How long do you warm your car up?

[Doctordestiny]

I've always warmed my car until the temp needle starts moving and then I drive slowly until it noes the C mark. I've read that modern vehicles can be driven almost immediately even in the coldest weather. Which is it?

[calgaryrocks]

I believe you are supposed to allow older cars to warm up a bit, then again, i have a 94 toyota and rarely wait unless its cold enough for the brakes to not work well. you can feel when your car needs some time as its frozen, but in Calgary its not that often.
for me at least, but i don't drive every single day (ctrain)

[ken0042]

I remember once getting into an environmental debate with somebody about warming up my car for for that 45 seconds- and my final comment which sealed it was that early in the morning the j-walking pedestrians wearing black appreciate the fact that my window is defrosted enough to see them in time.

When parked outside I give the car 5 minutes for every 10 degrees below zero. Yes, modern cars don't need that much time. But I like a warm car.

[DrPepper]

Usually during the mornings before I head to work, I start the car with the remote starter and let it run for about 8-10 minutes. But after I get off work, I let it run for about 5 minutes and drive off.

[The Yen Man]

I warm it for about 5 minutes in this type of weather. If colder I might go longer (longest probably is 10 minutes when -20 or lower and I didn't plug it in). Heck I even warm my car in the summer for 1 to 2 minutes before driving. I don't care what anyone says, it drives a lot smoother when it's warmed up, rather than driving it right away.

[drewboy12]

I have heard a mechanic say it only needs to run for 2-3 minutes to prevent damage. But if its freezing out, ill let it warm up for 10-15 mins so its warm inside when I go to leave.

[metallicat]

If it's around freezing, maybe 5 minutes. Anything colder, and it's 10-15 minutes. Only because I like a warm car. And my drive to work is about 5 minutes. Complete waste of gas, but I don't really give a damn.

[Traditional_Ale]

Above -10 C I let it warm up a minute or so past when it stops racing, dropping from 1500 rpm at first startup to approximately 900rpm at idle. This takes about two minutes, even in the worst cold. If colder than -10, generally about five minutes. More than that if -20 or colder. Generally I need that much time to clean out the garbage from the cab and reorganize CDs and my stuff for the day. Also scraping the windshield and sweeping snow off if needed.

[onetwo_threefour]

If it's below minus 20, about five minutes. (Unless I'm in a hurry)

Otherwise, maybe 15 seconds to get the oil moving a little.

[FlamesKickAss]

however long it takes me to scrape the windows and brush off the snow

[Bill Bumface]

30 seconds to get the oil up to the heads then drive, but go easy on it until warm. A car runs up much warmer under slight load than at idle. Idling it is effectively putting it through more cold temperature operation which causes more wear.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

however long it takes me to scrape the windows and brush off the snow

Me too. When it's really cold, I'll let it warm up maybe a couple of minutes, and drive it a bit easy the first while.

[mrdeeds]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

however long it takes me to scrape the windows and brush off the snow

Precisely. Depending on the temperature, you will have to drive conservatively of course. The engine warms up faster when your driving.

[Acey]

Yup, 30 seconds just till the oil gets to the top of the case, then I'm driving. Last winter when it was -30 for a couple days my car would still if I let the clutch out too fast in neutral. :|

[Dynamic]

15 minutes in the morning, usually just a minute or two going home.

[wooohooo]

15 minutes is a really really long time! The max I wait is like 5 and I'm standing there waiting... of course I don't have the luxury of a remote car starter but even so...

[TRIX]

15-30mins

I drive a diesel truck though, so pretty different from say a 2.0L gas jobby

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by TRIX

15-30mins

I drive a diesel truck though, so pretty different from say a 2.0L gas jobby

Use elevated idle.. I turn mine on and with elevated idle its warm in 5 mins.

[troutman]

Unless it is really cold, I think I've heard the engine only needs 10 seconds.

[mykalberta]

I walk to work, I usually give myself about 5 minutes to warm up before I start walking.

When I do drive, I just get in my car and go as I park in a parkade