Ok to run engine for short while?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 790
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From: Austin
Ok to run engine for short while?
Hi, I have a 5.4 2004 Screw. I happen to live very close to work, and grocery shopping. Sometimes, the engine temp does not climb to "normal", ie, the trip is only 2 miles and the engine is still 'cold'.
Is there any damage that might occur from this? It seems like I heard on older cars that if you did not let them get up to normal operating temperature that you would have some sort of 'buildup' or failure of plugs or such.
Thanks!
Is there any damage that might occur from this? It seems like I heard on older cars that if you did not let them get up to normal operating temperature that you would have some sort of 'buildup' or failure of plugs or such.
Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 591
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From: Mirror, Alberta
Lots of short trips
Originally Posted by bigtexan99
Hi, I have a 5.4 2004 Screw. I happen to live very close to work, and grocery shopping. Sometimes, the engine temp does not climb to "normal", ie, the trip is only 2 miles and the engine is still 'cold'.
Is there any damage that might occur from this? It seems like I heard on older cars that if you did not let them get up to normal operating temperature that you would have some sort of 'buildup' or failure of plugs or such.
Thanks!
Is there any damage that might occur from this? It seems like I heard on older cars that if you did not let them get up to normal operating temperature that you would have some sort of 'buildup' or failure of plugs or such.
Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,914
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In the long term, yes you can be doing damage to the engine. You are the type of driver that the manufacturers hate. When you start the engine, it will start condensing moisture build up inside the engine. The oil has to hydrolize this water and when the engine reachs it normal operating temperature, the water is cooked off. Your engine is not getting this "cook off". Your engine is going to have a lot of sludge build up. Might want to take a look at the oil filler cap and see if you have any brown foamy looking stuff on it. If so, the sludge build up has started. You may have to go for a ride every week to cook off the moisture or you may want to change oil every 2000 miles. In your case, I would suggest a synthetic. Might want to find some Mobil 7500 in 5w-20 and change it often when the engine is hot.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northeast Ohio
No problem at all in my opinion.Years ago the exhaust systems would rot out due to excessive condensation when driven under your type of conditions.However, with the stainless steel exhaust systems that are used today, no problem.I would suggest an occaisional 15-20 mile drive and change the oil every 4-6 months.Good Luck!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Austin
Thanks for the tips. I do drive it alot more on the weekends, its just mon -fri that it hardly gets used. If the weather is nice I ride my trusty old Honda Rebel 250 into the office.
Steve
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: South ALABAMA
Since you don't live far from where you need to go, drive it hard. It's made to warm itself. Like when you first start it, in the morning, it holds the shifts longer to build up heat. It's in the owners book for more detail.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northeast Ohio
Do not rev a cold engine and I see some people rev their engine before shutting off.Don't do it.It just wears the engine and is totally unnecessary.They cost to much!Save your revving for when passing a Chevy or Dodge.Then give it heck!!!!!I mean blow their doors off!!!!!!!!!!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 615
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From: Chesterfield, Mi
When I was in high school, the kid across the street had an old Aspen Wagon 
. Every morning in the winter he would start the car and redline the engine to warm it up so he could defrost his windows. Needless to say, the engine didn't last long.
. Every morning in the winter he would start the car and redline the engine to warm it up so he could defrost his windows. Needless to say, the engine didn't last long.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 163
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From: South ALABAMA
I don't mean stomp it. Just get it up to about 3 grand. EVERY ford I have ever owned ( before this one) has been a 5 speed and I have always shifted them at 3 grand. One motor, my old 2.3 in my 90 model, had over 200,000 WHEN I SOLD IT. The only problem I ever had with it was a broken valve spring when I tried to race a buddy of mine with a 318 powered dodge. It had 160,000 when that happened.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 38
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From: Cambridge, Ontario
I have the same problem. I also live very close to work. I usually carry both sets of keys, drive to a coffee shop, lock the truck while it's still idling and then get back in and go to work. It usually gets to normal temp by the time I am at work.
Sometimes I take a longer route to work.
Lately in the winter with the truck plugged in, it warms up half way to work.
And when the weather warms up I will ride in to work as well, on a 99 ZX-6R Ninja.
Sometimes I take a longer route to work.
Lately in the winter with the truck plugged in, it warms up half way to work.
And when the weather warms up I will ride in to work as well, on a 99 ZX-6R Ninja.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northeast Ohio
I watched my tach (5.4) yesterday at start up when cold parked in the garage.It started at 1200 and settled down to around 650 idle in park.All I know is there would be no need for me to rev my engine unless I just wanted to hear my new exhaust system.Good Luck!