How long to wait after starting engine in cold weather?

[Fro-Runner]

For those who don't know, this is called piston wash where the excessive idling causes the oil to not thoroughly lubricate a gasoline powered vehicle.

Diesels are not that subject to piston wash.

Piston wash, piston polish, or piston wax, I'm warming up my truck! I was born and raised near the Gulf of Mexico and I need some warm air to be circulating around my feet rather quickly when I get cold.

 

[Kmvreter]

Hell, I wait until I can get some warm air coming into my truck. I'm already cold, can't see very well out of a fogged up windshield, and I'm sitting behind the wheel like a shaking, stiff ice statue.

In SoCal??? Are you in the mountains??? You have got to be kidding.

If you want cold...

Go north young man!

 

[Fro-Runner]

My $0.02 living in MN almost all my life is that you should let it run for 30 sec. and that's all you need. Gas mileage takes a hit in winter time as it is, and if you let your car warm up for 10 mins just wait and see what that will do to you at the pump. If its super cold, like 0F or below, 1 min. ain't a bad call, either.

If I was this concerned about fuel mileage in the winter then if I were you I'd buy an electric engine blanket and a electric space heater to heat the interior area. Plug them up as you put your clothes on and this should warm your truck up enough.
The electric blanket and space heater idea work in the cold bedroom during sleeping time so why not here.
:biggrin2: :chair:

 

[tomhaney1]

My $0.02 living in MN almost all my life is that you should let it run for 30 sec. and that's all you need. Gas mileage takes a hit in winter time as it is, and if you let your car warm up for 10 mins just wait and see what that will do to you at the pump. If its super cold, like 0F or below, 1 min. ain't a bad call, either.

I think people are debating extreme ends of the spectrum. If you let your car warm up for 3 minutes there is no harm to the engine or real excess fuel consumption. If you let it sit for ten minutes that might be a tad excessive but if it's -22 degrees F it might be appropriate. If not specifically for the engine, it may be beneficial for letting the cabin warm up. It is still best to let any internally lubricated engine run at its normal operating temperature, or temperature range. That is a fact no one will deny.

 

[keylay31]

Let me make a correction. This thread was meant to apply to weather between 0-15F or so. None of this 29 in SoCal...

 

[HiVel-JR]

30 seconds max, that should be long enough to get oil pressure in the engine.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Let me make a correction. This thread was meant to apply to weather between 0-15F or so. None of this 29 in SoCal...

Ok.... Ok... Ok peeps! I'm sorry for hijacking this thread with the balmy, winter temps of 29 degrees of so. California. I know this thread could be of some help to those in the really cold climates up north. I was in Beaver, UT last week and the temp was -19 degrees with the wind blowing at 15 mph. I felt like a citrus fruit in below 32 degree weather... "I'm gonna be ruined"!
:
All joking aside..... I've always allowed my car/truck to warm up no matter how cold it was where I was stationed. I have a 23 y/o (1984 model) 4 cylinder, 5spd car with over 325,000 miles on it and it stills runs up and down the California interstates at 70-75 mph. And yes.....it is a GM model and it has followed me everywhere I've been in the USA. Illinois, Idaho, Ohio, etc..etc.

 

[OUTRNNR]

For those who don't know, this is called piston wash where the excessive idling causes the oil to not thoroughly lubricate a gasoline powered vehicle.

Diesels are not that subject to piston wash.

I'm not so sure about this "piston wash" theory. I just googled it and all that came up was snowmobiling articles, keeping in mind that most snowmobiles are two-stroke, this holds absolutely no weight in this discussion. I've seen gasoline engines idle for hours on end with no such symptoms. Maybe you could provide some references for all of us to read on this topic?

As long as the oil pressure is within the operating range you are good to go. I don't give it too much gas until the coolant needle begins to register. In extreme cold (below zero F) I let it idle for at least a minute to make sure all fluid is flowing properly...

 

[Climb14er]

I'm not so sure about this "piston wash" theory. I just googled it and all that came up was snowmobiling articles, keeping in mind that most snowmobiles are two-stroke, this holds absolutely no weight in this discussion. I've seen gasoline engines idle for hours on end with no such symptoms. Maybe you could provide some references for all of us to read on this topic?

As long as the oil pressure is within the operating range you are good to go. I don't give it too much gas until the coolant needle begins to register. In extreme cold (below zero F) I let it idle for at least a minute to make sure all fluid is flowing properly...

The fact that you googled it tells me you know nothing about the subject.

I sense you're 'calling me out' as I caught you last week with you knowing little of what you discussed.

Piston wash is the effect of a piston throwing off lubrication over a period of time, much more prevalent in a gas than a diesel engine.

When a gas engine idles for long periods of time, this is akin to a dry sump startup... no lube to the area that needs it.

If you want a further explanation, research it yourself. If you want to get back at me, I don't have time with folks like you who talk a lot and who have little real experience with engines.

I'm done!

:

 

[007Runner]

The fact that you googled it tells me you know nothing about the subject.

I sense you're 'calling me out' as I caught you last week with you knowing little of what you discussed.

Piston wash is the effect of a piston throwing off lubrication over a period of time, much more prevalent in a gas than a diesel engine.

When a gas engine idles for long periods of time, this is akin to a dry sump startup... no lube to the area that needs it.

If you want a further explanation, research it yourself. If you want to get back at me, I don't have time with folks like you who talk a lot and who have little real experience with engines.

I'm done!

:

Sounds to me like your calling out, OUTRNNR with your poor attitude. Piston wash is not going to effect a well designed engine. This is something that usually only effects engines that had work done on them to be performing at a level to which they were not designed. Very high performance type engines. The 4Runner idles very smoothly and maintains adequate oil pressure. Racing type cams coupled with high compression engines often suffer from this. Normal engines are not effected by this, except for maybe American cars, who knows? This is something that is almost exclusive to the racing community. Sorry I don't have time to further educate you on this matter.

