How long do you warm up?

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Nov 29, 2019 | 04:00 PM

#16

sunuvabug

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: SW ON, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by alloro

... snipped ... Normally in the colder weather I let mine warm up just a few minutes to loosen the fluids ...

Loosen the fluids??? ... yours or the trucks?

Nov 29, 2019 | 11:12 PM

#17

phillips91

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Joined: Apr 2008

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From: Rogersville, TN

I let my diesels warm up long enough for me to get my Qualcomm and duty status updated and then take it easy until it reaches operating temperature. On my gas engines I just get in them and go.

Nov 30, 2019 | 11:45 AM

#18

alloro

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Joined: Apr 2008

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From: 0,0,1

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunuvabug

Loosen the fluids??? ... yours or the trucks?

The truck's! Ever see oil flow that's been out in 20 degree weather? It's thick as molasses.

Nov 30, 2019 | 01:15 PM

#19

sky Cowboy

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Joined: May 2015

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From: Near Salmon Arm BC

Depends a lot on what oil is used.

I run 5w40 in my diesels year round. It actually flows okay unless really cold.

Dec 1, 2019 | 12:03 PM

#20

don123

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Joined: May 2006

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From: Massachusetts

If it’s real cold and windshield is iced up I’ll wait about 5 to 10 minutes and drive. Otherwise I start it and drive off slowly until the motor warms up.

Dec 1, 2019 | 12:25 PM

#21

pk4991

New User

Joined: Nov 2019

Posts: 21

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From: Shenandoah

Don't have an engine heater or anything, so I let it idle for a minute or two max. Then, drive it in my neighborhood slowly and maybe park it again for a little.

If it snows or ices then it's the same deal, driving it in the neighborhood for a minute or two helps with breaking up ice or snow.

Dec 1, 2019 | 01:15 PM

#22

Tedster9

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Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 19,311

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djosbun

Warming up a modern car is not needed and you're probably doing more harm than good, especially if you're letting it idle for minutes on end.

The engine doesn't need it, we need it to warm up! Plus the windows and windshield need defrost time. Getting in a subzero iced over vehicle is especially unsafe from a visibility standpoint. Every winter see people driving around with a tiny 4" porthole scraped through the ice on the windshield and a snow cornice hanging over the roof and window.

Carbureted engines used to get cylinders and rings washed out from rich choke fuel mixtures, oil contamination etc. Modern EFI and computer engine controls, they don't suffer from this problem. It isn't going to hurt anything to idle for a while.

Any engine will warm up much faster under load versus idling, this is a fact, but the problem is defrosting the windows & visibility, and driver comfort.

Garages are the best thing ever!

Dec 1, 2019 | 01:42 PM

#23

Overkill2

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Joined: Mar 2017

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From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedster9

Any engine will warm up much faster under load versus idling, this is a fact, but the problem is defrosting the windows & visibility, and driver comfort.

That's what the @$$ heater is for. Butt

I have a long hill to climb first thing off my street and by the time I get to the top, the truck is warm enough inside and the oil is at 100 deg give or take. I make sure I can see well enough out the windows and away I go slowly. It'll be warm enough when I get to the top.