Heat up 2018 4Runner in winter?

[20184runner]

Hey guys I have a 2018 4Runner limited and like me I’m sure this has been on everyone’s minds who live in cold parts

I live in Toronto. The winters aren’t too bad but can get cold

I always wondered ... should you turn your car on and let it idle for 5 min to warm up the engine in the cold winter days ?

Or is that a myth? I have a remote starter and have always done it

Would love to hear everyone’s opinion in relation to their truck

 

[LandCruiser]

Idling an engine won't hurt it. Sitting idle in the cold for 5 minutes doesn't really seem to get anything warm in the cold as much as getting the revs up while driving (like merging onto a highway). That's where a good seat heater can really help keep you warm before the heater kicks in.

Not sure what kind of laws against idling/puffing do you have in Justine's Communist Republic, but here in Colorado it's frowned upon by police, but rarely enforced outside Denver, Boulder and other places there are lots of mentally ill people.

The best solution is to install a block heater, if you plug it in with the engine hot, it will keep the engine warm enough that when you start it again the heater will be warm.

 

[bglfgd]

Personally I let it idle for 30ish seconds before I'm on my way, just enough time to let the tach needle get down to 1000-1200 rpm after the initial start.

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[Crocket]

...... Justine's Communist Republic....

We would of also accepted Canada's lib-tard leader, Canada's selfie king or Canada's #1 pot head in lieu of his actual name :biggrin2:

 

[Crocket]

Hey guys I have a 2018 4Runner limited and like me I’m sure this has been on everyone’s minds who live in cold parts

I live in Toronto. The winters aren’t too bad but can get cold

I always wondered ... should you turn your car on and let it idle for 5 min to warm up the engine in the cold winter days ?

Or is that a myth? I have a remote starter and have always done it

Would love to hear everyone’s opinion in relation to their truck

As for heating up the interior of the 4Runner in the winter. There are several threads describing the somewhat less than robust 4Runner HVAC system. I'd tend to agree given my issues with it during the colder months. In the summer it seems to cool the interior ok, but in the winter I can't seem to get the interior hot enough. In other cars/trucks I've owned, on full blast the interior gets hot enough in the dead of winter to remove my coat. Not so in the 4Runner. Coat stays on and fully zipped up. A lot of discussion on here as to why (eventually turning into flame wars for saying anything bad about the 4Runner) but for me, living in Canada, there are times when the heat just isn't hot enough.

I would be interested in hearing what you and others in the cold snow belt areas have to say come spring time.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/254701-rear-center-console-vents.html#post2968597

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...c-fan-speed-weak-ac-heat-other-pros-cons.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/187546-does-your-5th-gen-take-20-minutes-warm-up.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/112195-sr5-air-conditioning.html

 

[pDubs]

Idling an engine won't hurt it.

Sure it can. If you are starting the truck completely cold and letting it idle for 5 minutes you aren’t getting the engine up to operating temp quickly enough for how long it’s running.

It’s best to start, let idle for 30 seconds or so to get oil circulated and all parts lubricated, then gently drive and not over rev to get the truck to operating temp quicker.

 

[SwayzeExpress]

Warm up time was more important before fuel injection and people used a manual choke

 

[nb rob]

I usually warm up just enough to get the ice to loosen up from the windows so it can be scraped.

I live along a well-travelled highway, so when it's time to get on the road, it's time to get up to speed quickly.... which really feels like hell in a very cold vehicle. Still, the next 500m on the road will heat up the engine/cabin quicker than 10 minutes in the driveway idling.

but often I see people that are adamant that 2 minutes is too much....
some times the conditions call for the amount of time.

 

[nglayton]

Personally I let it idle for 30ish seconds before I'm on my way

^^THIS^^ + Seat heaters and a coat. By the time I get 2 minutes down the road, seat heaters are off.. 5 minutes later, I want the coat off, 5 minutes after that windows are down, 5 minutes after that I've arrived.

It's not worth the extra effort to deal with for 10 minutes of minor discomfort.

 

[mteolus]

I usually warm up just enough to get the ice to loosen up from the windows so it can be scraped.

I live along a well-travelled highway, so when it's time to get on the road, it's time to get up to speed quickly.... which really feels like hell in a very cold vehicle. Still, the next 500m on the road will heat up the engine/cabin quicker than 10 minutes in the driveway idling.

but often I see people that are adamant that 2 minutes is too much....
some times the conditions call for the amount of time.

