[pjr710]

I've been parking outside lately and have been turning my car on so that my interior heats up. The car is left idling outside in the cold for about 10-15 mins each morning.

The mornings are cold, it's winter in PA ... so 20-30* F.

Is this a bad idea to let it cold start in the cold and then let it sit there and idle?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

I personally let it warm up a bit (5 to 10 minutes) if it's -12c (10 Fahrenheit) or colder or at least the time it takes to get dressed and de-ice/snow the car.. When the car is covered in freezing rain definitely 10 minutes or more or else the 1 inch thick ice won't come off.

I've read a few article on and info on the internet and concluded you don't NEED to do it but it's definitely fine if it's for creature comfort. Although there was some things about cylinder wash? But I'm not to sure how that theory works out because technically whether you are idling or driving the car it runs the same way in the combustion chamber in some way just with a lower idle? But I may be wrong.

[rick100]

i ve done it with every car Ive owned in the past 18 years and never had a problem with transmission or engine

I find the car shifts a lot smoother and it sounds happy if you let it warm up for 2-3 minutes . The odd occasion I have driven the car without warming it up , it shifts like sh it and the engine sounds like a truck engine .

[nhhiep]

very bad. just drive it, but keep under 3k rpm

[pjr710]

alright .. my main thoughts were

#1 the car running at idle wouldn't really warm up the oil which could harm it?

#2 I just watched "the engineering guys" explanation on it and he said something about idling causing more gas to be injected .. which would take away oil coating?

I really don't know but wanted to check.

[BimmerNugget]

I used to let it sit and warm up for 5-10 minutes also but I stopped doing that. It takes too long. I found that it warms up much quick if you actually drive it, very lightly though.

Nowadays, I just warm it up for 1-2 minutes. Basically wait until the idle RPMs drop below 1k. I'll wait until it's around 800 rpm then start driving. Keep it below 3k RPM for 7-10 minutes of local driving. After that, feel free to go WOT.

I'm using 0w-40 btw. I like the 0 weight for the cold winters. 0w-30 should be fine too.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

I used to let it sit and warm up for 5-10 minutes also but I stopped doing that. It takes too long. I found that it warms up much quick if you actually drive it, very lightly though.

Nowadays, I just warm it up for 1-2 minutes. Basically wait until the idle RPMs drop below 1k. I'll wait until it's around 800 rpm then start driving. Keep it below 3k RPM for 7-10 minutes of local driving. After that, feel free to go WOT.

I'm using 0w-40 btw. I like the 0 weight for the cold winters. 0w-30 should be fine too.

I am using 5w30. And yea i don’t sit in it. I just go outside. Turn it on, finish getting dressed then come back out. But i too quickly noticed it doesn’t fully heat the inside until you start driving it.

Also i do it mainly to deice or desnow the windows.

I think i might just be more mindful of letting it idle too long. Strive for 5 mins maybe instead of 10-15

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by rick100

I find the car shifts a lot smoother and it sounds happy if you let it warm up for 2-3 minutes . The odd occasion I have driven the car without warming it up , it shifts like sh it and the engine sounds like a truck engine .

It never goes below 50 where I live, and my car behaves the same way. I usually wait for a minute or so before I drive away, but after I start driving it takes a good 5 minutes before I get that that buttery smooth I6 engine sound. Prior to that it sounds a bit raspy.

[Thorin]

The engine warm up is a false indicator that the car is warmed up and ready. You may be thinking it's OK to go fast once the temp gauge says its OK, but your transmission and diff are still cold and sluggish.

Better to hit the road and let the system warm up together.

[Schmitz]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

I used to let it sit and warm up for 5-10 minutes also but I stopped doing that. It takes too long. I found that it warms up much quick if you actually drive it, very lightly though.

Nowadays, I just warm it up for 1-2 minutes. Basically wait until the idle RPMs drop below 1k. I'll wait until it's around 800 rpm then start driving. Keep it below 3k RPM for 7-10 minutes of local driving. After that, feel free to go WOT.

I'm using 0w-40 btw. I like the 0 weight for the cold winters. 0w-30 should be fine too.

Same here - shifts smoother for sure. If i don't then it will hold gears way too long.

[abqhudson]

Originally Posted by pjr710

I've been parking outside lately and have been turning my car on so that my interior heats up. The car is left idling outside in the cold for about 10-15 mins each morning.

The mornings are cold, it's winter in PA ... so 20-30* F.

Is this a bad idea to let it cold start in the cold and then let it sit there and idle?

YES.

[Pladi]

Idling at cold seems to be more of an issue for DI engines. Due to fuel getting past rings into the oil. I dont think its a big issue though. Idling for 5 minutes is fine..

PEople who say its not good need to explain the reason. With today's good synthetic oils its hard to see how it does any harm really.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by Pladi

Idling at cold seems to be more of an issue for DI engines. Due to fuel getting past rings into the oil. I dont think its a big issue though. Idling for 5 minutes is fine..

PEople who say its not good need to explain the reason. With today's good synthetic oils its hard to see how it does any harm really.

agreed

[floydarogers]

It's a waste of gas/diesel (unless you're doing it to warm the interior), but the interior won't warm in that time, anyway.

You're also not warming the transmission and rest of the drivetrain by idling, so you have to drive slowly to warm them, in any case.

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

It's a waste of gas/diesel (unless you're doing it to warm the interior), but the interior won't warm in that time, anyway.

You're also not warming the transmission and rest of the drivetrain by idling, so you have to drive slowly to warm them, in any case.

Transmission actually does warm up by idling. Youll know this if you have ever changed the transmission oil. You wait for the temp to get up to check the level and ur car is idling.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Pladi

Transmission actually does warm up by idling. Youll know this if you have ever changed the transmission oil. You wait for the temp to get up to check the level and ur car is idling.

It'll warm up faster driving than idling.
Again, DRIVE

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

It'll warm up faster driving than idling.
Again, DRIVE

That's not the point in warming up your car.

It's so we don't freeze our ass off.

It's perfectly fine to let it run 5 mins and let the seat warm up fully and some warm air coming through. That DI fuel wash thing is over the top IMO. You're not letting idle your car 5 mins every day of the year.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

It depends on how cold it is. I usually just get in, pop on the seat warmer and go.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

That's not the point in warming up your car.

It's so we don't freeze our ass off.

It's perfectly fine to let it run 5 mins and let the seat warm up fully and some warm air coming through. That DI fuel wash thing is over the top IMO. You're not letting idle your car 5 mins every day of the year.

My car has seat heaters, steering wheel heater, and since it's a diesel it has a electric heater in the a/c unit.

I would argue that you failed to order the correct car for your climate.

[maddmatth]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

It'll warm up faster driving than idling.
Again, DRIVE

It'll warm up faster the more you rev it too, so drive it hard

[Delta0311]

This is pointless the only time I do it is when there is snow on the car and I'm in the process of removing it. Other than that I give it about 30sec for the RPM to settle and drive off. I keep the RPMs low till the temp gauge is pretty much on 200F. Also you need to remember that even when your car is idling parked and warming up your tranny fluid is not.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

My car has seat heaters, steering wheel heater, and since it's a diesel it has a electric heater in the a/c unit.

I would argue that you failed to order the correct car for your climate.

My car also has heat seats. Heat seats don't take 2 seconds to hit warm temp. They're quick though I agree, but still.

I just think you have no idea what it is to live here. Your average temps in your area are much higher than what we get here.

It takes 5 minutes just to clear off the snow and ice most mornings anyways. So might aswell warm the car.