Do you let your vehicles warm up?

[The Sleeper]

Is there a benefit to letting engines warm up before you start driving?

I warm my t4r up until it gets to the regular running temp, is that waiting too long? Is it necessary? I have always been told that its good to let them warm up.

Just throwing it out there for some input.

 

[Skidmarcx]

Not in a modern computer controlled vehicle... Maybe drive it easy until it reaches normal operating temp

 

[KidVermicious]

Warm up schmarm up, I'm at 70mph before I leave the driveway.

Well, I would be. If my truck could do 70, I mean.

 

[hurt4x]

Mine is in reverse before it idles down

 

[hearno]

To echo what the other have already said... It's not necessary and you won't see a benefit. Take it easy until it's at normal operating temp and then have at it. I had a BMW that had a series of colors attached to the tachometer. As the car warmed up, the colors would disappear meaning you were safe to run the motor to that rpm.

 

[JB.]

Is there a benefit to letting engines warm up before you start driving?

Depends on which benefit you're talking about. Being warm and toasty?

No benefit in terms of drive train longevity, though, because the truck spends more time in a cold state. Operating temperature is reached more quickly through gentle driving and spreads out better.

However, if I was leaving town and letting someone use the truck (never happen), my instructions would be to let it warm up before driving.

 

[Victor_inox]

5 to 10 seconds, after I buckled up and switched to reverse. yes, I`m that slow.

 

[Antman]

I'm old school. When it's cold out I give mine a few minutes to warm up.

I figure I need a few minutes to warm up before I start moving around (arrgh! my back!!) so I give the T4R the same courtesy.:yo:

 

[riceandpho]

i leave the ac on when its hot, and heater on when its cold, i remote start my truck and get in a comfortable drive. usually its a 4 min walk from my building to the parking lot.

 

[T4R2014]

I was always told (even as a child) that you should let the car warm up when it's cold. In winter I let it run until it gets to operating temperature, that way the interior is warmed up when I get in.

In warmer weather I usually let it run for a minute or so and drive off, that way the interior is cool.

I would let a car run for at least 10 seconds to get oil pressure. I have no idea if any of this is applicable to modern cars made in the last 15 or so years, but it works for me and my family has followed these rules for years.

 

[The Sleeper]

Wow I guess I've wasted a lot of time sitting in my truck looking like an idiot for 5-10 mins everyday.:wacko:

 

[hearno]

Wow I guess I've wasted a lot of time sitting in my truck looking like an idiot for 5-10 mins everyday.:wacko:

Fuel too since they run rich after being started - esp in the cold.

 

[Cory619]

I let mine warm up as well. Or at least get the oil circulated for a few minutes before driving.

Old habits.

 

[Bob J]

I drive as soon as I buckle up.... I'd rather burn the gas on the road rather than just sitting there....

 

[WXman]

My brother blew rods through the engine block because he got in the truck and took off down the interstate on a cold night after leaving work and floored it before the engine had warmed up.

If the weather is below freezing, then YES you need to give the engine some time to warm the fluids and start flowing oil through the ports properly. This may mean 60 seconds or less, but at least give it some time. Don't jump in, fire it up, and mash the pedal.

In summer the oil is already free-flowing so no warm up time is needed but I still give mine 10 seconds before taking off. My brother's engine block was an ugly sight.