Cold Start .. how long?
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Cold Start .. how long?
curious to know everyone else method of starting up the car when its cold (engine) ...
what i have done with the cars in the past is wait till it idles, then begin to drive slowly until the car is warmed up then drive however i feel like...
what i have noticed with our cars is upon start up.. engine idles at around 1100-1300 rpms... tapers down to 1000, then begins to drop to idle..
is your method the same? drive the car when the engine idles after cold start?
what i have done with the cars in the past is wait till it idles, then begin to drive slowly until the car is warmed up then drive however i feel like...
what i have noticed with our cars is upon start up.. engine idles at around 1100-1300 rpms... tapers down to 1000, then begins to drop to idle..
is your method the same? drive the car when the engine idles after cold start?
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From: Poughkeepsie, NY
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I wait until the thermostat or whatever starts to move up, and then I drive REAL slow (try to keep under 2500 rpm) until thermo is at operating levels (in the middle). Then I still keep it under 3500 for a few minutes...
and then I let all hell break loose.
---
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and then I let all hell break loose.
---
2004 TB/W 6mtC. Sunroof only.
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From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
If I don't need window de-fogging/de-icing, I'll drive very moderately almost immediately.
If I need some heat for the window, I'll wait a minute or 2 then proceed.
I hate idling, but sometimes a little is beneficial.
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If I need some heat for the window, I'll wait a minute or 2 then proceed.
I hate idling, but sometimes a little is beneficial.
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From: Memphis
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
Most engine damage is occuring before the engine is at operating temps. Thus you should do what you can to bring your car to operating temp as quickly as possible, without putting excessive load on it. Drive away as soon as it's running, and don't drive it hard until it's at operating temp.
Here is what I thought was a great summarization, from another non-G board....
"Driving conservatively on a cold engine will warm it up much faster and reduces oil contamination from blowby of mostly unburned or partially burned fuel and acidic moisture from combustion hence less corrosive stuff in the oil. Excess cold idling raises acid exposure and is considered "Severe Service" and this is especially the case on a cold started engine.
Here is some good info on the topic. http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp
If multivis syn oil is in the crankcase then driving moderately and keeping revs moderate right after start when temps are above about 30F is what the worlds best engine mfg's generally suggest for minimal wear. Below freezing I wait a sec before touching the throttle to avoid the remote chance of oil pump cavitation, to allow the piston skirts and top rings to get oil pissed on them from oil flung off the rod bearings then drive off (after the ecu's commanded cold start idle speed and enrichment plateau's.)"
2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5/Crawford Cats
Here is what I thought was a great summarization, from another non-G board....
"Driving conservatively on a cold engine will warm it up much faster and reduces oil contamination from blowby of mostly unburned or partially burned fuel and acidic moisture from combustion hence less corrosive stuff in the oil. Excess cold idling raises acid exposure and is considered "Severe Service" and this is especially the case on a cold started engine.
Here is some good info on the topic. http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp
If multivis syn oil is in the crankcase then driving moderately and keeping revs moderate right after start when temps are above about 30F is what the worlds best engine mfg's generally suggest for minimal wear. Below freezing I wait a sec before touching the throttle to avoid the remote chance of oil pump cavitation, to allow the piston skirts and top rings to get oil pissed on them from oil flung off the rod bearings then drive off (after the ecu's commanded cold start idle speed and enrichment plateau's.)"
2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5/Crawford Cats
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
^^^ I agree with Catatafish, this is a very good summary of why you should not idle too long at startup. I've also heard that newer cars such as ours run very rich when cold which washes off oil from the cylinder walls and causes more wear.
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Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I had a remote start on my 1994 Cavalier for years and let it idle cold every frigid day in Ohio (lots of them). I never had any engine problems at all. Of course, you have to remember how high of quality the stock Cavi engines are....
I don't believe idling to be that bad on a cold engine. I have no real proof, except for the fact that I have had remote starts on everything I've ever owned (except my G) and I've never had any known piston problems.
