How long to let car warm up.... - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

IntegrasAreBest · 12-11-2006, 11:28 PM

how long do you let your cars warm up in the morning? ive heard from some people that letting it warm up for more than 2 minutes is bad and then ive heard from some that it's perfectly fine to let it hit about 1/4 of the way to normal operating temp.

240sxDann · 12-11-2006, 11:36 PM

why would it be bad to let it heat up all the way? for say like 5 mins? I usually let it sit running for like 5 mins so the heats almost ready when I get in lol.

GeforceXtreme · 12-11-2006, 11:37 PM

I just love when people hop into a car after its been sitting outside in the freezing cold and gun it.. I can just hear the engine wanting to blow up. Hell if I don't let my car warm up for a few minutes before getting on it.. feels like I am riding a lard bucket.

**TROLL** · 12-11-2006, 11:40 PM

excessive idling is not good for an engine because it comes up to temp too slowly and therefore spends extra time running with cold oil. there is no harm in hopping into a car and driving it, just don't put excessive strain on the motor until it has come up to temperature.

IntegrasAreBest · 12-11-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TROLL

excessive idling is not good for an engine because it comes up to temp too slowly and therefore spends extra time running with cold oil. there is no harm in hopping into a car and driving it, just don't put excessive strain on the motor until it has come up to temperature.

interesting! thats what my buddy tired to tell me but he couldnt explain it like you did.

TurboTagTeam · 12-11-2006, 11:48 PM

I start my car before I get in the shower in the morning. It's usally ideling for 20min or longer. But even if I start it and take off, it still takes forever to warm up.

sisforsurfing · 12-11-2006, 11:52 PM

I usually do for a little less than a minute, I get impatient if I try and wait any longer. And I don't usually drive my car quickly during these temperatures, but when I do I make sure it's been warmed up for about 10 minutes of very slow driving. I drive SO slowly when my car is cold, especially in some of the temperatures we've been having.

I hate what the cold does to my transmission, it feels terrible. Time to change my fluid 10k miles early so I can upgrade it, I don't know if I can handle it like this all winter.

**TROLL** · 12-11-2006, 11:53 PM

i'm sure others will have differing theories, but that is what i was thought and it makes sense to me. i just drive below 3000 rpm at only partial throttle until the car has come up to temp.

ozthunder · 12-12-2006, 12:02 AM

I give it 5 mins. The main problem is just getting all the gears warm...cold trans SUCK.

Renegade_ · 12-12-2006, 12:05 AM

I basically let it idle until it hits the bottom line of the temp thing on the dash - this i like 3-4 minutes.

I really don't like driving before this because the idle control cable sticks the RPMs... Basically I'll put it in first, start moving, and when like 2500-3000 comes up, I'll clutch and the RPMs will hold and fall like 200 RPM a second. It's weird so I let it idle a bit longer.

Honest_Bob · 12-12-2006, 12:05 AM

I'll let it idle for like a minute usually less. The car has to get warm sometime. I think letting it idle till the gauges say its warm is a crock of ****. The tranny is still cold, wheel bearings, suspension components are all still cold. I keep it under 3k rpms although mostly cruise at a little over 2k and keep out of the boost totaly until the water temp is normal. I try to refrain from boosting till the oil temp starts to read at like 50C.

james_ls · 12-12-2006, 12:20 AM

I do about a minute or two, three max. Usually as I'm walking out...or getting everything ready to walk out...

Of course NOT beating the balls off of it until its up to temp though...then have a blast!

JDM87 · 12-12-2006, 12:36 AM

i auto start mine and let it warm up till its at my usual idle which is like 800...i keep it in my garage though so it doesnt take to long

Silverfc88 · 12-12-2006, 12:49 AM

I let mine warm for 5+ minutes. I wait until my oil temps get to about 150 before I start driving it around even then I wait until its fully warm to really get on it.

Silver04STi · 12-12-2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TROLL

i'm sure others will have differing theories, but that is what i was thought and it makes sense to me. i just drive below 3000 rpm at only partial throttle until the car has come up to temp.

This is how I do it. I only have a 5 minute drive to work, so it doesn't make sense for me to let it warm up for 5 or minutes.

dougiefresheq · 12-12-2006, 01:02 AM

10ish mins

oh <3 remote start

Raven18940 · 12-12-2006, 01:57 AM

My manual says explicitly not to warm up the car as it prolongs the warm up period and will cause excessive engine wear over time. It's freakin cold in Sweden too, so I figure they know a thing or two about cold engines. I give my engine however long it takes me to get settled and get my mp3 player going, bit less than a minute I think.

1988 Olds · 12-12-2006, 02:29 AM

Thats why you go baller status and put a heater on the radiator hose. Actually about 120-130 degrees when I start it. Only probably is finding a place to plug it in when your out.

If I'm out I let it warm up to about the same before I drive it. Carbs take a while to warm up.

dt98gsr · 12-12-2006, 03:11 AM

I usually let my car warm up for say a minute or two and if I moving real slow maybe four or five mins max.

dougiefresheq · 12-12-2006, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dt98gsr

I usually let my car warm up for say a minute or two and if I moving real slow maybe four or five mins max.

yeah i start it when i wake up and then get ready then im out the door in about 5-10 mins depending on how i feel when i get ready

View Poll Results: how long do you let your car warm up for?
I don't...	5	13.89%
1-2 minutes	11	30.56%
2 minutes or longer.	20	55.56%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

12-11-2006, 11:28 PM	#1
IntegrasAreBest Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2006 Member #2474 iTrader: (1)	How long to let car warm up.... how long do you let your cars warm up in the morning? ive heard from some people that letting it warm up for more than 2 minutes is bad and then ive heard from some that it's perfectly fine to let it hit about 1/4 of the way to normal operating temp.

