Just curious if anyone goes through any special routines when starting their car up in the morning? For example, do you let the car sit idle for a few minutes, wait until the RPM drops below 1, etc.

Just wondering if my routine of starting the car and driving might not be the best way to extend the life of my car. Or am I just pampering the car too much?

 

i let it idle for about 30 seconds before I put it in gear. I try not to get it over 3500 rpms before the engine temp is in the normal range.

 

let it run for 15-30 seconds max to get the oil moving, anything longer is just a waste of gas/time. Drive it easy and keep it under 3000 RPMs until the engine is fully warmed to operating temperature.

 

With modern engines, start it up, and 15 seconds or so you can drive it. I wouldn't floor it out of your driveway with the tires ablaze just yet however.

 

On cold start up days...I have to sit in my car for a good 5 minutes because I have found that my cd player needs to "warm up" as well...if I dont wait, the cd player begins to skip and pause which is extremely annoying...which makes me want to go dd that much quicker.

 

LOL, sorry to hear that pmpjuce. Like others have said, 15 to 30 seconds and then take it easy until your engine reaches normal operating temp.

 

I start it, roll into the driveway and drive easy for first few miles. If its cold enough outside, I will wait a minute and then go.

 

Usually I let it sit for a few sec on a cold start. As well as keep it below 3k RPM until engine and oil reaches proper operating temperature, which does not really take that long.

 

oops ive been doing it all wrong then, i work at 7 in the morning and im always running late i dont have time to let it warm up at all and i drive like a madman at WOT with the car still being cold lol

 

Do you have your flamesuit on ?

re : "im always running late i dont have time"

Are you female? "I don't have time" means you haven't made time. Wake up 10 minutes earlier, put your clothes out the night before, etc, etc.

 

finally someone with the same problem!
this is why i use mp3 with the tape adapter!!
i thought my car was retarded, but there's others that are retarded also!...
well i think its only our year... the 04... lol

 

My CD player does it too when really cold outside. As previously stated, on cold starts I'll idle for about 30 seconds then take it easy until everything reaches normal operating temp.

 

you guys are funny...
CDS, COLD??!!

 

I wait 30 seconds and then keep it under 3k before normal oil temp.
once its in normal temperature after a few miles.. its vroom vroom time! loll

 

lol, maybe it never gets cold enough in Norcal but I've never had the cd player issue.