How long to wait after starting engine in cold weather?

[keylay31]

How long to wait after starting engine in cold weather?

I've heard that these days, waiting doesn't do much for the engine except add wear..

I am both asking what YOU do and what Toyota recommends.

This is in reference to a 2007 T4R and a 2003 Avalon and cars in general.

 

[Mark86]

Since I use my truck everyday, I usually wait only about 1-2 minutes to let it warm up.

 

[tomhaney1]

No matter what anyone else tries to say any engine performs better at it's normal operating temperature...therefore, IMO, let it warm up a little.

 

[keylay31]

No matter what anyone else tries to say any engine performs better at it's normal operating temperature...therefore, IMO, let it warm up a little.

I think thats a given. But I think my question is more... is the wait worth it? Does the waiting wear the engine, or possibly does not waiting somehow hurt the engine.

 

[xUSNavy]

I think thats a given. But I think my question is more... is the wait worth it? Does the waiting wear the engine, or possibly does not waiting somehow hurt the engine.

10 years ago, my folks bought a Corolla and a Paseo. I remember when we were handed the keys from the service advisor after they finished prepping it. My father ask him how long he should wait when warming up the car and the advisor said that 30 seconds is all that is needed. He said that fuel injected cars do not need to reach operating temperatures before driving because the ECU will always compensate the temp difference. The important thing is to wait at least 30 seconds so that the oil pump will properly lube the internals.

 

[AlphaQup]

USNavy is right. Fuel injected cars do not need to be warmed up. I've never warm up my truck, and it runs like a champ. The truck gets to nominal operating temp faster once you start driving it, rather than having to sit and wait for 10-15 minutes while parked. Just be smart and avoid WOT before your truck warms up and you'll be fine.

 

[toto]

My rule of thumb depends on the length of the trip.
I always want the truck to reach a normal operating temperature to avoid collecting water in the exhaust system. If the truck has cooled off and the trip will be too short, I'll give it a chance to warm up.

This has been discussed in other threads, but it's on the subject here. Know that the trans won't shift into overdrive until both the engine coolant and the trans fluid reach a certain temperature. If the truck is cold, don't expect to jump right on the expressway and have it act normally. The truck doesn't have to be fully warmed up for overdrive, but it can't be ice cold either.

 

[Kmvreter]

USNavy is right. Fuel injected cars do not need to be warmed up. I've never warm up my truck, and it runs like a champ. The truck gets to nominal operating temp faster once you start driving it, rather than having to sit and wait for 10-15 minutes while parked. Just be smart and avoid WOT before your truck warms up and you'll be fine.

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.

 

[007Runner]

I let the revs drop from the initial start-up peak and then go.

This is exactly what I do. I can't really put a time on it because it varies according to the temperature. My big concern is how the transmission will not go into a higher gear till things warm up a bit. This makes the engine rev higher so I keep my RPM down till the transmission decides to shift. Then cars in back of me get pissed because I am driving too slow.

 

[TheBlueWave]

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.

 

[GMZ]

I wait until the temp needle begins to move. Warm or cold. That way things are at least flowing. IMO anyway

 

[Climb14er]

When the oil pressure goes to the middle of the gauge, meaning there's solid pressure all around, I wait a few seconds more and then I'm off.

I do not like to idle for a long time after a cold temp start as this can be more detrimental to the engine than slowly moving away under light load.

 

[jpalaska]

" How long to wait after starting engine in cold weather?"

Depends on what you mean by "cold weather".
If you don't have a garage and your temperatures get down to single digits or less, you really should have an engine block heater and battery heater and plug it in at least an hour before you start it at temperatures below 20 (F).
At 20 above zero you should start it and get moving ASAP. It's better to warm up the engine under load. Keep the revs down until you reach operating temp.
At 20 below zero and colder, you can start moving after 30 seconds to a minute if it's been plugged in. If it hasn't been plugged in you are forced to let it warm up at idle for 5-10 minutes, but this is not very healthy for your engine in the long run.
JP

 

[qballjr13]

Another major point, after letting the oil start to circulate in the motor....if the weather is cold drive slow for a little bit to give the lube in your transfer case and differentials time to warm up. These stay cold even if the engine has warmed all the way up to operating temperature.

 

[qballjr13]

warm up at idle for 5-10 minutes, but this is not very healthy for your engine in the long run.
JP

Why is this so bad? I think everyone of us has had to sit outside the store for at least 5-10 waiting for the wife. I always leave the truck running. I just dont see the difference.

 

[jpalaska]

When you're waiting for the wife, your vehicle is already up to operating temp.
That's very different from warming the engine up to operating temperature in cold ambient temperatures.
Something like 70-80% of engine wear occurs during the warm up period, those 5-10 minutes as your engine is getting up to its operating temperature. The colder the engine at starting, the more wear to get it up to operating temp each time. Please understand, I'm talking about cumulative engine wear over years, but it does add up.
Along those same lines, there will be much less wear on the engine on a 100 mile highway trip than driving to the corner store 3 or 4 times in a day.

JP

 

[Climb14er]

Why is this so bad? I think everyone of us has had to sit outside the store for at least 5-10 waiting for the wife. I always leave the truck running. I just dont see the difference.

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.

 

[mole177]

i like to get going after the temp needle moves right to C...

then i roll slowly down the street.

 

[leftyrb]

When I first moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba I had not previously experienced frigid weather. I used to start up like I did on the mild west coast and within a year, had to have work done on my power steering and transmission due to hydraulic fluids low flow rates in frigid weather.

I now have an attached garage, so at home just drive off, but at work need to warm up until I get some heat from the engine. Mygf has one better, a remote car starter!

 

[Fro-Runner]

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.

Why in the heck would I not want to allow my 4Runner to warm up just a bit so I can get myself warmer and comfortable sooner? These 4Runners warm up pretty darn quickly. It was 29 degrees here a couple of weeks ago and it only took my Runner about 3-4 minutes to start tossing out warm air. I hate seeing drivers squatting down in the seat trying to see out of a 3 inch clear circle area of their windshield near the defrost vents. I say to myself if that idiot had waited just 5 more mins then their chances of having an accident would decrease by 400%.
You don't know how many times I've almost been hit by this type of driver trying to merge onto a busy California freeway with limited, foggy window vision.
Sometimes I wish I could toss a brick and just break this type of driver's windshield and/or side window just so they can see better. Also, if they were to freeze their arses off then this type of driver would take a few more minutes and allow his windows to defrost properly. Lesson would be learn compliment of a couple of bricks.
:artist: