Engine Temps

BigBadSierra · November 23, 2015

The 5.3 in these things really do not heat up to much when they are just idling in the winter. I do remote start it to get oil moving but it seems you have to drive them to get any real heat from the engine.

Retired Bob · November 23, 2015

I live in the SC Lowcountry and I walk my dog at around 6am each morning - I live in a subdivision. I see lots of vehicles idling in the driveways even when the temps are 60 and above. Some are remote start and some I've seem people run out, start the vehicle, and run back inside the house. If they were warming the vehicle before putting the baby in the vehicle I could understand. But, it must just be a habit for some as the temps are not cold outside. Seems like a waste of gas and pollution of the air - plus it smells bad when I need to walk past the idling tailpipe. 10 minutes of idling = 10 minutes of zero MPG!

Tek74 · November 23, 2015

In normal temps, I fire it up and wait until the RPMs fall below 1k, then I put it in gear and drive easy for the first 5 min. It usually drops below 1k RPM in about 45seconds.

In colder temps, I do the same, but let it idle for about 2 minutes before putting it in gear. I might consider letting it idle for 4-5 minutes if it was super Siberia cold outside.

Some have mentioned how modern engines are better and don't require long warm ups, but nobody has really mentioned engine oil. Higher quality oils, especially synthetics, get moving through the engine faster to start protecting faster. I run Amsoil, so I feel better about driving off sooner in cold starts.

Clocked92 · November 23, 2015

On summer days and days when its not freezing, I usually hop in my truck, start it, let the gauges cycle and drive off. Once it's freezing, I remote start the truck, let it run for 5-10 minutes then get in and drive slower at the start to let it warm up. Considering we have 3-4 months of -20C and lower, I haven't had an issue.

No offense but I honestly laugh when I see people in Southern California asking about remote starting their truck to warm it up haha

tnchevy · November 23, 2015

I drive a company truck during the week that I do not care about and no matter how cold it is I fire it up, throw it in gear, and get goin'. Drive these trucks till they get 150k out of them and never a problem. Most of the fluids beside oil need to be warmed up by driving anyway.

fondupot · November 23, 2015

I have always gone by engine temp, I don't put the truck into gear until it is up to full temp.

Jeez, this is a waste of time and gas. The engine will warm up faster driving gingerly than just idling. At most, on super cold days (meaning below 10 degrees ambient) I will let the engine idle 1-2 mins before going into gear. Then I will just drive easy for the time it takes to get up to operating temp.

For 10 degrees to 32 degrees, I hit the remote start while I am walking up to the truck and that gives the engine a few extra seconds. Then I hop in, let the gauges sweep, shift to D and go.

Anything above 32, get in, start it up, let the gauges do their sweep, shift to D and go.

SMiller · November 23, 2015

I could care less what you do, I have a friend that throws it in gear before it can even rev down so it slams into gear, never a issue, at a minimum I will let the motor idle all the way down before putting it into gear.

I wonder if some realize the power it takes to spin the crank and lube the trans, even in park it takes a lot of power, now you want to power the entire vehicle...

Used to have a friend that owned a junk yard, he made 99% of his money in the winter, said fuel injected vehicles were the best thing to ever happen to him as when everything was carbureted it required warminf the motor before loading it, now everyone turns the key and goes...

To each their own, I like to use caution, I won't be buying a used truck so I could care less what each person does or when the maintain/service.

Willie will · November 24, 2015

So out of everybody's replies it's ok to start up and go. Honestly I thought I was doing harm to my engine without warming it up. For you guys in the colder climates well if there's no difference on how the truck runs when it's freezing out there then I guess somebody like me in SoCal has no problem at all.