hey guys...got another question.... being in seattle and its cold and all, do you guys warm up your car by letting it run on idle for a couple of minutes???

I remember reading inside of the tc manual that to warm up the car, you should just drive at low rpm, but it seems that alot of cars here warm up their car on idle...

who's correct?

 

The manual.

 

most people are sitting in their car waiting for their heater to kick in and warm up vs the engine.....

or calling/texting whatever...

 

well depends. i mean if you can't see out the window and the car is cold as hell i would say let it idle. make sure you turn off the heater though. with the heater running it will take longer to heat up.

 

I warm up my car by letting it idle. Well, only when it's flipping freezing butt cold. Otherwise, I just get in and drive.

I don't sit in my car while it's warming up though. Brrr! I was sitting here wondering about Kekai's statement about most people sitting in their cars while it's warming up but I guess not everybody lives in the middle of nowhere where having a car stolen out of your driveway is unheard of.

 

I put my heater on full blast and get those windows unfrosted that way. I'd rather sit in my warm house a few extra minutes than to scrape a car windshield, lol.

Ugh, I've been cold all day. Thinking about my cold car isn't helping me warm up, lol.

 

I just get in and drive.

Mo remote starts his so that it's warmed up before he gets in.

 

i let it idle for a few minutes and then begin to drive...i normaly dont go any higher than that 3-4K when the car is warming up while driving... thats what i do...everyone else is different

 

I don't have to worry about any of that since I park in a garage, but when I didn't, i would just let my car idle to warm up. I have never had problems with my car doing that....

just be aware for theifs 'cause they pray for people to let their cars idle to warm up & they'll take those cars 'cause its so easy

just a fyi too, if i remember correctly it is technically illegal to let your car sit in the drive way running to warm up, but that's only if i can remember correctly

 

even with my car in the garage it sits and warms up.....I have to wait for air! darn air tank leak!!! LOL

 

I just get in and drive, I don't get on it until the cold temp light goes off.

 

well i just start the car and go!!!

 

I usually let it idle until the idle drops to the normal range and then drive.

 

as i heard its not good to let the car wasmp up when its cold... why? because the oil is not working as it should in warm condition and if u just wait idling then your car doesnt get that much oils what it needs... or something like that.. so u need to crack your car up and go.. but dont push it hard.. dont rev.. etc.. just gently pull away..

 

x2

And i do agree with what he has to say...i do that same thing. but i wait a little bit let it idle.

 

When it's icy I let it run until at least the windshield thaws a bit. I know I should be scraping but that is too much trouble in the frozen weather. Otherwise, I jump in and drive slowly down my street. On icy sunny days I try to aim the windshield into the sun to thaw faster.

 

I idle, lol it's too freaking cold!

 

If you want to know what you should be doing. You should only let the car idle for 30 seconds to a minute to let the oil fully lubricate everything inside the engine. Then don’t drive aggressively until the car warms up. The xB is nice because it lets you know when it is cold with a light on the dash. Of course you should not drive until all your windows are clear but for me most of my drive to work is on a one lane road so it doesn’t matter to me. As CA mentioned I use my remote start because I do like my car warm so I leave the heat up and the fan on full so it is warm when I get in. The car does warm up faster if you drive it vs letting it just idle.

 

x2

 

I could be wrong but I was told that you start your car and drive it to warm up because you are warming the trans and everything at the same time. If you let the engine warm first then your engine is warm and ready to go but the rest of the drive train is still cold and makes it hard on on those parts. That sounded about right to me so I just drive slowly till it warms up a bit.