How long should you let your car warm up for before driving?

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DragzMR2

I wait till the temp get’s half way to runing temp. I never rev above 3500rpm until my engine gets to running temperature

10/16/2015 - 06:42 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by DragzMR2

I was thinking of waiting until the temp gague goes up a bit cause winter is around the corner and don’t wanna damage the engine!

10/16/2015 - 06:49 |
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Anonymous

I start the car and go immediately after. Even when its -20 celsius

10/16/2015 - 07:01 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Is it not bad to the engine to do that?

10/16/2015 - 07:02 |
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Anonymous

I think the best thing is to start driving after a few seconds, as letting the car warm up while idling is bad for an engine too. And when you drive (even if it is rather slowly) your engine gets to it’s operating temperature much faster.

When the engine is cold I don’t let it go over 3000/3500 RPM’s (with a normal gasoline engine with a redline of at least 6000RPM, with diesel engines I would keep it lower), and I don’t put the pedal down more than about 30/40% when the engine is cold. As a high load with low RPM’s also makes the engine work rather hard.

Keep in mind that when the engine temperature gauge gets on it’s normal position, it doesn’t necessary means that the whole engine is on the correct operating temperature. There still could be parts of the engine that need to heat up more to get to their proper operating temperature. So it’s best to even at that point at least wait a few minutes before you go blasting full throttle.

10/16/2015 - 07:40 |
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Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

yes, I also have oil temperature gauge but I saw it only yesterday, after 4 months owning the car :D

10/16/2015 - 08:44 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks for the help :)

10/16/2015 - 08:51 |
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Dave 12

I turn it on. Have a smoke, get in and take it easy for a couple of miles until the temperature is normal then I accelerate hard.

10/16/2015 - 07:44 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Dave 12

Driving a bit flat would surely warm it up after a while?

10/16/2015 - 08:06 |
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Anonymous

About a minute in idle seems to be good. Then just change gears at low revs for a few miles until the car has warmed up. Make sure you use a good quality oil in the winter to help look after the cold internal components. (I usually do an oil change when it comes to the end of summer to make sure everything is all good for the winter months.

10/16/2015 - 07:55 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’m not that good on oils and stuff what’s a decent oil to keep her going through winter?

10/16/2015 - 08:14 |
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Anonymous

I at least let it idle for a minute or two, so that oil surely makes it way throughout the valve train. Then I just take it easy until it’s at normal operating temp. If I’m going to drive aggressively, I head to the back roads anyway, which is about a 15-20 minute drive.

10/16/2015 - 08:40 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Its all back roads where I am in the countryside, mad icy during winter lol

10/16/2015 - 08:42 |
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Anonymous

I put the key in, turn it to last step before launching because on diesels there’s a spiral light, (some kind of diesel spark plugs) that must heat up, in summer it didn’t turn at all, now it turns, from 1 to 10 -15 seconds, in winter maybe a minute, and after go. Also when I launch first 10 min I don’t shift higher than 2500rpm.

10/16/2015 - 08:42 |
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MickeyB 🇮🇪

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I used to see that when I drove my dads jeep before getting my own, the glow plugs need a few seconds before turning the ignition in winter

10/16/2015 - 08:46 |
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TheCopenGuy

Usually for about a minute or 2, just until the engine starts to spin at about 1250-1100 rpm, or when I don’t have time, about 30 secs, but I will not use the throttle until the engine is warmed up.

10/16/2015 - 08:57 |
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CSL Motorsport

You can start driving right away imo but just be calm, don’t floor it from the beginning.

10/16/2015 - 09:02 |
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best answer. Warming up under load is the fastest way to do it. Just change gears at low rpm and stay off boost untill the engine is warmed up.

10/16/2015 - 11:33 |
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Anonymous

I drive it for around 14-15km not higher than 2000-2500 rpm. After that I will go 5km under 4500-5000 rpm. After that the engine/oil should be warm enough and working fine. (mind you this is on my Nissan with the Revlimiter somewhere around 7000-7200 rpm. If yours is lower you should keep the rpms during warmup a little lower)

10/16/2015 - 09:45 |
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