 

[Climb14er]

Sounds to me like your calling out, OUTRNNR with your poor attitude. Piston wash is not going to effect a well designed engine. This is something that usually only effects engines that had work done on them to be performing at a level to which they were not designed. Very high performance type engines. The 4Runner idles very smoothly and maintains adequate oil pressure. Racing type cams coupled with high compression engines often suffer from this. Normal engines are not effected by this, except for maybe American cars, who knows? This is something that is almost exclusive to the racing community. Sorry I don't have time to further educate you on this matter.

The fact is that there are folks here on this (and every) forum that if you look at their post count and the way they drone on about everything ad infinitum, their actual knowledge is inverse.

Looks like you spent some time researching the topic.

Excessive idling in a gasoline engine is one of the worst things it could do which creates problems.

If you want a list of them, continue with your google searching.

 

[qballjr13]

I guess when I responded with the idea that you let the truck idle for 5 or 10 mins, I was thinking that how many yof us will EVER keep a vehicle long enough to feel the effect of any of these issues? Would this effect the motor at 50K? 100K? 300K? Just from experience I have had a 2000 Maxima that had a remote starter in it (used often, winter and summer)...I traded it in with 150K on it, never having a motor issue. So how much damage are we really doing...in real terms? Will me running my remote starter for 5 minutes before I leave on a 9 degree day really cause that much damage? I say no, but I am willing to listen to different ideas.

I AM NOT CALLING ANYONE OUT....but what is everyones credentials to be discussing motor damage at cold idle? I am just curious, please dont take that the wrong way.

 

[Climb14er]

I AM NOT CALLING ANYONE OUT....but what is everyones credentials to be discussing motor damage at cold idle? I am just curious, please dont take that the wrong way.

Just for the record, my specialty and business are big diesel engines, commerical apparatus, not over the road, with a 10% gasoline engine addition to the mix.

I see engines that have idled to ad infinitum, all types of oils and filters, varying types of maintenance, though usually well maintained.

There's a huge misconception with people that you have to 'baby' an engine or else all hell will break loose.

If you do good maintenance, drive it hard, watch for potholes and other obstacles, your Toyota 4Runner should last many more miles that you'll probably keep it.

I read that this guy on the forum, is leasing his 4Runner and changing his synthetic oil every 3000 miles.

I'd like to buy that vehicle when it's off lease. :

 

[qballjr13]

I'd like to buy that vehicle when it's off lease. :

Yeah really! Thanks for the info. Your right, I drive it hard and never look back. Its a Toyota after-all (plus I have an extended warranty ) I just think everyone is talking like if you let your truck idle for a little while the motor is going to die on you that day. I just was wanted to clarify exactly how much damage is being done and what the long time effects are....thanks again!

 

[Uneek]

Warm weather 2-5 sec.
Cold weather 10 sec max (long enough to put on my seatbelt.) I let the revs drop from the initial start-up peak and then go. I have to take it easy going through several turns getting out of the neighborhood anyways. This gets the engine up to temp faster than sitting at idle, without undue stress.
The condensation thing doesn't matter with modern stainless steel exhausts.

Same here. This way exhaust is kept to a minimum in the garage. I just keep the revs low until the temperature needle moves up towards "C".

 

[OUTRNNR]

The fact that you googled it tells me you know nothing about the subject.

I sense you're 'calling me out' as I caught you last week with you knowing little of what you discussed.

Piston wash is the effect of a piston throwing off lubrication over a period of time, much more prevalent in a gas than a diesel engine.

When a gas engine idles for long periods of time, this is akin to a dry sump startup... no lube to the area that needs it.

If you want a further explanation, research it yourself. If you want to get back at me, I don't have time with folks like you who talk a lot and who have little real experience with engines.

I'm done!

:

This still makes no sense. References please? There has to be something you can refer me to. Googling something to research myself has been sucessful for the past 6 years or so. Surely if this so called piston wash does exist there will be info of it on the internet, so what are you waiting for?

EDITED BY ADMIN.

 

[keylay31]

How about both of you grow up and stop hijacking this thread.

 

[tomhaney1]

Sounds to me like your calling out, OUTRNNR with your poor attitude. Piston wash is not going to effect a well designed engine. This is something that usually only effects engines that had work done on them to be performing at a level to which they were not designed. Very high performance type engines. The 4Runner idles very smoothly and maintains adequate oil pressure. Racing type cams coupled with high compression engines often suffer from this. Normal engines are not effected by this, except for maybe American cars, who knows? This is something that is almost exclusive to the racing community. Sorry I don't have time to further educate you on this matter.

OH SNAP!! C'mon guys lets be civil...

 

[tomhaney1]

I guess when I responded with the idea that you let the truck idle for 5 or 10 mins, I was thinking that how many yof us will EVER keep a vehicle long enough to feel the effect of any of these issues? Would this effect the motor at 50K? 100K? 300K? Just from experience I have had a 2000 Maxima that had a remote starter in it (used often, winter and summer)...I traded it in with 150K on it, never having a motor issue. So how much damage are we really doing...in real terms? Will me running my remote starter for 5 minutes before I leave on a 9 degree day really cause that much damage? I say no, but I am willing to listen to different ideas.

I AM NOT CALLING ANYONE OUT....but what is everyones credentials to be discussing motor damage at cold idle? I am just curious, please dont take that the wrong way.

I think you and I both know you will do zero damage to an engine by letting it warm up...

 

[mole177]

c'mon guys!!! we're better than to be doign what this guy does!