12-11-2006, 11:37 PM	#3
GeforceXtreme Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Holland, Pa Member #367 My Ride: 2000 Buick Regal GSE iTrader: (0)	I just love when people hop into a car after its been sitting outside in the freezing cold and gun it.. I can just hear the engine wanting to blow up. Hell if I don't let my car warm up for a few minutes before getting on it.. feels like I am riding a lard bucket. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. - "Gods Grocery Getter is powered by an L67 3800" - *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.* 12.900 @ 109.91mph 2.166 60Ft (Fastest 1/4) 13.374 @ 110.01mph 2.467 60Ft (Fastest Trap)

12-11-2006, 11:52 PM	#7
sisforsurfing Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2005 Member #267 My Ride: 2003 WRX wagon iTrader: (2)	I usually do for a little less than a minute, I get impatient if I try and wait any longer. And I don't usually drive my car quickly during these temperatures, but when I do I make sure it's been warmed up for about 10 minutes of very slow driving. I drive SO slowly when my car is cold, especially in some of the temperatures we've been having. I hate what the cold does to my transmission, it feels terrible. Time to change my fluid 10k miles early so I can upgrade it, I don't know if I can handle it like this all winter. __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.*

12-12-2006, 12:02 AM	#9
ozthunder Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In a modular on campus Member #2994 My Ride: 2006 Nissan SE-R Spec V iTrader: (0)	I give it 5 mins. The main problem is just getting all the gears warm...cold trans SUCK. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-11-2006, 11:48 PM	#6
TurboTagTeam Tri-State Post Whore Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cell Block F Member #275 My Ride: constantly changes iTrader: (2)	I start my car before I get in the shower in the morning. It's usally ideling for 20min or longer. But even if I start it and take off, it still takes forever to warm up.

12-12-2006, 12:05 AM	#10
Renegade_ Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: NNJ/NYC Member #1912 My Ride: 1J Swaggon iTrader: (2)	I basically let it idle until it hits the bottom line of the temp thing on the dash - this i like 3-4 minutes. I really don't like driving before this because the idle control cable sticks the RPMs... Basically I'll put it in first, start moving, and when like 2500-3000 comes up, I'll clutch and the RPMs will hold and fall like 200 RPM a second. It's weird so I let it idle a bit longer. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-12-2006, 12:05 AM	#11
Honest_Bob TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Easton, PA Member #1179 My Ride: 05 WRX Wagon iTrader: (2)	I'll let it idle for like a minute usually less. The car has to get warm sometime. I think letting it idle till the gauges say its warm is a crock of ***. The tranny is still cold, wheel bearings, suspension components are all still cold. I keep it under 3k rpms although mostly cruise at a little over 2k and keep out of the boost totaly until the water temp is normal. I try to refrain from boosting till the oil temp starts to read at like 50C. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.*

12-12-2006, 12:20 AM	#12
james_ls TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Warrington Member #1614 My Ride: 1998 Acura Integra LS//VTEC iTrader: (0)	I do about a minute or two, three max. Usually as I'm walking out...or getting everything ready to walk out... Of course NOT beating the balls off of it until its up to temp though...then have a blast! __________________ *Heller Dope* - When the ** is doper than Hellen Keller; it's Heller Dope To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. BUY MY STUFF!** To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-12-2006, 12:36 AM	#13
JDM87 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Marlton Member #2557 My Ride: G35 iTrader: (0)	i auto start mine and let it warm up till its at my usual idle which is like 800...i keep it in my garage though so it doesnt take to long __________________ I Got Nothing But Time...

12-12-2006, 12:49 AM	#14
Silverfc88 Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NorCal Member #126 My Ride: 88 RX7 TII, 2012 WRX hatch iTrader: (5)	I let mine warm for 5+ minutes. I wait until my oil temps get to about 150 before I start driving it around even then I wait until its fully warm to really get on it. __________________ formerly 95nracer Instagram @Silverfc88 11.6@123mph Streetport 13bt, Haltech Sprint RE, FIC 1150cc + Delphi 1000cc injectors, Walbro 255, Borg Warner s360 .88, HKS mani, JGS 50mm, Greddy FMIC, HKS Twin Power, AEM water/meth inj

12-12-2006, 01:02 AM	#16
dougiefresheq Tri-State Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: trash can Member #1602 My Ride: 88 civic iTrader: (0)	10ish mins oh <3 remote start __________________ think out of the hood......

12-12-2006, 02:29 AM	#18
1988 Olds Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Member #201 My Ride: 2012 Chevy Cruze iTrader: (0)	Thats why you go baller status and put a heater on the radiator hose. Actually about 120-130 degrees when I start it. Only probably is finding a place to plug it in when your out. If I'm out I let it warm up to about the same before I drive it. Carbs take a while to warm up. __________________ 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Surpeme Classic To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. Dynoed at 237hp and 292lbs at the rear wheels. Hmm ran 13.52 @ 103.42 11/10/06 1994 Hunter Green Acura Integra DB7, Stock

12-12-2006, 03:11 AM	#19
dt98gsr Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Heart of Jersey Member #2949 My Ride: '98 Integra GSR (Gone) '07 Si Coupe (Daily) '08 s2000 (New Project!) iTrader: (1)	I usually let my car warm up for say a minute or two and if I moving real slow maybe four or five mins max. __________________ Dave@Canibeat.com '07 Si Coupe & '08 s2000 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

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