I was in Colorado in conditions over Thanksgiving like that just not as bad. The left window washer was frozen so I pushed the little button on the left thinking that was the heater for the washer and it didn't melt. Not sure if that is what that button is for. I assume the outside window heaters are always on? Guess I need to get the manual out.

 

[sinks88]

It just sucks....I live in MN, and I had to buy a seat heater and I had to shut all vents off but the 2 in front of me. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get comfortable (WHILE DRIVING, not idling).

 

[chubbena]

I'm in Canada also but have never warmed up any vehicle in my life. I don't even start up the vehicle until after I scrapped all ice from the windshield, windows and mirrors. I start driving as soon as the revs stabilized and have never counted how long it takes to stabilize. A good 10 seconds may be. Not sure if I've been doing it right but all previously owned vehicles went over 300k before I sold them and still in reasonably good condition. The 4R is the only vehicle I ever have with fuel economy indicator and I do notice that it uses a whole lot more gas until it warms up.

 

[IanB]

If it's cold, I'll have the vehicle plugged in, and I'll start it w/ command start as I get dressed to head outside. I'll scrape the windows and clear the snow, and then hop in and drive slowly until the heat comes up on the gauge. It likely idles for 5min in this situation.

If you use good oil, there's no real need to let it idle for 10min, 30sec or until the revs drop down to normal should be adequate, but if I'm going to be outside scraping windows, etc it can be running and warming up while that's going on.

 

[Josh_357]

For a warmish interior and ice free windows I've been doing the following for a few years. I place a small space heater in the car, sitting on the center console for instance, and let the plug lead hang out the bottom door seal. I then plug it into an extension cord that is run to a timer device. I've done two versions, a small 200-400 watt heater that comes on 2-3 hours before I leave in the morning or a 750 watt heater that comes on 45-60 min before leaving. The bigger heater is better at a "warmer" interior, but the longer smaller heater is a little better at melting window ice. I have also paired the circuit with an oil pan heater in the past when I lived in really cold climates. Idle the motor for 30-60 seconds to circulate oil and then drive, though I always use synthetic oils.

 

[epjfsa]

Every car that my wife or I owned pre-2010 said in the owners manual to start and drive immediately ('88 BMW 325is, '89 535i, '97 M3, and some old junk GMs). But since then, we've owned a 2010 Malibu barf, '13 Mini Cooper S, '15 Tacoma, and '16 4runner - none of which make any mention and had remote start options from the factory.

Personally, I just don't really care anymore. I can't see it making a difference on modern engines with modern engine controls and lubricants. I only use my remote starter maybe two or three dozen times each year, and most of the time is to make it comfortable or safe for the dogs. If I have to tear apart the engine at 225,000 miles instead of 250,000 miles... meh.

 

[cbreze]

I'm in Central oregon these days and it can get very cold in winter. I'm guessing all the posters don;t have a garage to park in. A luxury I sometimes I take for granted.
But, this thread takes me back to the days of my old '65 International(binder)P/U.
Living in Northern Arizona's back woods in the 70's I had to get into town five days a week and had issues getting the truck started on freezing cold mornings, had no garage. An old guy told my younger self to just put a 100 watt light bulb under the hood each nite before bed. I was a tad skeptical and though he was pulling my leg at first but tried it and wow, did the trick everytime. No more problems, started right up and came with a bonus, I could find my truck on dark mornings.

 

[Bftfan]

I got a remote start and heat my 4runner up for a few mins in the winter months because these NY winters are wicked cold and I have a 1 mile commute to work. I found I wasn't even burning off all the moisture in my exhaust system on my short trip and my last muffler rusted from the inside out. (or at least that's my theory).

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[onepremiere]

I was in Colorado in conditions over Thanksgiving like that just not as bad. The left window washer was frozen so I pushed the little button on the left thinking that was the heater for the washer and it didn't melt. Not sure if that is what that button is for. I assume the outside window heaters are always on? Guess I need to get the manual out.

That's your windshield and wiper defroster/deicer. Works great for frozen blades.

 

[LandCruiser]

I can't imagine idling for a while will hurt any vehicle made in the 21st century with modern engine metallurgy and computer tech.

 

[pDubs]

Engines run rich when cold. Rich means more fuel in the cylinders. Fuel is a solvent and will literally "clean" the oil off the cylinder walls, causing more metal to metal contact and less lubricated parts that should be lubricated.

The basics of how internally combusted engines work is pretty much the same, regardless of "21st century" or not. If anything, fuel injected engines SHOULDN'T need idled for long, and carbureted might.