Cold weather warm up
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boothbay Harbor Maine
Cold weather warm up
How people actually warm up there vehicle before the use it? Asoon as the temps start to get below 50 I warm it up about 5 to 10 minutes. Anything below freezing I let it warm up about 20 to 30 minutes. Days that it is below 30 to 40 minutes, or call in sick LOL
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 643
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I just start and go. The engine will warm up faster when you're driving. The tranny stays cold if you're parked and just idling the motor. if it's really bad outside and there is thick ice on the windshield I let her idle while scraping the glass off. I picked up something call "HOT ENERGY windshield DE-ICER at walmart the other day, it says it will remove ice fast with no harm to vehicle's finish......lol, it turns the ice red, thats all, no melting, just coloring. stay away from this product.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
I'm with modar--get in and go. Or, start it, scrape, then go. Five minutes of driving, and the ol' truck is pretty much up to temp. Idling just wastes gas. Today's vehicles start wasting gas after about 30 seconds to a minute of idling. In other words, they use less gas if you shut them off when you're going to be sitting for more than a minute.
Jason
Jason
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,651
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From: Maine
I usually give it 15 seconds or so (clutch out, in neutral) regardless of weather, and maybe a minute or so if it's below around 20 degrees. But if she sits for a while, or it's real cold, or worst, sits when it's real cold, the valves make their displeasure known when I first fire it up. Warm-up for a minute or so after they shut up.
I also try to really baby it until the temp gauge starts to move, and try not get on the highway or heavy on the throttle until it's up to temp.
I also try to really baby it until the temp gauge starts to move, and try not get on the highway or heavy on the throttle until it's up to temp.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 171
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The only time I let it warm up more than 30 seconds is when there's ice on the glass that needs heat to clear. Drive easy and let it warm up over a few miles.
It was 0* here this morning. I get a warm motor within three miles. Tranny takes a bit longer.
It was 0* here this morning. I get a warm motor within three miles. Tranny takes a bit longer.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,529
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From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
I tend to just start up and head out. Maybe if it's REAL cold I'll sit for a minute to let the valves stop chattering, but that's about it. I park inside a shed, so ice on the windshield is'nt generally a problem. Both my F150 and the Bronco tend to warm up pretty quickly.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
I second everyone else out here. Letting it sit idling is just plain a bad idea.
Around here it's usually pretty frosty in the mornings so I fire it up, turn the defrost (front and rear) on and then scrape the windows. Then since the windows have a tendency to get really foggy unless they have a little heat on them, I rev it up to about 2k for about a minute, maybe two. Just enough that I see the temp needle start to move. I know that's not the best on it either, but it sure beats running off the road cause I can't see where I'm going. Then I'm on the road and going. I'm usually up to full temperature before the end of my gravel road.
Around here it's usually pretty frosty in the mornings so I fire it up, turn the defrost (front and rear) on and then scrape the windows. Then since the windows have a tendency to get really foggy unless they have a little heat on them, I rev it up to about 2k for about a minute, maybe two. Just enough that I see the temp needle start to move. I know that's not the best on it either, but it sure beats running off the road cause I can't see where I'm going. Then I'm on the road and going. I'm usually up to full temperature before the end of my gravel road.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 6
From: Ames, Iowa
Since I have a baby, I put a small space heater (with Safety guards built in) into the van for 30 minutes prior to leaving. THis takes the edge off of the 0 degree temps.
As for the truck, I tend to idle about 3-5 minutes to burn through the frost. Some days less, some days more.
The truck sits outside.
As for the truck, I tend to idle about 3-5 minutes to burn through the frost. Some days less, some days more.
The truck sits outside.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 586
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by fl1a
I let mine idle until the engine idles down, usually about 5 minutes. The defroster
begins to work by then too.
begins to work by then too.
I am curious if anyone knows what exactly idling is supposed to do to the cats? I have heard this from manufacturers and other sources, Yet I can't seem to think of the science behind it. Am I missing something?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
At start-up, the computer directs the engine to run richer than normal because everything is cold, when the gas doesn't vaporize as readily. So, to get an adequate flame in the cylinder, more fuel is dumped in, which doesn't necessarily burn. Fuel that isn't fully burned is what causes carbon deposits on everything inside an engine (oil can do it, too), including the cats, eventually clogging them.
Jason
Jason
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
Likes: 0
From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Carbon isn't what ruins cats; raw fuel during a long warm-up period causes them to overheat, destroying the precious metals inside. Some Owner's Guides have a warning about prolonged idling over anything combustible, like dry grass.
Steve
Steve
