Warming up vehicles in winter

[UncleBone]

I warm mine up until the idle drops to regular idling rpms. In the summer thats usually just a minute or two. If its under 30 or 40 degrees it takes a little longer, under 0, it takes quite a bit longer.

 

[MallardSX2]

The heater doesn't work in my ram2500 because I am not paying $2000 to replace the heater core. So, I don't "Warm up my truck for comfort". I start it about 1 minute before I drive it no matter how hot or how cold out it is. Let things get lubed up before I jam on it. lol

That heater core will be the death of me. I have cussed so much about it that I will indeed answer for my sins on judgement day. What a STUPID design.

 

[displacedtexan]

I don't know that you would see any significant increase in transmission fluid temp just idling in park.

You won't.

I park in the shop, which is heated, as is the garage where the wife parks.

If I do have to park outside (modern diesel missing the DPF) I let it warm up for a few minutes.

Modern synthetic multi weight oils aren't thick in the cold like the old straight 30wt when that was necessary.

 

[SWOHTR]

That's one I always wondered about too, they say idling is the death of those systems.

I went ahead and deleted mine so I don't have to stress about it anymore

Why's that? Carbon buildup I'm guessing? Nothing a little heavy loading and hot running can't burn out, right? Or am I way off base here. I've never owned a modern diesel with the emissions equipment.

 

[Rich M]

I find that if you don't get the defroster going and working, it is an impairment to visibility, specially if you drive into the sun. I aint going anywhere until i can safely see.

Takes about 3 miles before my defrost is blowing warm air.

 

[Marbles]

The manual for my Tacoma only says "do not race a cold engine." It says nothing either for or against warming up at idle. My guess is that for that engine, it does not really matter.

It should be obvious that not every engine is designed the same, even if it uses the same fuel.

I personally do not warm my truck up in the morning (unless I need to defrost the windshield). On days like today (-10 F), the clutch is always stiff until after driving for a bit, idling warm has minimal effect on this. At highway speeds in -35 or colder, the clutch stays stiff and only works like normal at lower speed (a winter front would likely help with that).

The engine warms up much faster at 2500 rpm driving than it does at 1200 rpm idling.

I think the argument against idling warm was originally founded on environmental concerns. If it was markedly harmful, I doubt manufactures would include autostart options.

The most important thing is probably having proper oil like 0w-20 (or 0w-30 is what I used in my 97 Tacoma).

 

[roadrunner]

Do you warm up your vehicle before driving? If so, for how long?

Yes, depends on how cold it is outside.

 

[Jason Snyder]

The heater doesn't work in my ram2500 because I am not paying $2000 to replace the heater core. So, I don't "Warm up my truck for comfort". I start it about 1 minute before I drive it no matter how hot or how cold out it is. Let things get lubed up before I jam on it. lol

That heater core will be the death of me. I have cussed so much about it that I will indeed answer for my sins on judgement day. What a STUPID design.

Roll up your sleeves and pull the dash. It’s an all day job.

 

[wapitibob]

I never warmed up the diesel; it had a block heater and manual transmission. I always warm up the f150 because it circulates trans fluid at idle.

 

[Cameron.25]

I put aftermaket remote starts on my truck and my wifes jeep, we warm up when its cold. The devices i got are from 12v solutions if anyone is interested. Super easy install, if your vehicle could be had with factory remote start but that option wasnt chosen, then the wiring is already there from the factory, it just plugs in near the ECU and then you can control it with their app or use your FOB like you would with the factory remote start option. It has GPS like a lo jack and you can lock/unlock which is very useful

 

[5MilesBack]

My diesel automatically goes to high idle when the outside temp is below 40 and the parking brake is set. I also have the idle controller for it, if I want to set that. But generally I don't really let my vehicles warm for too long, unless I'm up hunting. Then I want a warm vehicle to get into. So my old Toyota will idle for 5-10 minutes in the zero dark thirty mornings, it warms up quick.

 

[mi650]

Yep, 5-10 minutes depending on how cold it is.

