How long do you let your 4Runner warm up?

[Jlentz32]

I generally wait until the idle settles down when I don't need to clean off snow and ice. Longer when I do.

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[phattyduck]

Wow, was it raining? If not, what did the wiper blades look like?

It was raining hard when parked (he was late, in a hurry to get to class and flustered by the rain). I can't remember how much it was raining later. We did lots of stupid stuff in those days...

-Charlie

 

[MarkBlack]

One thing I learned from my Dad was "warming down". Idle and let the engine "return to normal".
He was an aircraft pilot, mechanic, designer. A pioneer in aerial firefighting since the early 60's converting WWII TBM's, up to DC7's. Crop dusting and charter before that.


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Thats what I was told too. But some say there's no need with these modern engines.

 

[Thebeastlives]

TLDR at bottom...

This is an issue with which I'm way more familiar than I'd ever wanted to be. I've got almost 3 decades experience as a motorcycle mechanic (do all small engines though), and MC riders have long been "let 'er idle till warm" and "let 'er idle to keep her in good running condition over the winter" people. Those engines Known to have been idled a lot, when opened up, tend to show WAY more cylinder scoring, ring wear (and the associated oil burning/low compression/blow-by), and are the ONLY engines I've encountered in otherwise good running condition that have developed warped heads and blown head-gaskets in an "all of a sudden" way.

These are due to idling... maybe on the extreme side were someone started an engine and Just let it idle for 30 minutes, once a month, for 5 months... but it's an indicator of what you're doing when idling a cold engine. You simply have less oil flow, less lubrication, uneven heat dissipation (tends to concentrate at the top of the cylinder where the "bang" occurs), etc...

It's better for the engine to be used, lightly, as soon as it can take it. The 5vzfe engine? I've had it to -40, where F and C read the same temp, started and was on my way right after buckling my seatbelt. Vehicles with carbs are a little more fickle, my '66 Beetle takes almost a minute before it'll idle on its own when below freezing, and I'll do a lap of my driveway (about a mile) before heading out on the road just to make sure it's warming up... otherwise it bogs pretty bad and is a hazard as I live right on a 55mph highway.

So, 4runner I start, put in gear and go immediately. Same's true for every modern fuel injected vehicle I've encountered.


TLDR: Extended idling is bad, there's no need for it and it causes more damage than just Gently driving just as soon as the engine will allow, regardless of temp. (all use causes damage, also known as 'wear')

I agree 100%, at 318,000 miles and running perfect, i start and go

 

[PNW RJ]

Me? Synthetic oil. Cold start: idle about 30 seconds and then I don't put a lot of demand on the engine for the first couple of miles.

 

[patkelly4370]

I do spend a minute or so to let temperatures stabilize before turning it off.
A habit instilled by my Dad who was a pilot/mechanic for over 60 years

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[VernySanders]

Well said, and yes, we disagree here. My 290k+ mile 4Runner was garaged for most of its life, and was generally treated well (the first 220k was by my dad - ~20 mile easy freeway commutes and long slow highway driving). But, he NEVER let it warm up before driving. To the point of immediately putting it in gear because he hated the high initial idle... So, I'd say these engines/vehicles are pretty forgiving of most treatment.

-Charlie

That's honestly a totally fair opinion based on that vehicle background, im at a loss honestly I guess I'd be less likely to warm my vehicle up the way I do, especially if I knew its history like that. But it is a for sure fact that these engines/vehicles are pretty forgiving of most treatment. Honestly this is such an interesting thread to see everyone's responses, it's so fascinating how some threads like this start to blow up and get many responses on such a "basic" topic! Once again, I appreciate the back and forth conversation, it's nice to know that theres still some gentleman out there that know everything isnt always an argument! LOL

 

[VernySanders]

So, there is a very large difference between a cold start for Werner (VernySanders) and Charlie (phattyduck). Like, -20ºF vs 45ºF. Huge difference.
And, it sounds like Werner warms his vehicle up more so for transmission performance than for engine preservation.

I'm in the camp of start-and-go with a proviso. I have a manual trans, so the trans temp is less of an issue, although even with synthetic gearlube, shifting is a little difficult for the first five minutes or so after a sub-zero start. When above zero, I'm usually start-and-go, waiting for the fan noise to drop off. When below zero I wait long enough to hand-roll a cig before taking off.

Letting the engine warm is a waste of fuel and unnecessary production of hydrocarbons. There are some communities that actually will issue a citation if you are caught in the act.

This is totally true, more so for transmission performance on my part admittedly for sure. I love the way you mixed in a good old fashioned rolled cig contrasted by the hydrocarbon statement

Also interesting because of the fact that I'm going to be doing a manual swap and I will admit that I wont let my truck warm up as long as I currently do. I've gotta get up to operating temp to baby that trans hahaa

 

[VernySanders]

I did warm up my 1987 Tercel Wagon for 6 hours one time. That's code for started it, went inside, and forgot about it. Still running the next morning. Quite embarrassing, but the car never exhibited any problems from it. Only used a quarter tank of gas, too!

Must have been a good night!!!

 

[phattyduck]

Also interesting because of the fact that I'm going to be doing a manual swap and I will admit that I wont let my truck warm up as long as I currently do. I've gotta get up to operating temp to baby that trans hahaa

It is much more of a challenge to shift a cold manual trans in my Camry than the A340 in the 4Runner... ound: It starts getting annoying around 45*F.

Actually, the manual trans that is in my Camry (from a JDM Celica GT4) has an oil pump and cooler from the factory, which isn't ideal on cold mornings. :frusty: The 4Runner MT has better choices of fluids, so it should be better when cold.

-Charlie

 

[thennen]

Must have been a good night!!!

Oh no, nothing like that. It had a carburetor, and for some reason it didn't like to sit too long or it would be difficult to start. So if I ran it 15 minutes before going to bed, it started fine the following morning. After this event, I set the timer on the stove before starting the car to avoid another occurrence.

 

[pluton]

I had a couple mid-eighties Land Cruiser FJ 60s. The owner's manual said not to let it idle for long periods---because idling for a long time could overheat the emissions control system (read: Cat). Don't know if this'd apply to our fuel injected vehicles---the FJ 60s were heavily emission-controlled but carburetor'd vehicles.