Warming car up

Pressed_Rat · Mar 8, 2014

There are a few car mechanics that post here (BBAD, Deviate), so I wanted to pose this question:

How important is it to warm your car up in cold weather before driving it? Do you run any risk of damaging the engine if you start the car up in cold weather and take right off before adequately warming the engine up?

If so, generally how long should you let the car warm up for before you drive?

SpacemanSpiff · Mar 8, 2014

you should take off right away...dont warm it up at all

rev it high too right when it starts

Pressed_Rat · Mar 8, 2014

So I can't even get a serious response?

GLENGLEN · Mar 8, 2014

BBAD said:

you should take off right away...dont warm it up at all

rev it high too right when it starts
Click to expand...

Perhaps You Should Have Added A ....J/K At The End Of Your Post....???

Cheers Glen.

TheGhost · Mar 8, 2014

It doesn't make much sense to let the car warm up unless you do it for quite a while.

As far as I know you need to drive for a few miles before the engine even gets up to working temperature.

SpacemanSpiff · Mar 8, 2014

Pressed_Rat said:

So I can't even get a serious response?
Click to expand...

it was serious

GLENGLEN · Mar 8, 2014

TheGhost said:

It doesn't make much sense to let the car warm up unless you do it for quite a while.

As far as I know you need to drive for a few miles before the engine even gets up to working temperature.
Click to expand...

MEGA FAIL.....Missed The Point Totally...

Cheers Glen.

GLENGLEN · Mar 8, 2014

BBAD said:

it was serious
Click to expand...

Seriously BBAD Advice...

Cheers Glen.

TheGhost · Mar 8, 2014

GLENGLEN said:

MEGA FAIL.....Missed The Point Totally...
Click to expand...

Oh did I?

Not that you made one, anyways.

MeAgain · Mar 8, 2014

Before fuel injection you used to warm up a car to warm up the carburetor and choke. When cold they were set to limit air and increase fuel. If you tried to drive off before the carb and choke were warm you would often times stall as the air fuel mixture was not optimal for the conditions, especially if your choke or heat riser had rusted or tended to hang up, which was typical.
Cold air is denser, it has more oxygen in it, so you need more fuel to get the proper mixture. Not enough fuel and you get no explosion, to much fuel and the spark plug becomes saturated and you get no spark, and then no explosion.

In addition with a point ignition system the spark to the plugs was low in cold weather so you wouldn't get a hot spark till everything was warm, and you might stall.

Now everything is solid state and computer controlled, the car knows the outside conditions and adjusts itself to them. Cars don't stall, suffer from flooding (too much gas) or a lean mixture, and the spark is always hot, that's why spark plugs last 100,000 miles and never need cleaned or gapped. You used to have to clean and adjust them about twice a year.

All you need to do is get the oil warm, which takes about 30 seconds, and avoid short trips so that you warm up the exhaust system and burn off any condensation in it to avoid rust.

Tyrsonswood · Mar 8, 2014

Meagain said:

Before fuel injection you used to warm up a car to warm up the carburetor and choke. When cold they were set to limit air and increase fuel. If you tried to drive off before the carb and choke were warm you would often times stall as the air fuel mixture was not optimal for the conditions, especially if your choke or heat riser had rusted or tended to hang up, which was typical.
Cold air is denser, it has more oxygen in it, so you need more fuel to get the proper mixture. Not enough fuel and you get no explosion, to much fuel and the spark plug becomes saturated and you get no spark, and then no explosion.

In addition with a point ignition system the spark to the plugs was low in cold weather so you wouldn't get a hot spark till everything was warm, and you might stall.

Now everything is solid state and computer controlled, the car knows the outside conditions and adjusts itself to them. Cars don't stall, suffer from flooding (too much gas) or a lean mixture, and the spark is always hot, that's why spark plugs last 100,000 miles and never need cleaned or gapped. You used to have to clean and adjust them about twice a year.

All you need to do is get the oil warm, which takes about 30 seconds, and avoid short trips so that you warm up the exhaust system and burn off any condensation in it to avoid rust.
Click to expand...

^^^ That

deleted · Mar 8, 2014

Chevy takes a little longer to warm up.. satans bonnie takes 15min , its an 2004 not very old imo. if you try to move before it warms the transmission will pop loud..

Our van is a 94, you can get in it and go .. no matter how cold it is.

SpacemanSpiff · Mar 8, 2014

Meagain said:

Before fuel injection you used to warm up a car to warm up the carburetor and choke. When cold they were set to limit air and increase fuel. If you tried to drive off before the carb and choke were warm you would often times stall as the air fuel mixture was not optimal for the conditions, especially if your choke or heat riser had rusted or tended to hang up, which was typical.
Cold air is denser, it has more oxygen in it, so you need more fuel to get the proper mixture. Not enough fuel and you get no explosion, to much fuel and the spark plug becomes saturated and you get no spark, and then no explosion.

In addition with a point ignition system the spark to the plugs was low in cold weather so you wouldn't get a hot spark till everything was warm, and you might stall.

Now everything is solid state and computer controlled, the car knows the outside conditions and adjusts itself to them. Cars don't stall, suffer from flooding (too much gas) or a lean mixture, and the spark is always hot, that's why spark plugs last 100,000 miles and never need cleaned or gapped. You used to have to clean and adjust them about twice a year.

All you need to do is get the oil warm, which takes about 30 seconds, and avoid short trips so that you warm up the exhaust system and burn off any condensation in it to avoid rust.
Click to expand...

lol at the cold and hot spark

spark plugs last longer now because of the coatings on the electrodes reduce erosion..usually platinum or iridium is used on the longest lasting ones

also the 30 seconds to warm up might be ok if youre in california but up here it takes a few minutes at least just for an overhead cam to get oil pressure

eggsprog · Mar 8, 2014

When it is colder than about -10 or -12 C, I usually let the car run for about 10 minutes before driving it.

Am I doing it right?

bird_migration · Mar 8, 2014

eggsprog said:

When it is colder than about -10 or -12 C, I usually let the car run for about 10 minutes before driving it.

Am I doing it right?
Click to expand...

No, you are ruining the environment.

Heat · Mar 8, 2014

When it is really cold I let my car idle for a couple of minutes probably 2 or so. I make sure that all accessories are turned off before I start the car and do not put any on until the car is moving.

SpacemanSpiff · Mar 8, 2014

eggsprog said:

When it is colder than about -10 or -12 C, I usually let the car run for about 10 minutes before driving it.

Am I doing it right?
Click to expand...

yes

bird_migration said:

No, you are ruining the environment.
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you should come to northern ontario some day and see how nice our environment is

Tyrsonswood · Mar 8, 2014

My car's factory remote start runs for 10 minutes and then shuts off. You can do this twice before you need to use the key. I use it mostly for defrost although it does warm it up enough for driving at the same time... Still have to scrape ice but at least it's not permanently attached to the windshield.

bird_migration · Mar 8, 2014

BBAD said:

you should come to northern ontario some day and see how nice our environment is
Click to expand...

I might take you up on that offer. :2thumbsup:

SpacemanSpiff · Mar 8, 2014

bird_migration said:

I might take you up on that offer. :2thumbsup:
Click to expand...

check my eyes album and youll see how nice it is here

when you see the sandy beaches those are from Eggsprogs area..

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