How long do you let your 4Runner warm up?

[3bears]

Sounds like none of you have to deal with an atx that doesn't shift beyond 2nd gear until it's "warmed up".
Warmed up = when the auto climate actually starts to ramp up and push warm air.
I'm sure I have somewhat suspect shift solenoids, but I just live with it and take the long route out of the neighbourhood before hitting roads with speed limits above 40mph.

some parts don't like the cold. my tranny is slower to shift if I just jump in and go...at below freezing
my power steering can be stiff...again if below ZERO and the truck has not warmed up...and sometimes its still stiff for first little bit...flushed, screen cleaned last spring and all synthetic
and I learned recently...if your brake booster check valve is a bit sticky...it will really stick in sub zero temps and the brake pedal is like super stiff and no brakes

living up here the past year....man have I learned what sub zero temps do..
other than my block, pan , tranny pan heaters....next to get is a battery heater...brrrr

 

[Gecko123]

about 2 mins

 

[VernySanders]

Thanks for the post - I was wondering about this myself. Intuitively, it feels wrong to start driving when the engine hasn't yet "settled." This winter I've gotten into the habit of letting the engine warm up, more for my own comfort than the engine. But I was wondering if it was unnecessary. Sounds like it was worse than unnecessary...

nothing wrong with letting your 5vz idle as long as you want. My trucks got 260,000 miles on it. if the headgasket was going to go it would have.... the head will not warp due to letting a vehicle idle ever.... I also have an extremely efficient cooling system ( which all 4runners seem to have :biggrin2: ) an engine running is an engine running you cant tell me that a vehicle at idle is going to have more wear than a vehicle thats driving at 2,500 rpm. While this may be true on small engines I HIGHLY doubt this is the case on an SUV. Either way an engine will wear while its running. the number one wear on any engine is a cold start. In michigan i let my truck idle for 10, 20, shoot sometimes 30 minutes untill my girlfriend says DUDE LETS GO YOUR TRUCK IS STILL ON LOL. Moral of the story: running a cold engine at operating speeds and rpms (1,500 to 3,500 rpm ) while cold is where youre gonna ruin your engine. Hopping right in and driving away is the worst on your engine and ESPECIALLY your transmission. Im sure an automatic transmission is engineered differently than a motorcycle transmission. ATF expands with heat, especially in colder temps, you dont want to run an automatic transmission extremely cold because you could be starving the pump. thats why you have a hot level and a cold level on your dip stick. ALWAYS let your vehicle wakeup. Humans dont hop right out of bed and go a million miles a minute, usually we at least drink coffee first

EDIT: Warming up a vehicle achieves an "operating temperature" so if youre outside of that temp, shouldnt you not operate? lol

 

[VernySanders]

I have more experience than some less than others. I have worked on everything from Old Fords, chainsaws, Fire Engines and now 5 4runners Engine rebuilds / Head gasket repairs. I live in Temecula so not far from you I don't wait for the engine temp to start to move and I don't just hit the key and hammer the throttle hard first thing in the morning on hot or cold days.

I start the engine I take a moment to scan over the gauges for problem lights Batt, oil pressure, CE then listen for any odd noises about 15 to 20 seconds. I put it in gear listen for any other odd noises and then drive it easy until at least 3/4 of it's normal warm up range. Then I drive as needed. Long Idle times are not all that harmful but really don't do the engine any good either. So what I am after is the engine oil to make it's way around all the internal parts (15 seconds) and then the engine to get into near normal range before asking a lot from it.

My last new car was a 2001 Accord had 270,000 miles with no trouble with all the regular services. With the engine work I did on the 2 2001 4runners I hope to get 200,000 miles from each from were I'm at right now. :usa2:

One thing to add is it not uncommon in Socal for people to just get into a car that sitting there idling and take of with it.

temecula is a beautiful wine country. My aunt used to run the San Diego Zoo and her family lived in Temecula. Her husband, my uncle used to play in a band all around there.

 

[VernySanders]

some parts don't like the cold. my tranny is slower to shift if I just jump in and go...at below freezing
my power steering can be stiff...again if below ZERO and the truck has not warmed up...and sometimes its still stiff for first little bit...flushed, screen cleaned last spring and all synthetic
and I learned recently...if your brake booster check valve is a bit sticky...it will really stick in sub zero temps and the brake pedal is like super stiff and no brakes

living up here the past year....man have I learned what sub zero temps do..
other than my block, pan , tranny pan heaters....next to get is a battery heater...brrrr

LOL the other day I hopped in my truck at freezing temps, and just wanted to inch it closer to my house because it was freezing outside and my brakes wouldnt work i had to slam on them cause everything was so cold, glad to know I probably have a sticky brake booster check valve

 

[phattyduck]

nothing wrong with letting your 5vz idle as long as you want.

So, you know the 5vz better than Toyota? Let's go at this again... A few quotes more from the owners manual:

Avoid lengthy warm−up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving but gently. Remember, however, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.

Avoid long engine idling. If you have
a long wait and you are not in traffic,
it is better to turn off the engine and
start again later.

Do not allow the engine to run at
idle speed for more than 20 minutes.