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I don't believe idling to be that bad on a cold engine. I have no real proof, except for the fact that I have had remote starts on everything I've ever owned (except my G) and I've never had any known piston problems.
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From: Memphis
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I don't think it is that bad either...I just think it's not the optimal way to do it for maximum life out of an engine. If I was up north you better believe I'd let it warm up first....saving my fingers from frost bite is a great trade off for a few less miles out of an engine.
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Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I think everything that's been here so far makes sense but here is my .02 cents:
I remember reasing in one of car magazines a while ago about this when someone asked a similar question and they said that most new cars (Fuel Injected) are ready to go in 10-20 sec after start but they mentioned to drive more conservatively until the therm. starts to move up.
Now there was no mention of starting from cold in a really really chilly place but living in Toronto I usually wait 2-3 minutes before moving the car but I only use Mobil 1 Synth.
I remember reasing in one of car magazines a while ago about this when someone asked a similar question and they said that most new cars (Fuel Injected) are ready to go in 10-20 sec after start but they mentioned to drive more conservatively until the therm. starts to move up.
Now there was no mention of starting from cold in a really really chilly place but living in Toronto I usually wait 2-3 minutes before moving the car but I only use Mobil 1 Synth.
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Re: Cold Start .. how long?
since everyone else is voicing their opinion, i guess i'll do the same. i am a firm believer in not driving the car until the needle has moved off of the "C". that doesn't mean that i wait until it moves up to normal temp, but i won't move until the needle moves. obviously, i'll then drive slowly until the needle is at normal operating temp. and this doens't apply to chilly or cold days. even if it is hot out, i'll wait until the needle moves.
now don't take this post as putting anyone else's opinions down. it is just mine. i can certainly follow the logic of others' posts. i just don't agree. i may be wrong, but i have NEVER had any problems with my other cars with this method. i also have a '95 pathfinder with over 170,000 miles, and i swear, no problems whatsoever. "don't change what's not broken."
take this post however you will. it is just my opinion.
now don't take this post as putting anyone else's opinions down. it is just mine. i can certainly follow the logic of others' posts. i just don't agree. i may be wrong, but i have NEVER had any problems with my other cars with this method. i also have a '95 pathfinder with over 170,000 miles, and i swear, no problems whatsoever. "don't change what's not broken."
take this post however you will. it is just my opinion.
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Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I'd like to share my advice as well:
First off, I'd like to state that there really is no good way to warm up an engine. Understanding this is an important way to understanding warmup. But the GOOD part about this is that manufacturers know this and car engines are very very strong. However you warmup your car, it is actually quite hard to "do damage" to the engine during warmup. During the warmup period the only cons are that you don't get proper gas mileage and optimum performance.
Every car company has their own methods for warming up an engine. For instance, BMW says to start the car up and start driving immediately. VW, on the other hand, says to turn the car on, let it idle for 60-90 seconds, and then drive gently until it warms up. I believe Infiniti's guideline is to start up the car, let it idle for about 30 seconds and then start driving gently until the engine is fully warmed up.
Personally, here is what I do: I start the car up and let it idle for about 30 seconds. I then gently pull it out of the garage and let the car sit in my driveway until the needle is at the "C" or just above it (when you start the car up like the next day, a really cold start, the needle is well below the "C").
Let's say you just drove around and you parked for an hour or whatever and you get back to your car and the engine temperature has dropped. As long as it is at or above the "C" once you start the car up, you can start driving it immediately. If it is below the C, like fully cold, but hasn't been multiple hours or so, just give it a quick 30 seconds or so and start driving....you will see that the car will warm up quite quickly as it is not actually "fully cold".
As for warmup driving, this is what it means: Do not apply more than 50% throttle (for manual drivers just don't do full throttle) and do not go over 4,000rpm's. I know for a lot of us 4K rpm is quite high...personally, during warmup I shift at below 3K rpm. As I said before, though, engines are very very strong and it really is quite hard to "do damage" during warmup unless you are a maniac, but do whatever feels comfortable to you.
