Engine Warm Up

RyanZ71 · December 24, 2004

Burrrrr! got down to -5 degrees here in Denver last night! With all of this cold weather I am often wondering how many of you folks take a few extra min to allow your engine to warm up before driving. I myself like to let the engine run until the RPMs drop down to normal operating conditions which usually takes about 2-3 min depending on how cold it is outside. I notice the the engine is sluggish if I just start her up and drive off immediatly during a cold start where as if I take the extra 2-3 min to let her idle and warm up, she accelerates without any stumble or trouble. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and what you do.

hercman · December 24, 2004

I don't warm up my truck or my car. But The community I live in the speed limit is 15 mph for about a mile then 25 and 30 for another two. I find if I take it easy and stay under the limits that by the time I hit the freeway my coolant temps are about 130-150. My 5.7 warms up about twice as fast as my 3.8 At least the 3.8 has heated seats.

Mighty HD · December 24, 2004

I usually let it warm up reguardless of how hot/cold it is outside. In the summer time I say 3-4 min and in the winter at least 5-10 minutes. Once I take off I'll take it real easy till the temps get up in the diff and transmission.

I do the same with the car and work truck..

mcreyaufmiller · December 24, 2004

Sometimes I let it warm up, sometimes not. Most of the time, I sit for a minute or so before I take off. Just want to let the oil circulate before taking off.

budhayes3 · December 24, 2004

I always let all of my vehicles warm up, especially now that I have aftermarket valve springs (Comp Cams) that can be "brittle" when cold...definitely don't need to break a valvespring. I usually let it come down from high idle then give it a few more minutes. My wife on the other hand...turn the key and go. She has a Toyota though, and that thing's pretty much bullet proof so I don't really worry about it.

MrQuadrasteer · December 24, 2004

I usually let it warm up reguardless of how hot/cold it is outside. In the summer time I say 3-4 min and in the winter at least 5-10 minutes. Once I take off I'll take it real easy till the temps get up in the diff and transmission.

I do the same with the car and work truck..

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Me, too. Hot or cold outside, my junk warms up for a few minutes, more the colder it gets. Got the wife trained, too !! Then ****-foot for the first few miles. NEVER hammer below 160*.

My only exception is at work. I park near the top of a 12 story parking garage. I'll start the Jeep, back out (gotta love the 4.0l torque ) and coast down the ramps. Usually have some motion on the gauge by the bottom.

Everyone likes to talk about letting the oil warm up for flow, which is true, but I feel more important is allowing temp to build in the head and block. This is especially true with aluminum head/iron block engines- the two metals have dissimilar expansion rates. There's no easier way to warp an aluminum head or lose a head gasket than to hammer on a cold engine.

but that's just me...

willfxp · December 25, 2004

All the manuals say you don't need to let the engine warm up. And actually the engine warms up faster when driving than idling. Last time I parked out in cold temps, I never really had to gas it to get out of a parking lot. By the time I got to a higher speed road, the engine was warmed up already.

az'03Silverado · December 25, 2004

I live in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix area) so in the summer and late spring/early fall I usually just let the rpm's stabilize and let the oil flow for a few moments. In the "winter" (in quotes because our winter doesn't even compare with the ones some of you discribe) I usually let the rpms come down to normal idle. This gets the oil flowing and lets the belts warm up a little since they're cold and not as flexible. Then I'll usually take it easy until the temp guage shows movement.

I have noticed something that maybe you all have noticed. When it's below like 40 degrees, when I turn the key for the normal amount of time to start the truck then let go, the truck will keep cranking for a split second until the engine starts. Does the computer do this to avoid a failed start-up? It's like the starter doesn't quit as fast as when the weather is warmer.

bartlanz · December 25, 2004

I won't lie, 98% of the time, I turn the key and go. Some days I will let it sit so it's warm when i get in, or I will drive it like 200 ft to the store and let it sit there.

But still for the most part, NO.

asepgrad98 · December 27, 2004

i just keep the rpm below 2k untill the coolant is hot

USA1Fan · December 27, 2004

I don't think I've driven a vehicle that was built in the last 14 years that didn't state that starting up and driving off was the recommended procedure. (A few mention driving no hard acceleration and stuff during the first few minutes, but that's about it). Between that and the fact that I won't live in a house without a garage that will fit my car and my truck now, I always start up, wait the 10 secs of the door to get all the way open, then ease out, close the door and drive off. I AM easy on it until the temp guage gets somewhere near the normal point and the engine / tranny feels like it's loosened up though.

airbalancer · December 27, 2004

Alot depends on how much equipment I am putting in the truck and frost on the the windshield.

Usually start it on the first load carried to the truck if it is below 40. If it is above 40 it start and go

Elwood 2000 · December 27, 2004

I usually let it warm up reguardless of how hot/cold it is outside. In the summer time I say 3-4 min and in the winter at least 5-10 minutes. Once I take off I'll take it real easy till the temps get up in the diff and transmission.

I do the same with the car and work truck..

Same here, but my wife's car has moved 10 feet before she gets her hand off the key! I have asked and told for years to let it warm up a bit, but with no results. Oh well. If her ride dies a pre-mature death, SHE will be the one walking, not me.