Do you warm your car up in Winter? Poll..

[AzPete]

I start it and drive off a bit slower. The thing about the car lasting longer is not really a solid argument. Most won't keep there car long enough to be able to say....damn, I should have let it warm up........

As for the oil circulation.....that is why there is multi grade oils. Just for the heck of it, take a quart of oil you use and leave it outside with your car. In the morning, see how it pours. Then take one warmed to the temps YOU drive off at and see the difference. I doubt the oil is as warm as you think. Also, all the oil is most likely NOT warmed to operating temps when you drive off.

As long as you don't put a harsh load on the engine when it is cold, there should not be any damage. An idling engine gets wear just like a engine driven gently until warm.

My thoughts and opinions......been driving many, many years and never killed an engine based on oil issues.......

[mjd4277]

Sometimes I do,but only for the first 45 seconds or so,then I drive it but keep the RPMs under 3K until the temp gauge moves out of the cold range.

[6SPD_soul]

I only let my car sit and idle if it's covered with snow or ice and I need to clean it off/ defrost it or if it's been ridiculously cold out, as in close to 0˚. And even then it will only be for a couple minutes. I think the most important thing (and everyone agrees on this) is to take it real easy and keep the revs low until everything gets up to operating temp.

[FocusedSlayer]

I let mine warm up until my idle drops down to it's normal temp then take it easy until it gets up to operating temp.

[Executionerhk]

Originally Posted by AzPete

I start it and drive off a bit slower. The thing about the car lasting longer is not really a solid argument. Most won't keep there car long enough to be able to say....damn, I should have let it warm up........

As for the oil circulation.....that is why there is multi grade oils. Just for the heck of it, take a quart of oil you use and leave it outside with your car. In the morning, see how it pours. Then take one warmed to the temps YOU drive off at and see the difference. I doubt the oil is as warm as you think. Also, all the oil is most likely NOT warmed to operating temps when you drive off.

As long as you don't put a harsh load on the engine when it is cold, there should not be any damage. An idling engine gets wear just like a engine driven gently until warm.

My thoughts and opinions......been driving many, many years and never killed an engine based on oil issues.......

that is what i heard, as long as you don drive it hard. shift around 3K, it should be the same...
but the problem is i live at high way...
which there is no chance to drive slow... my drive way is connecting to a 80km/h street...

[Executionerhk]

Originally Posted by FocusedSlayer

I let mine warm up until my idle drops down to it's normal temp then take it easy until it gets up to operating temp.

when i have my focus, i did that too.
cold start 1200 rev, wait until around 800rev...

[Phokus]

I start it and wait for the idle to drop down to normal. You know how it idles higher when it's mad cold out

I have no preference whether to warm up or not. As mentioned before I won't have the car long enough to say "damn I should have warmed up"

Most of the time I don't have the time or patience to. I go out start the car sit there for about a minute or so to normalize idle and then drive away

[fhh02a]

Originally Posted by Phokus

I start it and wait for the idle to drop down to normal. You know how it idles higher when it's mad cold out

I have no preference whether to warm up or not. As mentioned before I won't have the car long enough to say "damn I should have warmed up"

Most of the time I don't have the time or patience to. I go out start the car sit there for about a minute or so to normalize idle and then drive away

I second all that...but I try to let it warm up when its around 15 degrees or so...so I can have a warm car--heater wise

[coppertits]

Originally Posted by 6SPD_soul

I only let my car sit and idle if it's covered with snow or ice and I need to clean it off/ defrost it or if it's been ridiculously cold out, as in close to 0˚. And even then it will only be for a couple minutes. I think the most important thing (and everyone agrees on this) is to take it real easy and keep the revs low until everything gets up to operating temp.

^ agree

I would also like to know why are you warming up the car,
and if it is better for engine (by decreasing wear and tear) I don't warm up the car.

if you don't warm up your car,

I would also like to know why you don't warm up your car.
and why it is better not to warm up the car.
Think that goes for (diesel or) old time cars. I think if you have a automatic, let it warm up so it doesn't slam into gear when you put it in drive (I hate when (always girls) people do that...)

Like it was posted, take it easy.

[r1derbike]

I idle for a coupla minutes, then drive like an ol' lady (or man) 'til it reaches op. temp.

Charles