What are the advantages (if any) of letting your car engine run idle to warm up before driving?

Is it neccessary?

-Sooiseng

 

I HEARD that you always should warm up your car. I do it ritually every morning. I will wait till my RPM is below 1k before I get moving.

Not sure what the aesthetic reason is, but my mechanic stepfather told me.

Anyone confirm this?

 

I believe the owner's manual (something every owner should go to for answers), says you can let the engine run for 30 seconds for the fluids to get where they need to get and you can start driving taking it easy and not going to extremes until the temperature will get to normal. As far as I remember it said anything over a minute is a waste of gas as the car warms up faster as you drive.

 

Yes. Just keep in mind that the engine is only part of the equation - your tranny and other moving parts need to be warmed a little before they're flogged.

Your car will thank you.

 

+1 Just let the fluids get to where they need to go and start driving, just take it easy at first.

 

Your car will pretty much tell you when it's warmed up. If you notice when you start it up the rev's are much higher than normal idle. After about 30sec. the revs start to fall closer to idle. I take that as my cue to pull out of the garage. I then take it easy for a couple of minutes. I've owned several BMW's in the past and every dealer and independent mechanic I've talked to has recommended letting the car warm up a little before you start driving.

 

I warm it up for a minute or two in the summer-& for about 5 minutes in the winter.

 

30 seconds should be ample. all you want to do is make sure that the oil goes from the pan and pumps up to the heads so the valve train is nice and lubricated before you put any stress to it.

 

^+1

 

Um, the oil get circulated in about 3 sec. If not, you'd have a big metal paperweight.

You can wait a few sec and then drive GENTLY until the engine is at operating temps. Then abuse it.

 

i try to wait at least 30 secs before taking off and don't take it past 3k until warmed up.

 

I think its more important to not beat on it till you see the oil temp gauge reach the halfway mark. Also warming up is more important for turbo cars, and turbo cars need more time to cool down also.

 

You should move to Arizona, then in the summers the car stays warmed up from driving it the day before and the water temp gauge never goes all the way back down

 

when its below freezing, it's nice to have heat when you step into the car Otherwise, I just start-up, wait 10-20seconds and adjust my driving style according to where the temperature gauge is at.

 

I usually warm it up by farting when i get inside