To warm or not to warm is the question!

[Lonestar]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

With a carbureted, non computer controlled car, the fuel/air mixtures were (as many remember) adjusted with a manual or semi-automatic choke when the engine was cold. A cold engine with choke engaged ran extremely rich and would easily stall if you tried to simply take off normally and thus the need for a bit of a warm up upon cold start up before driving.

Today’s cars obviously are computer controlled and the computer can adjust the air/fuel mixture as well as timing in milliseconds based on incoming air temp, engine temp, exhaust temp, etc. and thus the possibility of stalling is virtually eliminated when the engine is cold.

As has been noted, when the RPM comes down to 1K after start up then you are good to go but by no means should you dog the engine until the temp reaches normal operating temp level because of how rich the computer has the engine running.

[jimvit1]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

I don't think the cars need to be warmed up before you start driving them but just remember that you need to take it easy for a few miles to give all the other components time to get the oil and grease circulated, such as the differential and wheel bearings.

[Welker]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

The transmission clunk means you need transmission work....its a warranty job. I had it done with my extended warranty....it was about a $3000 job.

[Black Bengal]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

mamabird,
Most of the wear on engines occur during "cold" startups & while the car is below NOT (normal operating temperature). Cold startups are not just in winter months but anytime the engine has been off for a while. It's best to get the car to NOT as quickly as possible to minimize engine wear. Idling the engine is the slowest way to reach NOT; therefore, I begin driving within 30 seconds of starting my cars. I sure don't race off but I take it somewhat easy on the acceleration until the car warms up. With modern cars, synthetic fluids are a must since they are able to exhibit a low viscosity at very cold temperatures. For more details you may want to read the book "DRIVE IT FOREVER" by Robert Sikorsky. The book may be a little dated & some sections are sort of over the top but he makes some good points. My neighbor does have to warm up his '68 Camaro for a few minutes or the engine will die, but I think it has a lot to do with it having a carbeurator & needing tuned up. Fuel injection solves a lot of that.

[2Redbirds57/02]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Is this necessary? Isn't the compressor always on if you keep the system on "auto" to the keep the windows from fogging up in the winter?

The above is true. When the system is on "auto" the A/C indicator light is always on. I use the auto setting winter and summer. Never a fogged up window.

[texasbird]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Jennifer,

I noticed you made the comment in your original post to this thread about leaving the car running, implying that you start it up and go back into the house for awhile. I'm not sure how it is in California, but Texas has implemented a law prohibiting leaving a vehicle with a running engine unnattended. I would bet this is one of those laws that was lobbied for by the big insurance companies, to minimize vehicle theft claims.

I had a 1985 Ford Truck that was extremely cold natured and would die a stop signs until it reached running temp. I've never experienced that problem with a fuel injected/electronic ignition vehicle.

James

[Leroy]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

I bought my Wife a new Malibu LTZ about a year ago. It had a couple new things we never had on a car before like Satilite Radio and On-Star Directions. But another thing that we never had is Remote Start. She loves it, I don't drive the car too much so I very seldom use it. There's a start button on the Key Fob, first you have to be sure the car is locked then hit the start button. The car starts and will run for 10 minutes, if you don't drive it in that time it shuts off automaticly. She opens the garage door from inside the house then starts her car with the remote start and it's all warmed up for her when she leaves for work. Then at work if it's real cold or has snowed she can start it from inside and let it warm up before heading home. It's a great option to have up here in Northern Indiana. We're dealing with freezing rain right now and woke up this mourning with no power, It just came back on about an hour ago. Leroy

[mamabird]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Wow thats really cool...remote start. I just open up my garage door a little and start my car for about 5-10 minutes. I do run synthetic in both of our cars, as soon as I bought them both within a week I changed to synthetic. I ran that in my 92 Mustang and it had approx 300k miles on it. When I lived in western NC it was coooooooooold in the mountains and I would start my Mustang and leave it running for a good period of time -usually while I scraped the snow off the drive and the car. Since moving here to Cali I really don't experience extreme weather one way or another. But I know when we move to Oregon it will be alittle different. But my Bird is always in the garage so she is not that cold when I do go and warm her up. I haven't heard the illegal unattended car thing though. I wish my Bird had the keypad like our F150-I like that feature. Thank you for all your input on the matter.

[HKS]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Saw 2 cars yesterday with a front wheels broken off. Ball joints I guess. It was very cold.

HKS

If you do use this practice of warming the engine remember to still drive slow for the first couple of miles.With a warm engine the rest of the vehicle is still cold ,shocks ,springs , front end parts etc. My Brother -in - law has a repair shop in N.Y. he loves the freezing weather he says"this is when people break-up there cars from the cold". Some will warm up the engine and head down that country road with bumps and ruts at 65

[FEsTbird]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Jennifer--
I am not sure were you grew up, but in Monterey I wouldn't worry about warming the car up before you go.

Back when the cars needed to be manually choked starting them and warming them up was necessary. Especially if the temperature was below freezing.

[Leroy]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

This morning here in Portage, Indiana it's -3 below zero and calm. Yesterday it was zero and windy with a wind chill factore of -21 below zero. In this kind of weather you warm up your ride before you go anywhere, mostly for your own safty and comfort. The Wife just left for work, it's days like this that I realy appreciate being retired. Well I have to go now and get busy on my housework, wash the dishes, make the bed and figure out what I'm cooking for dinner tonight. These are all my jobs now, and I love it, and so does she. Leroy

[sfbaypaladin]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Wow thats really cool...remote start. I just open up my garage door a little and start my car for about 5-10 minutes. I do run synthetic in both of our cars, as soon as I bought them both within a week I changed to synthetic. I ran that in my 92 Mustang and it had approx 300k miles on it. When I lived in western NC it was coooooooooold in the mountains and I would start my Mustang and leave it running for a good period of time -usually while I scraped the snow off the drive and the car. Since moving here to Cali I really don't experience extreme weather one way or another. But I know when we move to Oregon it will be alittle different. But my Bird is always in the garage so she is not that cold when I do go and warm her up. I haven't heard the illegal unattended car thing though. I wish my Bird had the keypad like our F150-I like that feature. Thank you for all your input on the matter.

I just got an add-on Ford remote keypad from eBay. The part number is 3L2Z-14A626-AA. Apparently it can be mounted out of sight. There's a thread somewhere with suggestions such as mounting it inside the fuel door or below the windshield. I haven't decided where to put mine. BTW, I bought my 'Bird from a gentleman in your neck of the woods (Carmel) just this past August. Really enjoying it.

[mamabird]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

Thanks for the info Scott. I'm glad you are enjoying your Bird. From what I see and heard there are 3 Evening Black (including mine) 1 Plat Silver, 2 Torch Red, 1 DSB, 1 PCR and 2 Inspiration Yellow. I have only talked to the owners of the Plat Silver (Which is now a TBN memeber), DSB and the Inspiration Yellow (working on these two now) LOL! However, the PCR may have been sold...I saw it on CL a few months back.

[BADOS]

Re: To warm or not to warm is the question!

take a look at your tach.... once it rolls from 2 rpm to 1 you should be good to roll

I do the exact same thing or wait about a minute, then go.