The only time the manual asks for you to idle the vehicle is when the transmission fluid warning light comes on... to cool down the transmission!

You will not find a manufacturer that suggests that you idle a vehicle to warm it up for more than a few minutes, and even then, only in below-freezing conditions. Easy regular driving is very clearly the best way to warm up a vehicle.

-Charlie

 

[T4R2014]

Idling is a great way to build up some serious carbon. Combine it with short trips and you will have a 5VZ that pings all day long.

 

[Outrider]

Any and all engines have a finite number of revolutions until they wear out and die. Every minute of idling gets you at least 500-800 revolutions closer to that number when your engine dies.

Warming up an engine fully before you start driving gains you nothing. When I hear about people letting their engines idle for many minutes or longer before driving, I just roll my eyes and think, "That person just doesn't know much about engines".

 

[dansoore]

I just start it, put in gear and Go.

 

[VernySanders]

So, you know the 5vz better than Toyota? Let's go at this again... A few quotes more from the owners manual:

Avoid lengthy warm−up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving but gently. Remember, however, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.

Avoid long engine idling. If you have
a long wait and you are not in traffic,
it is better to turn off the engine and
start again later.

Do not allow the engine to run at
idle speed for more than 20 minutes.

The only time the manual asks for you to idle the vehicle is when the transmission fluid warning light comes on... to cool down the transmission!

You will not find a manufacturer that suggests that you idle a vehicle to warm it up for more than a few minutes, and even then, only in below-freezing conditions. Easy regular driving is very clearly the best way to warm up a vehicle.

-Charlie

No I certainly don't, but I know my 260,000 mile truck and how it operates in its current condition better than Toyota does. While I agree that excessive idling does nothing but wear the engine, the best option for my vehicle is to let it warm up. How do I know this? Lets just say my truck is not safe for innocent by-standards at cold temps lol. But all joking aside, if my truck isn't warmed up to operating temp, it doesn't function as it should. (moreso the transmission) Call me stubborn, but once again i know my truck extremely well, I would be drastically shortening the life of the truck by not letting it warm up judging by the performance differences while operating at cold temps vs operating temp. Ive had one heck of a struggle with cleaning out my auto trans, if i would have just hopped in and drove it like everyone here states, I would have blown the trans or damaged internal components by this point, i guarantee it. Toyota may have stated that in a manual, that's great, however they didn't specify any sort of mileage intervals and operating a vehicle with 10 miles vs 260,000 are apples and oranges and cannot be compared. Stating that a toyota manual is right regardless of the current wear on the components in my drive line has no bearing on reality and is illogical. (I know you weren't stating that Charlie. Not trying to put words in anyone's mouth.) Therefore, easy driving is not the best way to warm up all vehicles. With all that said, I respect your opinion as you have more knowledge on these 3rd gens than most on this forum including myself, and you have also contributed to my threads on multiple occasions with great information, on this topic however, I firmly disagree, and that's okay!

EDIT: As for pinging or any other engine complications imaginable, i've never had one issue with any of that by letting my vehicle idle.

 

[phattyduck]

Therefore, easy driving is not the best way to warm up all vehicles. With all that said, I respect your opinion as you have more knowledge on these 3rd gens than most on this forum including myself, and you have also contributed to my threads on multiple occasions with great information, on this topic however, I firmly disagree, and that's okay!

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

 

[Riceye]

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.

 

[phattyduck]

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.

I very much agree on the temperature! Anything above freezing or so, there is no special procedure necessary.

I do have some experience with actual cold starts (you know, we do get snow in California...). That was mostly with my old WRX though. It would start like an airplane below about 15*F... chug, chug, chug... In daily scenarios though, I haven't had to clean off ice from my windshield in ages - it is all melted by 8am on the few 'freezing' mornings around here.

-Charlie

 

[thennen]

The only time I've ever allowed my vehicles to warm up (I'm in Ohio) is if I want some heat on the glass for defrosting or melting snow or ice. Otherwise I'm like a lot of folks - start and go. Never had a problem as a result of doing this.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I don't warm mine up, but the speed limit in my neighborhood is 20 and the gauge is centered by the time I leave it.

 

[thennen]

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!

 

[APhelps]

I'd imagine letting the truck sit for a brief bit (30 seconds or so) is probably the best, it'll allow some time for the oil to warm up a bit and circulate around the engine evenly.

 

[JZiggy]

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!

LOL

A college friend of mine left her Altima locked and idling in a Six Flags parking lot for like 12 hours once.

I had to wonder -- how in world can you stand 12 hours at Six Flags??

The Nissan ran crummy before and after this happened to it.

 

[phattyduck]

LOL

A college friend of mine left her Altima locked and idling in a Six Flags parking lot for like 12 hours once.

I had to wonder -- how in world can you stand 12 hours at Six Flags??

The Nissan ran crummy before and after this happened to it.

Ha!

My best friend from high school left his Accord idling/locked in the parking lot with the headlights on and winshield wipers on high once... I had to drive him home (sneak out of the school and back) to get his second set of keys to turn it off a few hours later.

-Charlie

 

[thennen]

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