

iTrader: (2)

they probably say that for emission reasons

unusual71

the car is ready to go after 30 seconds but its not ready for abuse.
Amoung other things, the worse that will happen if you beat on a cold motor, is the added heat will heat and expand the pistons much quicker than it can expand the cylinders themselves, and you will reduce, or eliminate your piston to wall clearance.
For cars with automatic transmissions i usually wait a minute or two. In winter i wait 5 minutes for any type of car.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

ummm no. This has been discussed time and time again. There is ZERO reason to let the car idle for 5 or even 2 minutes after starting, assuming the car runs and drives properly. The longer you let it sit, the more fuel is wasted, the more emissions the car spews out, and most importantly the more engine wear occurs inside the engine!

Yes we use multi-viscosity oil. And oil when cold is too thick to lubricate the engine properly. In fact 80% of engine wear occurs during cold (under 100 deg. F) startup. HOWEVER the sooner you drive off after starting, the sooner that oil warms up to operating temperature, and the less the engine will be wearing itself to bits.

My car is about to hit 300,000 miles on the original B18C1 engine and transmission. I start the car and drive off after a few seconds, every time, even in single-digit temperatures. I drive gently until the car fully warms up, which happens MUCH faster when you're actually driving then if you just let the car warm up while idling. I also use Mobil1 0w-30 oil, which is the grade with the thinnest cold viscosity you can get that still maintains the proper 30-weight viscosity at full operating temperature. This helps reduce some of that cold start engine wear.

My brother-in-law's car is a different story. It's an old Ford Tempo with automatic transmission that simply will not shift until the car has warmed up for like 10 minutes. Obviously in a situation like that you don't have much choice. But otherwise it's best to NOT let the car idle for more than 30 seconds before getting on your way.

BryanM.

iTrader: (1)

Patrick nailed it. Warming up an engine slowly is not better for it, nor is 'beating' on it to warm it up faster.

The Honda Owner's Manual basically tells you to warm it up under light load! Start and drive away soon after!

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

The first number doesn't refer to a temperature. The first number refers to an SAE oil viscosity. A 0W-30 oil performs like an SAE 0 oil at cold temperatures (the testing temperature varies for different weight oils), and performs like an SAE 30 oil at operating temperature, typically tested at 212° F or 100° C.

If you ever start your engine when the engine block temperature is less than 100° F, then you need to use an oil with both cold and hot viscosity ratings. Most Hondas built in the 1990's call for a 30-weight oil for use at operating temperature, and the manual states you can use 10W if it doesn't get too cold in winter, or otherwise use 5W-30. However in recent years the introduction of 0W-xx grade oils helps reduce cold engine startup wear at ALL temperatures.

So yes, there is benefit to using 0W-30 if your engine calls for a 30 weight oil, or 0W-20 if it calls for a 20-weight oil (newer Hondas), and this is what I recommend everyone use to help prolong engine life.

BryanM.

iTrader: (1)

Sorry, I didn't have my facts straight. You're right.

ohsnapzafingcu

iTrader: (2)

I was wanting to switch to 0-30. I haven't really heard of anyone use it. I'll be on the stuff my next change on the daily and weekend car!

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Been using Mobil1 full synthetic 0w-30 for 2 years now, changed every 6 months/6K miles. I switched to this at 278K miles, from Valvoline MaxLife 5w-30 which I used for over 175K miles. Car has 297K miles now and zero oil leaks.

unusual71

i forgot to mention i live in the boonies so my drive is initially highway, which i believe is reason to let the car warm up a few minutes when its -30C outside.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Think about hybrid gas/electric vehicles. When you "start" the car, you're not actually starting it. When you first start moving you're on electric only, and the engine doesn't start until you need a little more power. So obviously there is no idling and warming up with those cars.

And if my 300K miles without ever warming up more than 30 seconds isn't proof that excessive idling to warm up isn't necessary, then I don't know what is.