How Long do you warm up your car?
 

Ever since I got my autostarter it's gotten way more convenient. I get dressed and eat breakfast. Then I start my car from in the house and go to brush my teeth, do my hair and wash my face. After I'm done with that I head out the door to see my car idling at a nice 750 RPM with the heat on (warmed up 5-7 minutes) and I drive off.

At the end of the school day I start my car from the other end of hte parking lot (it will reach as long as I can see it even in the distance) and I walk slowly and then I get to the car. I pull away as long as my RPM reaches 1000 or below (average of 5 minutes of warming up)

What do you guys do?

I usually go for 1 minute, then drive gently, keeping the rpms below 3k and not driving too fast till it's fully warmed.

I do the same...

-Chike

From everything I've read letting a modern car idle to warm up is actually more detremental than getting in it and driving like the Bandit (aka Burt). Older carb cars tended to drive poorly until warm but the fastest way to warm an engine (ie the oil) is to drive it at moderate engine speeds after a few seconds of warm up at idle (which is more for the transmission to get its pressure up more than anything). Is your car gonna die this week? Probably not unless Green1995SVX has been lerking about! Will it take some of the life of the car? Probably but how much is the question and is it worth a few thousand miles of engine life compared to the convinence for you?

I always let the car warm up to full operating temp before i take it out. But once the needle starts movin its ok to drive.

Driving a cold block like a bandit is a good way to blow some head gaskets or warp some heads.

In the winter, I usually warm it up until the cabin heater clicks on. In the summer, I usually warm it up until I see the needle on the water temp gauge start moving. Usually ends up being at least 3 minutes.

So will letting an engine idle for 25 minutes in -20 degree temps just so it'll warm up. I think you missed my point. They are both not the wisest thing to do to an engine but chances are you're only taking a few thousand miles of the life of a modern engine by doing both. Ideally you should get a block heater and warm it that way but it is an imperfect world and in the long run that may cost more in initial costs and electricity than the few thousand miles were worth to ya.

i did miss your point, but now i see it.

you guys are in cold areas what about here in cali when its constantly hot how long should we warm up the car!:cool:

In general its ok to drive the car once the temp needle starts to move. Just dont drive it hard untill its fully warmed up.

Warming up
 

Hi everyone, My SVX is always stored inside but what I recommend no matter the ambient temp is #1/ Start car{Do not touch gas pedal before starting } #2/ Let idle for 15 to 30 seconds. #3/Drive off using light throttle untill engine is warmed up. On the SVX, the tranny will not shift into Fourth untill the trans fluid reachec 50F degrees and will not lock up till it reaches 160F degrees. Your good to go! Take care, BOBB

P/S In extreme cold temps[below zeroF degrees] you may have to give it some gas when starting.
"B"

I do this:

I get out of my house. Get in the car. Start it up and back up. Then move out and hit the gas. The car has 180+ and worst case, I'd be replacing an engine (which i was going to do anyways) so...

Benebob is correct. Today's ( & most of yesterday's ) cars don't need any elaborate warm-up ceremony. As long as the engine isn't "raced" after start up, summer or winter, a few minutes of "gentle" driving is better than 5 minutes of steady driveway idling. The reason, I believe, is that ALL the driveline components should be gradually warmed, not just the engine. However, it's probably wise to avoid burnouts until the car is fully warmed.

Ron (spoiled by a garage).

no warming here. :)