So how long does everyone wait after starting your engine before driving it. I live in Arizona and never see any REAL cold. I usually wait until the RPM's drop under 1000 before it start driving, about 20 - 30 seconds. I'm sure my wife drops it in gear as soon as her hand leaves the ignition.

How long do you wait, cold weather vs hot, and why?

 

For years Ford recomended just driving the car to warm it up, dont what they recomend [sp?].Common sense would dictate in cold weather to take it easy for a little bit to help the fluids and clutches warm up some.I have always stayed in the vehicle for 5 mins or so to keep it off idle a little bit to get more oil pressure for a few minutes instead of just cranking it up and getting out.Down south here in hot weather I just crank it up, idle for about 15 secs and go, you can do that when it is 97-101 degrees.Sometimes when it is real hot outside I can come home at night and the next morn the engine still feels warm.I would vote for driving slow and easy at first,driving is the only way to warm gear lube,axle lube and to get the trans up to temp.My opinion only.

 

I generally get in, start the engine, put on my seat belt, cycle the front windows to clear the dew and then back out. Probably have a good minute or two, no problems yet. StevenG

 

I park my truck outside and our west coast climate has the windows all fogged up so I start it and while it is running I wipe all the windows clear. Then I drive off. This is a great feature of the V10 gasser, she is throwing a little heat in under 5 minutes. My diesel trucks took a lot longer to warm up.

My favorite warm up story is when I was a kid growing up north of Winnipeg, we had lot's of 40 below and everyone plugged in their vehicles when they were parked or most of them would not start.

My Dad always drove Fords but he got a good deal on a new 65 GMC half ton pickup.
He sold his old 55 Ford pickup and got the gutless little 6 cylinder engine in the new GMC. It was a 3 on the tree standard trans. That gutless 6 would start in 40 below when she was plugged in but the engine did not have the power to turn the gears in neutral so he had to sit out there and freeze himself while holding the clutch in.
Once the 6 was running for a while he could let the clutch out slowly and it would not stall. The oil in that tranny was like tar at 40 below zero.

The Ford V8s all had enough snuff to put in neutral right away. BRRRRRRRRR cold memories.

 

In the heat of summer here on Long Island, I'll start 'er up and run with the AC on for 5-10 minutes before even getting in the truck... but that's at 95+ with near 100% humidity.

In the cold, I'll start it up and let it run for a while to get the heat going... again, because of the outside temp.

When it's so-so out, I'll pretty much start and go.

I never really gave it a thought - when it was brand-new, less than 10K miles (fully broken-in), I would definitely let it warm up a minute or so to get the oil fully flowing and then go.

My machinist once told me, it's better to get the thing warm as fast as possible instead of letting it idle.

Also, you get the catalytic converter up to the right temp quicker if you just get in it and go - whether that's a good idea or not...

So, guess what, I'm a fence-sitter.

art k.

 

i always let it run until the idle drops, usually about a minute. lately though, every 3 or 4 times i start it, i hear a little ticking until it warms up. not quite sure what that is as i keep the oil changed every 3000. 77,000 miles, and runs awesome.

 

Ticking???

CHECK THE SPARK PLUGS BEFORE I HAVE TO DEFEND ANOTHER V10 TO A DIESEL OWNER !!!!!

 

Old memories Wench grow up in northern MN, I also had a chev 6 3 on the tree( for the younger group thats a 3 speed std with a column shifter) I don't mis all the plugging in at night.

My work truck I just start it and go it's worked well so far.

Denny

 

thanks krewat, i drive a 94 F SUPER DUTY at work every day, with 228,000 on the old 7.3 non turbo engine, and you couldnt pay me enough to own a powerstroke as my own. i will check the plugs now, as it is time anyway at 77,000. thanks again. matt

 

I drove an Isuzu NPR 3.9L turbo 5-speed cube-van for 5 years.

I will not own a diesel.

It was the most reliable, highest-mileage-and-power-for-the-weight machine I've ever seen. But I refuse to own a diesel because of it.

 

my sentiments exactly. the boss drives a 2005 powerstroke dually, which i have driven on occasion, and i must say it is much quieter than my old wreck, but just as smelly! and just about now, my 94 work truck has paid off its 5000 dollar option sticker, but its really worn out. the V10 option is the way to go for me.

 

I have had lots of guys that had to make a living listening to a diesel run
tell me they would never own a diesel in their own private vehicles.

I have known a few (mostly deaf or not the sharpest knives in the drawer)
tell me they are so used to the sound of a diesel they would be lost without it.

Krewat , you belong to the honorable majority that I have known and I think that will please you.

 

I don't think I belong to an honorable anything based on a dis-like...

Please me? tickled pink

 

Very well said, and probably the reason you are a postmaster and I am only a guru.

 

I'm a "postmaster" because I run my mouth off