How long do you warm your car up?

[Dynamic]

Originally Posted by 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...

I know thats too long but it fits perfectly in my morning routine between making my lunch and eating breakfast. If it is only -10 or better I wont bother.

[Pinner]

Well as I understand engines, they are built out of many different metals and alloys that compress and expand at different rates with temperature.

When an engine is engineered these parts are designed to specifications down to 1000ths of an inch clearance, at what temperature? not -10 or -20 that's for sure... Normal operating temperature of course, about 180-200F.

Automatic transmissions need oil pumping freely to work, warming your engine gets that oil moving as well.

[dj_patm]

Depends how much time I have in the morning. I usually value extra sleep over all else so I tend to rush, in which I case I drive immideatly, I do however go light on the gas and shift at under 3,000 rpms until the temp guage moves. (The moment it moves, the car is warm. It's a wastegate so it doesn't actually give you a specific temperature. It's just whenever it reaches a certian temp, the needle moves up, then another certain point, it moves again... etc. Thats why if your temp gate is showing your going to overheat, it's already too late)

When I do have time I tend to start 5-10 minutes before I leave, I'm always sketched however, cause my car won't let me lock the doors if there's a key in the ignition. It sucks.

[shane_c]

I let it warm up about 20 seconds. If it needs to be scraped then around 1 minute while I'm scraping. I've never been a fan of letting the car sit to warm up to operating temperature before I go and I've never had engine trouble with any of my cars.

[dj_patm]

Oil is one thing, your engine also needs the water to warm up a bit does it not?

That takes longer so I heard. Still, as long as you shift at lower rpms and keep the load light, you'll be 100% fine if you start driving after turning the ignition.

[Ducay]

I give it 10 mins or so in this cold, but thats more for the cabin than the engine

[Komskies]

I hit my remote starter when I get out of the shower, and leave almost exactly 10 minutes after that. I warm up my car not for the good of the car, but rather so I don't have to sit in a cold car.

[burn_baby_burn]

I have a diesel and I let it warm up for 15 - 30 minutes depending on how cold it is.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I have a diesel and I let it warm up for 15 - 30 minutes depending on how cold it is.

Holy crap, you have got to be kidding me!!!

Like Shane_C said, l too let it warm up for about 20-30 seconds. If l have to scrap my windows, that is my warmup right there.

[burn_this_city]

If you idle a diesel for a long time make sure to stomp on it once driving to clean out the soot in the motor.

[worth]

Take your car, divide it by 2, add 7 and that's how long you should run it for.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Holy crap, you have got to be kidding me!!!

Like Shane_C said, l too let it warm up for about 20-30 seconds. If l have to scrap my windows, that is my warmup right there.

You need to warm up diesel engines. Your supposed to let them warm up for about 5 minutes in the summer as well. Also cool them down for 7 minutes if they have been driving hard.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

You need to warm up diesel engines. Your supposed to let them warm up for about 5 minutes in the summer as well. Also cool them down for 7 minutes if they have been driving hard.

What motor are we talking here?? Mine only needs to be idled for a couple mins when its really cold and not at all in the summer. The shutdown idle is to cool the turbo down, mine even when its hot and been running hard can be turned off after 1 or 2 mins.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

What motor are we talking here?? Mine only needs to be idled for a couple mins when its really cold and not at all in the summer. The shutdown idle is to cool the turbo down, mine even when its hot and been running hard can be turned off after 1 or 2 mins.

7.3L Power Stroke.

[Ashartus]

I start driving pretty much right away in the morning (but park in an attached garage overnight). At the end of the day I just warm it up while I'm scraping/brushing snow, or maybe 1 minute tops if it's really cold with no snow or ice.

[SpezzasGirl]

Are we talking about the engine or the back seat. Me and the old man usually get er going within 2-3 minutes.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

7.3L Power Stroke.

I've got a 6.6 Duramax. I really don't think you need to idle it that long especially in the summer. I've driven those truck and they're fine to start and drive. Plus your shutdown time is probably a bit excessive. You should get an EGT gauge and shut it down at 300F.

[flamesdyehard]

A couple years ago I was warming up my car, came back out of the house and my car was gone. The police found it a day later in a back alley. All the change, my ipod, and some other little items were stolen. Since then I don't warm it up very long. I should get an automatic starter.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by flamesdyehard

A couple years ago I was warming up my car, came back out of the house and my car was gone. The police found it a day later in a back alley. All the change, my ipod, and some other little items were stolen. Since then I don't warm it up very long. I should get an automatic starter.

Or just a remote entry separate from the key so you can leave the key in and still lock the doors

[flamesdyehard]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Or just a remote entry separate from the key so you can leave the key in and still lock the doors

I already had that but they broke in. With an auto starter the engine aborts when the car is put into gear.