For people have good knowledge on car mechanics

[rc5]

so how long the idling time should be for an old car, like chevor 1988, in a normal winter day? (15-30 F degrees)

I told my friend it needed a couple of minutes. He said that made him laughing because he thought it only needed 30-40 seconds.

Is that right?

 

[xraymongral]

What are you talking about? Anytime the engine is running, and the throttle is not pushed, it should be idling. So, the answer to the question as presented is: Your cars idle time is proportionate to the amount of gas in your tank.

 

[rc5]

Geez, I ought to be more specific.

It means the time when you turn on the engine key in the morning till you feel it's okay to move.

 

[myputer]

I would let it run like 10 minutes

 

[rc5]

wow, mycomputer, that's certainly overkill.
But I think idling only 30-40 seconds in winter is a way to ask your parent for a new car earlier.

 

[yakko]

It should only idle for a few seconds. You want to get the car moving so the oil pump builds up pressure and starts lubricating the engine. In warm weather it can idle longer because the oil is not as thick and is distributed more readily. It should be driven for a few minutes before you try pushing the motor.

I used to think it was a few minutes too but when I was a mechanic I read and article in one the trade magazines like Motor that said otherwise.

 

[thebestMAX]

As soon as the car will drive without stalling but drive conservatively for the first few minutes.

Lived in Montana with temps of 30 below common at night and put over 100,000 miles on my car treating it this way.

 

[stanger]

yeah i agree with max, you gotta remember too that the rear differential and tranny ( if its a 5 speed) fluid are still cold so on a cold day drive slow until it gets to the same operating temps as the engine... it will make your car happy

stanger

 

[xraymongral]

Ok, here ya go. In the cold, oil is thicker, so you need to let your car idle longer to let the oil warm up to the point that it is flowing well to all the vital engine parts. In real cold weather, like 20 below, 10 minutes or more is fine amount of time to warm the engine up. In summer, I listen to the engine noise at start up. You will notice a little lifter noise, which goes away once oil preassure is up. This equates to pretty much starting it up, waiting a few seconds, and going. On a hot engine, you don't really have to wait.

I use synthetic oil for better cold weather performance. It is the way to go even if you live in warm climates. Look for Amsoil, it is good stuff.

 

[rc5]

For my car, when the oil is cool. It's fairly hard to turn the steering wheel to make a steep right/left turn, especially for gals and girlish guys.

 

[Emulex]

okay. You need to warm up your car about 1 minute before driving, then you need to drive the vehicle lightly (ie under 3k rpm's) until the oil temps reach about 120 degrees. Then you can romp on it.


If you just let your car sit and idle, the rate at which the car warms up will be significantly longer than if you drive it lightly. The longer your car is running at below about ~~ 120 degrees oil temp, the more wear will be placed on the engine.

 

[Cyberian]

<< okay. You need to warm up your car about 1 minute before driving, then you need to drive the vehicle lightly (ie under 3k rpm's) until the oil temps reach about 120 degrees. Then you can romp on it.


If you just let your car sit and idle, the rate at which the car warms up will be significantly longer than if you drive it lightly. The longer your car is running at below about ~~ 120 degrees oil temp, the more wear will be placed on the engine. >>



Probably true, but how many cars have oil temp. gauges?

 

[xraymongral]

<< If you just let your car sit and idle, the rate at which the car warms up will be significantly longer than if you drive it lightly. The longer your car is running at below about ~~ 120 degrees oil temp, the more wear will be placed on the engine. >>


When the oil is not viscous enough to flow properly, it does not coat the bearing with complete efficency. Then when the crank is tourqued against the bearing, such as during acceleration, there is not proper lubercation to prevent excessive wear.

During the summer months, little or no warm up is ok, but during the winter, longer warm up times are neccesary. When it is well below frezing, and even more so below zero degrees, it takes longer for the oil to warm to the point it is flowing well.

That is one reason why synthetics are nice, as you can get a 0w30 oil that flows really well in the cold weather.