Let a car run before driving?

[teller80]

Hey Dis Mechanics - in this cold, cold weather, should I let my car run for a minute or so before I start driving to get the oil and stuff moving, or is it ok to just start her up and go?

 

[bcla]

Install a block heater if you can, which will keep the coolant warm and indirectly heats the block. Many use one simply so there will be instant heat, although faster time to full oil/block temps help with startup wear. No block heater warms up the coolant/block to full operating temperature, but that head start is nice.

I don't drive a whole lot in cold weather, but when I do I generally let it warm up a couple of minutes. I also want the rear-window defroster to do its thing. I don't know if it's strictly needed to help with engine wear, but it's not as bad as many claim.

 

[already]

Hey Dis Mechanics - in this cold, cold weather, should I let my car run for a minute or so before I start driving to get the oil and stuff moving, or is it ok to just start her up and go?

Make sure you check your local ordinances. Where I live, puffing (leaving a car running unattended to warm it up) is illegal and cops do ticket.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

No if you have a newer car (as in, newer than the 90s) you don't need to let your car warm up before driving (excepting any instance where you need to defrost your windshields).

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Fire & drive

 

[Squirlz]

Like you said, just 30 seconds or so is cheap insurance that everything is circulating
.

 

[JPM3]

I let the car run for 1-2 minutes, then I'm off. I go easy on the gas, early shift points to keep lower RPMs until the engine reaches optimal operating temps. I also follow the general rule for forced induction cars not to hit boost until the oil warms up.

 

[disneypofq05]

I have a newer car and the dealership said I didn't have to let it warm up. In the cold weather we've been having I usually let the car warm up and to get the car nice and toasty warm for when I get in and am ready to start driving.

I am watching the news right now and they just had a story about this topic. One person said have a full tank of gas, a good battery and proper maintenance and you'll be all set. Another mechanic said in the zero weather we've been having to let the car warm up a bit no matter how old/new your car is. He mentioned something about letting the oil warm up a bit before driving.

 

[tzolkin]

This is our first winter living in the south and DH just mentioned this to me last night.

He said everyone at work has been sitting in the parking garage with their cars running for 15+ minutes to let them warm up. They're not icy or foggy and it's not that cold (we came from an area that was regularly in the negative digits). They actually believe that the car will not run if it doesn't warm up for that long.

 

[JanaDee]

I always let our cars warm up before leaving.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I warm my car up because I don't want to sit in a 0 degree car. i'm sure it would be fine if I just started it and went though.

 

[njmom47]

I learned that hard way ($4000+ for a new motor) a few winters ago that I should let my vehicle warm up...I ALWAYS warm my car up. At work I run outside about 10 minutes before I leave and let it run (I have a spare key so lock the door) and I do the same in the morning.

 

[usd2bmd]

I don't know if you should, but I do. It's been pretty cold here (temps in the negative before wind chill) so I warm it up only so I don't have to drive in a cold car.

 

[nene0182]

I don't think its a necessity for the car but it's a necessity for me.

 

[MickeySP]

Remote start!!! Best thing ever. I would give it a minute or 3, what is the harm.

I do because I have unheated leather seats. They are fun in extreme cold or heat


Edited for autocorrect

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We warm up our cars, esp. the Yukon.

It is sitting in the driveway and right now it is sleeting on it. I hope we can get the doors open tomorrow.

Our cars are in the garage and my dd's car is in there taking up space because dh is doing repair work on it.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I let ours warm up for getting things moving but to get the car warm inside as well.

 

[flopnut2112]

1-2 min warm up time and try to park so prevailing wind is not blowing directly at the front of your vehicle

 

[Shutterbug]

When below zero yes I let it warm up for a minutes, sometimes a little bit longer if ice is frozen to the windows. ( I never scrape the window, leaves to many marks) One thing to remember, is when its idling like that and trying to get to operating temp, its gonna be sucking alot of gas. The sooner you start driving it the faster it will get to operating temp.

 

[lizabu]

I've hear that newer cars don't need to warm up, and we do have anti idling by-laws where I live but when it's real cold I will let it warm a bit just to help melt the ice off the windows a bit and save me a little scraping.