Warming up a car?

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: ragazzo
2000 model
inline v6
47K miles

How long should I warm up my car?

First of all, there is no such thing as an "inline v6", it is _either_ an inline 6 (unlikely unless it's a BMW), or a V6.

Second of all, unless it is severely cold (20 degrees Fahrenheit or below) you only need to "warm it up" for about 30 seconds, just long enough to make sure that the oil is flowing. After that, you're better to just drive gently (i.e. no heavy acceleration) until the engine has reached operating temperature.

If it's really, really cold, the engine still doesn't need more than maybe 90 seconds.

ZV

I disagree totally on the last part. In below zero temperatures, assuming most people have conventional oil in their cars that probably is overdue to be changed, I think 90 seconds is a bit short of a warm up period. I use Mobil 1 in the Mustang, and it takes a good 30 seconds just for the oil pressure to come up and the valves to quiet down when it's below zero. In a car with conventional oil that is overdue for a change, it could conceivably take the better part of those 90 seconds for the oil to start circulating.

Does it really take that long, even with Mobil1?

Damn........

 

[MX2]

Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

That why my car explodes within 1 minute of dropping the handbrake, unless you push the little red button in the glove box.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Insane3DI disagree totally on the last part. In below zero temperatures, assuming most people have conventional oil in their cars that probably is overdue to be changed, I think 90 seconds is a bit short of a warm up period. I use Mobil 1 in the Mustang, and it takes a good 30 seconds just for the oil pressure to come up and the valves to quiet down when it's below zero. In a car with conventional oil that is overdue for a change, it could conceivably take the better part of those 90 seconds for the oil to start circulating.

No. If it takes that long there is something wrong. Even conventional oil, if it's the proper viscosity, will be circulating just fine within 90 seconds even below zero.

The noise you hear is the hydraulic lifters pumping up. This has nothing to do with oil circulation and can take a couple minutes even in warm weather.

My Porsche calls for 20W50 oil (i.e. THICK oil) and it has oil pressure within 5 seconds of start-up even when it's well below freezing. If it takes 30 seconds for the oil pressure on your Mustang to come up, then there is something _very wrong_ mechanically with the car.

ZV

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: ragazzo
2000 model
inline v6
47K miles

How long should I warm up my car?

First of all, there is no such thing as an "inline v6", it is _either_ an inline 6 (unlikely unless it's a BMW), or a V6.

Second of all, unless it is severely cold (20 degrees Fahrenheit or below) you only need to "warm it up" for about 30 seconds, just long enough to make sure that the oil is flowing. After that, you're better to just drive gently (i.e. no heavy acceleration) until the engine has reached operating temperature.

If it's really, really cold, the engine still doesn't need more than maybe 90 seconds.

ZV

I disagree totally on the last part. In below zero temperatures, assuming most people have conventional oil in their cars that probably is overdue to be changed, I think 90 seconds is a bit short of a warm up period. I use Mobil 1 in the Mustang, and it takes a good 30 seconds just for the oil pressure to come up and the valves to quiet down when it's below zero. In a car with conventional oil that is overdue for a change, it could conceivably take the better part of those 90 seconds for the oil to start circulating.

I drive a mustang, and yesterday was -30 CELCIUS, and i only let the car warmed up for about 10 sec before i drove.

What can happen if i don't let it warm up? Will it reduce the life of my engine?

 

[SupaDupaPan]

Originally posted by: jai6638
wait for it to touch 1000 rpm which takes about 4-5 min..

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Yeah becuase it's not possible to run the car and have it locked too right? :roll:

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I give mine about 5-10 seconds to make sure everything is moving nicely and then I'm off to the races. I drive slowly with low throttle until the car is at full operating temp, of course. People who are waiting a number of MINUTES probably need to reevaluate their lives

??

Uh how warm is it where you are,and is the vehicle parked outside?


If its -3f like here,now,I let my vehicle run 2-5 mins before I drive it.

If 40f + I only let it run 2-30 seconds.

If there is snow or ice on the vehicle,I start it and Then clean all the windows,headlights etc.

Albany, NY All temperatures shown in:
Fahrenheit


Change your city Add another city Updated 10:51 ET Saturday, January 22, 2005



-5°
Fair FEELS LIKE: -na- UV INDEX: 1 Low
HUMIDITY: 59% WIND (mph): CALM 0
VISIBILITY: 10.00 mi BAROMETER: 30.20 in

 

[LiQiCE]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Thats where having remote start is pretty nice. Keeps the car locked and you can't drive the car w/o putting the key in ... You could probably work around it, but you could do the same even if the car didn't have remote start.

From what I've been told, unless its below zero ... you shouldn't warm up a car for more than 30 seconds on a fuel injected vehicle. You're better off driving it and keeping the rpms LOW until the car warms up. And with synthetic oil this is even less of a problem since the oil isn't as effected by temperature changes.

I'm sure there are exceptions for extremely cold areas where it regularly gets below zero.

For areas where it doesn't get below freezing often ... If you know its going to be below freezing that night, dropping a can of dry gas into your tank can help to prevent your fuel lines from freezing from condensation and will help the car to startup faster in the morning.

 

[Argo]

I warm it up until the engine temp goes over 40 C.

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I give mine about 5-10 seconds to make sure everything is moving nicely and then I'm off to the races. I drive slowly with low throttle until the car is at full operating temp, of course. People who are waiting a number of MINUTES probably need to reevaluate their lives

1) Walk outside.
2) Start engine.
3) Walk back inside, pack up for the day.
4) Go back outside to warmed-up engine.
5) Profit.

