From turning the key to driving - how long do you wait?

[cullam3n]

Assuming the car is cold and the weather is warm.

I have heard various things from "you need to start driving right away" to "let it idle for a few minutes before driving." I am just curious to see what TCL thinks

[someguy123]

If weather warm, just start & go.

Just keep the revs down while doing it until it is fully warmed.


5-30sec will not drop revs to idle....

[emmettlodge]

I usually give it a minute or two of bouncing off the rev limiter before I go. Seems to warm it up enough. A little longer when it's really cold out (winter).

[AIRider]

As long as it takes me to put my seatbelt, find my shades, and press the clutch.

[emmettlodge]

As long as it takes me to put my seatbelt, find my shades, and press the clutch.

What about at night? Do you also have to find your shades at night?

[302W]

Ah crap, voted wrong. About 30 seconds, let the oil circulate for a bit and then drive normally.

[Iroczgirl]

I look at the oil pressure gauge, when it builds up, I take off.

Usually about 5 seconds.

[BeBop!]

As long as it takes me to put my seatbelt, find my shades, and press the clutch.

What about at night? Do you also have to find your shades at night?

[oldskoolracer]

First start of the day I always let it sit for 2-5 mins at least. Mid-day (going home for lunch) I let it sit for a min or two before I start driving. Any other part of the day, running errands, going to the store, ect, I turn the key and start going putting my seatbelt on as Im pulling away

[VadGTI]

First start of the day I always let it sit for 2-5 mins at least. Mid-day (going home for lunch) I let it sit for a min or two before I start driving. Any other part of the day, running errands, going to the store, ect, I turn the key and start going putting my seatbelt on as Im pulling away

That's a whole huge chunk of your life wasted idling.

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[Minty_Fresh]

once i hear the SAI pump turn off i drive.

[oldskoolracer]

That's a whole huge chunk of your life wasted idling.

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Its just a metter of planning ahead, I know when I gotta leave in the morning so I go out about 5 min before I have to leave, start the car and go back inside to finish. Also I guess Im never really so busy in life that allowing my car to warm up is a waste of time

[ToucheTurtle]

I usually give it a minute or two.

[undpilot757]

Its just a metter of planning ahead, I know when I gotta leave in the morning so I go out about 5 min before I have to leave, start the car and go back inside to finish. Also I guess Im never really so busy in life that allowing my car to warm up is a waste of time

The engine warms up faster and is oil pressure is much higher if you just drive. This is better for the engine than idling. Most BMW manuals say to drive immediately and I've yet to see an owners manual that said to let the car idle to warm up.

It's a machine, it's not human, or alive for that matter.

[lojasmo]

Start car, shift to drive, mash go-pedal.

[Avus]

I chose minimal. I don't warm up my car by idling on drive way wasting gas. My method of warming up my car is accelerate the car slowly and shift early (not over 2500rpm).

[TheTimob]

I just start and go.

My grandpa will get in his car, put it in gear (all household cars are manual trans) and start it with the clutch in. He lets the clutch out as soon as the starter finishes cranking and goes.

[oldskoolracer]

The engine warms up faster and is oil pressure is much higher if you just drive. This is better for the engine than idling. Most BMW manuals say to drive immediately and I've yet to see an owners manual that said to let the car idle to warm up.

It's a machine, it's not human, or alive for that matter.

Well lets keep in mind not all of us drive a fuel infected car, being carbed with a choke Im kinda forced to let it warm up at least until the choke opens. More modern cars ( including electronic carbs) have preset fuel curves and idle adjustments that allow you to start it and drive. A freezing cold day, its nice to come out to a warm car with defrosted windows right? Oil pressure in most cases may be a little lower at idle (depending on vehicle), my volare 225 six has 50 psi when cold @ idle, and about 40 when warm at idle, so dont really care theres plenty of oil flow to all the engine components. Giving it a min and just driving it easy works perfect too, but its silly hearing "I jump in and smash the gas"... Its a preferance thing for me not a matter of having to.

[DTMTrini]

Turn it on, wait at lease 2 minutes, be out.

[SGLoki]

the injection system in my new truck drops to idle in around 30 seconds actually, then away I go on a warm day.

According to the owner's manual that is how it should be driven, fire it up and go.


According to much older and legitimate information the best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it normally at a maximum of 35 mph for the first 10-15 minutes of operation.

The reason this makes sense, is you may be warming up your motor, but the transaxle is not warming up unless equipped with a cooler and pump.

On a day where things are frozen I am inclined to let a vehicle warm up from 2 to 5 minutes before driving. Usually so I can get the defrost kicking.

[A.Wilder]

fire it up, do a smokey burn out and go!



neighbors are such whiners

[MikkiJayne]

Start car, shift to drive, mash go-pedal.

This ^

[ti.pilot]

~30 sec. Or until I see the tech needle sitting at about 1500RPM

[TurboMinivan]

Depends which vehicle I'm driving.

For either Soul or my Wrangler, I typically buckle up and do any/all other preparatory activities before I actually start the car. Once the engine is finally fired up, I will pause only long enough for the idiot lights to go out (3 or 4 seconds), then I put it in gear and off I go.

For the minivan, the process is different. I will jump in and fire it up immediately, then go about buckling in, grabbing sunglasses, turning on the stereo, etc. Even when those other preparatory activities are complete, I typically pause for an additional 10 to 20 seconds before finally putting it into gear and moving off. I probably give it about 30 seconds or so in total.

[undpilot757]

Well lets keep in mind not all of us drive a fuel infected car, being carbed with a choke Im kinda forced to let it warm up at least until the choke opens. More modern cars ( including electronic carbs) have preset fuel curves and idle adjustments that allow you to start it and drive. A freezing cold day, its nice to come out to a warm car with defrosted windows right? Oil pressure in most cases may be a little lower at idle (depending on vehicle), my volare 225 six has 50 psi when cold @ idle, and about 40 when warm at idle, so dont really care theres plenty of oil flow to all the engine components. Giving it a min and just driving it easy works perfect too, but its silly hearing "I jump in and smash the gas"... Its a preferance thing for me not a matter of having to.

DOH! My other car is carbed, and it definitely doesn't run for crap until it's warmed up!

[volkstyle]

Cold weather? Let it run until the heat is nice. Hot weather get in and go but keep it under 3000 Rpms. No reason to wait.

[FBMphil]

I turn the key right before I clutch into first after my car rolls backward down the driveway in neutral. Nevar waits.

[warren_s]

I've got underground parking, so the temp is usually around 15C regardless of outside conditions.

I usually give it 10 seconds, basically long enough to get my belt on and the handbrake off (old habits die hard), and a few seconds to listen to the engine for anything unusual.

[Piercems3]

I remember an old factory Porsche manual i had that specifically stated to NOT warm up your vehicle before driving. It basically said drive easy until at operating temperature. If i remember correctly it mentioned " hot spots" if you try to warm the car up before driving it.

[samc]

5 seconds unless something gets my attention.

[Hawk]

Why would anyone turn on the car and walk back inside?

[Hawk]

Turn it on, wait at lease 2 minutes, be out.

What happens in those 2 minutes?

[McBanagon]

Turn it on, wait at lease 2 minutes, be out.

That's a little long, don't you think? Aren't most leases like, 36 months

[Shomegrown]

Why would you wait?

[2.0_Mazda]

I take longer in Winter, but when cold I take about 45 seconds