I let it warm up a little in the summer, too, to get the A/C going.

 

[49ereric]

09 ford focus 0-30w mobile 1 fire it up and go.

 

[Bearsears]

Former diesel mech. here. These articles are complete propaganda in my opinion. In cold weather engines absolutely need some warm up time. Even with modern high quality synthetic oils that flow well. Engines are made with several dissimilar metals that all heat and expand at different rates. The best way to avoid damage is slower no load heating of them diesel or gas.

Now modern diesels also have a fine line of warm up time and excessive idle. If you have a diesel made probably 2007 to current deleted or not you need to be utilizing the high idle and the exhaust brake when idling for longer than 5 to 10 minutes. What happens during excessive idle in low ambient temps (sub 40f) is the cylinder temperatures get so low that the diesel burn is incomplete. This results in what is know as cylinder washing. Diesel builds up in the cylinder and leaks past the rings into the crankcase. Extreme issue could be some loss of compression less extreme is fuel dilution of your oil which results in poor lubrication of your engine. If you still have emissions components intact you need to limit idle time even more due to the excessive build up of soot in you egr, turbo, and dpf.

My procedure if my truck hasn't been plugged in all night and its pretty cold is to start it, wait until the automatic high idle kicks in (about a minute) then engage manual high idle to about 1100rpm and engage the exhaust brake which puts a small load on the engine to aid warm up. Then i let it idle until coolant temp is over 100f. At 100f I idle out of the neighborhood and use very light throttle until the coolant temp is above 140f. At 140f if Im not towing I drive fairly normal but I dont use alot of throttle or power until its up to 190f which is normal operating temp. For the love of God please start using winterfronts on your trucks when its below freezing and definitely when its below zero. The best thing you can do for them is get them to operating temp and keep them there as soon as possible. I really cant think of any downsides to them and I dont understand why more guys dont use them. If you are towing and you hear the fan constantly coming on or shes getting hot take it off. If you are unloaded have it on. vent flaps open 32f to 0, closed 0 and below. On diesels idle time after towing or hot weather etc. is just as important. Turbos need to cool down before you shut them down when really hot.

On my gassers I start them let them run about 5 minutes or so and then drive easy until they are to operating temp. Hope this helps.

 

[S.Clancy]

The heater doesn't work in my ram2500 because I am not paying $2000 to replace the heater core. So, I don't "Warm up my truck for comfort". I start it about 1 minute before I drive it no matter how hot or how cold out it is. Let things get lubed up before I jam on it. lol

That heater core will be the death of me. I have cussed so much about it that I will indeed answer for my sins on judgement day. What a STUPID design.

Ha, that is like me and my truck's AC. I refuse to pay the money to replace it. I drove from Helena to Glasgow last summer when the ambient was 102, windows rolled down the hole time, it wasn't unbearable. But man oh man did I sweat out some water. I drank over half a gallon on the drive and didn't have to stop to piss and it is 6 hrs....

 

[Axlrod]

Your engines fluid circulation systems do not operate the same at idle as they do at higher driving rpms. For example some camshafts rely on splash to disperse oil.

Which engines, flatheads, lawn mower? Every automotive engine has pressurized oil to the camshaft.

 

[Jethro]

Mid 20’a and lower I warm up the car for my comfort. Avg 15 minutes. I don’t think the idle time is bad, nor do I think it’s bad to fire up and go. Gasoline engines.

 

[BRobertson]

It was -42F at my place early this morning.
I plugged the car in at about 0700.
It will slowly warm via the oil pan heater throughout the day.
I will start it at 1730 to warm up for a half hour before
I drive to town for a dinner date with friends.
This is how I have done it for many years!
Always use synthetic oils!!

I have an ESPAR heater in my 01 Cummins/Dodge.
It is one of the best things that I installed on it!!

Bob

 

[Ucsdryder]

Ok, what about side by sides? Does that change your feelings?

 

[cnelk]

I warm up my atvs and snowmobiles until I feel the exhaust is good and warm.

How’s that for feelings?