Here's mine:

1) Remotely start car from inside
2) Walk outside to warmed up engine
3) Profit

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: russianpower
5 minutes is too much

fixed

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Yeah becuase it's not possible to run the car and have it locked too right? :roll:

...

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Insane3DI disagree totally on the last part. In below zero temperatures, assuming most people have conventional oil in their cars that probably is overdue to be changed, I think 90 seconds is a bit short of a warm up period. I use Mobil 1 in the Mustang, and it takes a good 30 seconds just for the oil pressure to come up and the valves to quiet down when it's below zero. In a car with conventional oil that is overdue for a change, it could conceivably take the better part of those 90 seconds for the oil to start circulating.

No. If it takes that long there is something wrong. Even conventional oil, if it's the proper viscosity, will be circulating just fine within 90 seconds even below zero.

The noise you hear is the hydraulic lifters pumping up. This has nothing to do with oil circulation and can take a couple minutes even in warm weather.

My Porsche calls for 20W50 oil (i.e. THICK oil) and it has oil pressure within 5 seconds of start-up even when it's well below freezing. If it takes 30 seconds for the oil pressure on your Mustang to come up, then there is something _very wrong_ mechanically with the car.

ZV

I was using a worse case scenario. Also, my oil pressure guage is not mechanical, so it's not a real time type of thing. I was exaggerating a bit, it's probably more like 10-15 seconds, and no, there is nothing major wrong with the car. It's modified and has a oil pump that is only a year old from when I had the motor torn down and put new heads on.

Also, the Mobil 1 is a mix of 15W-50 and 10W-30 I use in the warmer months, and it's a bit overdue for a change. The point I was trying to make is you are talking about the oil and the oil system being under optimal conditions. The reality is most people are overdue for a change, and may or may not be using the right viscosity. Running it another minute or two will hurt nothing.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Night201

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I give mine about 5-10 seconds to make sure everything is moving nicely and then I'm off to the races. I drive slowly with low throttle until the car is at full operating temp, of course. People who are waiting a number of MINUTES probably need to reevaluate their lives

1) Walk outside.
2) Start engine.
3) Walk back inside, pack up for the day.
4) Go back outside to warmed-up engine.
5) Profit.

Here's mine:

1) Remotely start car from inside
2) Walk outside to warmed up engine
3) Profit

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Hardcore

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: ragazzo
2000 model
inline v6
47K miles

How long should I warm up my car?

First of all, there is no such thing as an "inline v6", it is _either_ an inline 6 (unlikely unless it's a BMW), or a V6.

Second of all, unless it is severely cold (20 degrees Fahrenheit or below) you only need to "warm it up" for about 30 seconds, just long enough to make sure that the oil is flowing. After that, you're better to just drive gently (i.e. no heavy acceleration) until the engine has reached operating temperature.

If it's really, really cold, the engine still doesn't need more than maybe 90 seconds.

ZV

I disagree totally on the last part. In below zero temperatures, assuming most people have conventional oil in their cars that probably is overdue to be changed, I think 90 seconds is a bit short of a warm up period. I use Mobil 1 in the Mustang, and it takes a good 30 seconds just for the oil pressure to come up and the valves to quiet down when it's below zero. In a car with conventional oil that is overdue for a change, it could conceivably take the better part of those 90 seconds for the oil to start circulating.

I drive a mustang, and yesterday was -30 CELCIUS, and i only let the car warmed up for about 10 sec before i drove.

What can happen if i don't let it warm up? Will it reduce the life of my engine?

If you're using the correct viscosity oil, it *shouldn't* be a big deal, but be gentle until the coolant temperature starts to come up....

In those type of temperatures, I weep for those not using synthetic and wish death upon those using 10W-XX.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Yeah becuase it's not possible to run the car and have it locked too right? :roll:

...

?

What? Is that confusing?

I have spare ignition key. I start the car with that, and lock the doors.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
I was using a worse case scenario. Also, my oil pressure guage is not mechanical, so it's not a real time type of thing. I was exaggerating a bit, it's probably more like 10-15 seconds, and no, there is nothing major wrong with the car. It's modified and has a oil pump that is only a year old from when I had the motor torn down and out new heads on.

Also, the Mobil 1 is a mix of 15W-50 and 10W-30 I use in the warmer months, and it's a bit overdue for a change. The point I was trying to make is you are talking about the oil and the oil system being under optimal conditions. The reality is most people are overdue for a change, and may or may not be using the right viscosity. Running it another minute or two will hurt nothing.

It won't hurt anything, no. But it is entirely un-necessary.

ZV

 

[z0mb13]

inline 6? what car?? 3 series??

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Yeah becuase it's not possible to run the car and have it locked too right? :roll:

...

?

What? Is that confusing?

I have spare ignition key. I start the car with that, and lock the doors.

you keep 2 keychains on you at all times?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
5-10

Sounds good. Doesn't matter. Warm it up until it's warm inside. The car only needs about 60 seconds for the oil to loosen up.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

you keep 2 keychains on you at all times?

No, my car uses a seperate ignition key and door key. I keep a single ignition key in my pocket and start the car with that. I keep my main keychain in my pocket.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Here is what you should do, get a brick and put it to work.

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: MX2times
Good way to get your car stolen fellas. More cars are stolen in the winter months due to people "warming up their vehicles"

Yeah becuase it's not possible to run the car and have it locked too right? :roll:

Like its not possible to smash a window quick and have nice warm stolen car:roll:

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: ragazzo
2000 model
inline v6
47K miles

How long should I warm up my car?

Edit:
The current temp is 10F

Uh...Inline V6?

You got one or the other pal

I don't warm up my cars by idling them as modern engines are better served by warming them up with a load. I just take it easy when I get out on the road