Idling in winter
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Idling in winter
I own a 1998 Ford Expedition and live in South Dakota, where winters gt brutal. I've found many, many articles online about NOT letting your vehicle idle for more than 10 seconds, 30 seconds after night. I've tried telling my parents about this, but they flip out and start screaming....anyone know how to onvince them? I guess old habits are hard to break....
Fleet Owner
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What are your reasons for trying to convince them not to let their vehicle idle?
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Reasons Why
It causes your engine to work in a very inefficient and gasoline rich way that causes extreme wear and tear on your engine and all it's moving components. It just makes sense that if you let it sit for 30-60 seconds after starting it to getting the oil circulating, then drive it lightly ( meaning don't gun it!! ) it will warm up faster and everything will work better in the engine.
New User
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From: Tampa
I get what you're saying... I just misunderstood in your post. Anytime you let a vehicle warm up is always better. I live in Florida and its been cold in the mornings here (45-50) so it takes that little extra to get it warmed up and everything circulating right.
Fleet Owner
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The easiest way to demonstrate this to someone is with 2 identical quarts of oil. Leave one inside overnight and the other outside in the cold. Then open and pour both at the same time next to each other to witness how fast the oil pours. The difference will be both obvious and amazing.
Then explain to your parents that the cold oil stresses the oil pump and also flows slower through the engine. The slow flow results in more wear than would occur with faster flowing oil. This same principle applies to all fluids, power steering, transmission, differential, etc.
If the demonstration does not convince them then let it go. They're the ones that have to pay for the repairs on their vehicle due to stubbornness.
Mountain Pass
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From: Albuquerque
I own a 1998 Ford Expedition and live in South Dakota, where winters gt brutal. I've found many, many articles online about NOT letting your vehicle idle for more than 10 seconds, 30 seconds after night. I've tried telling my parents about this, but they flip out and start screaming....anyone know how to onvince them? I guess old habits are hard to break....
This is a gas waster but many people don't care and would rather be comfortable.
Perhaps installing a block heater and heated seats would overcome their resistance to shorter warmups.
In the end though, their car, their gas, their money. Why rock the boat and get your folks mad at you?
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New User
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I think he is saying they only let it warm up for 5-10 seconds which isn't long enough in cold weather.
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I have idled these motors for 16-18 hrs a day in cold weather & still put over 300,000 miles on it before giving it to my kids still running good.
Many times I start it 0600 hrs & run it all day through fueling and whatever untill 2200-2400hrs.
I always get well over 200,000 miles.
Many times I start it 0600 hrs & run it all day through fueling and whatever untill 2200-2400hrs.
I always get well over 200,000 miles.
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