Nowadays, cars ARE designed for you to be able to just start it up and go, but I mean if you care about your car and the overall life of the engine, you'll give it all the help it can get, ya know? Sorta like break-in period...you don't HAVE to follow it, but you know you should!
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First off, I'd like to state that there really is no good way to warm up an engine. Understanding this is an important way to understanding warmup. But the GOOD part about this is that manufacturers know this and car engines are very very strong. However you warmup your car, it is actually quite hard to "do damage" to the engine during warmup. During the warmup period the only cons are that you don't get proper gas mileage and optimum performance.
Every car company has their own methods for warming up an engine. For instance, BMW says to start the car up and start driving immediately. VW, on the other hand, says to turn the car on, let it idle for 60-90 seconds, and then drive gently until it warms up. I believe Infiniti's guideline is to start up the car, let it idle for about 30 seconds and then start driving gently until the engine is fully warmed up.
Personally, here is what I do: I start the car up and let it idle for about 30 seconds. I then gently pull it out of the garage and let the car sit in my driveway until the needle is at the "C" or just above it (when you start the car up like the next day, a really cold start, the needle is well below the "C").
Let's say you just drove around and you parked for an hour or whatever and you get back to your car and the engine temperature has dropped. As long as it is at or above the "C" once you start the car up, you can start driving it immediately. If it is below the C, like fully cold, but hasn't been multiple hours or so, just give it a quick 30 seconds or so and start driving....you will see that the car will warm up quite quickly as it is not actually "fully cold".
As for warmup driving, this is what it means: Do not apply more than 50% throttle (for manual drivers just don't do full throttle) and do not go over 4,000rpm's. I know for a lot of us 4K rpm is quite high...personally, during warmup I shift at below 3K rpm. As I said before, though, engines are very very strong and it really is quite hard to "do damage" during warmup unless you are a maniac, but do whatever feels comfortable to you.
Nowadays, cars ARE designed for you to be able to just start it up and go, but I mean if you care about your car and the overall life of the engine, you'll give it all the help it can get, ya know? Sorta like break-in period...you don't HAVE to follow it, but you know you should!
____________________________________
My Ride: 03 G35 Coupe 6MT Black/Black
My Mods: 15% tint
My Mileage: 12,510 (as of 10/8/04)
Re: Cold Start .. how long?
I think it has more to do with efficiency in warm up than engine wear.
Some studies here in the Great White North have shown that it's best to just let the engine idle for about 30 seconds, and then drive slowly as this warms the engine up the fastest. Those with block heaters should plug in for about 2 hours (up to 4, but no more) in temps below freezing.
It's agreed though that you have to go easy on the throttle until the engine is up to nominal operating temperature.
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Some studies here in the Great White North have shown that it's best to just let the engine idle for about 30 seconds, and then drive slowly as this warms the engine up the fastest. Those with block heaters should plug in for about 2 hours (up to 4, but no more) in temps below freezing.
It's agreed though that you have to go easy on the throttle until the engine is up to nominal operating temperature.
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Re: Cold Start .. how long?
Normally during winter or fall here at the Windy City, I just wait for the rpm to drop to 1.1 or 1.2 and drive VERY conservatively until I feel the car is at its optimum temp
(that feeling u have when you start driving your car on a very cold morning before warming up when you're in a rush.)
G35 coupe 6MT Brilliant Silver on Black
(that feeling u have when you start driving your car on a very cold morning before warming up when you're in a rush.)
G35 coupe 6MT Brilliant Silver on Black
What I noticed with my car is that if I start to drive off almost immediately there is this somewhat loud "clunk" noise and I shift from 1st to 2nd. It only happens between those gears only. But when I let the car warm up, there is no noise. Has anyone experienced this before? Is it normal?
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From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Originally Posted by Mike_Deezy
What I noticed with my car is that if I start to drive off almost immediately there is this somewhat loud "clunk" noise and I shift from 1st to 2nd. It only happens between those gears only. But when I let the car warm up, there is no noise. Has anyone experienced this before? Is it normal?
My guess is that if you delayed shifting for a moment to build up a little more speed, you'd not get that annoying clunk.
Give it a try.
