Honda Car Forum

Hi there,

How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.

Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.

Just curious.

Pravin Nair.

I run it for 30 sec or so, then drive slow for the first couple of miles
(until I get to the freeway)

"Pravin Nair" <pnsunysb@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google.c om...
> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

It is best to let the car idle for a few seconds to make sure everything is
lubricated, and then just take it easy until the car warms up completely.
No reason to just sit there and waste gas while it warms up. Also it is
possible that the extreme rich running condition of a cold engine could
cause cylinder lubrication problems, so you'd be better off driving the car
so that it will warm up quicker.

"Pravin Nair" <pnsunysb@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google.c om...
> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

by letting it idle to warm up you actually cut your engine's life. Start it,
count to 10, then drive. Be very easy on the car (eg NO speeds over 45 mph).
as soon as your coolant temp gauge raises to its middle point (or close to
it), drive it as you would drive it normally with no ;-))) caution.

eraser

"Pravin Nair" <pnsunysb@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google.c om...
> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

Not to mention you will have to replace your muffler and pipe every 2
years if you spend too much time warming up. All the moisture
collected inside by condensation while the car sitting warming up in
cold weather will cause them to rust from the inside.

pnsunysb@yahoo.com (Pravin Nair) wrote in message news:<105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google. com>...
> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

In article <105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google.com >,
pnsunysb@yahoo.com (Pravin Nair) wrote:

> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

It's not good for modern cars. They less time they're idling cold, the
better. That's when they're running dirty, having poor fit between
moving parts, collecting combustion contaminates in the oil, and not
getting good oil circulation.

Give the engine enough time to stabilize, about 3 to 20 seconds, then
drive it gently. Avoid cold RPMs near redline because the oil may be
too thick to spread over the metal surfaces at that speed. Of course
it's best to not drive your car into a ditch because the windshield is
frosted over, but don't idle it warm without a need.

Check your manual for details.

I have to disagree with just about every response.

First, some credentials...I was a 12 year certified technician, and
regularly did engine rebuilds on both gas and diesel engines. As a fleet
manager, will also did extensive wear studies and regular in-depth oil
analysis. While I am no longer "in the field" I still get my hands dirty
building hi-performance engines for boats as a hobby.

With that said...I will make this blanket statement...

"Allowing the engine coolant to reach its maximum operating temperature at
idle after a cold start, will extend the life of the engine."

Think about it...20 degree block, and your going to drive away after 30
seconds!? Tolerances are too tight in a cold engine for loading
purposes...you are "shaving" longevity away from your engine. We have done
those precise studies in our fleet, and that is our findings. My very own
'94 Accord with 138k miles on it, has *always* been completely warmed up,
and to this day, runs like its brand new.

Talk about rusting your exhaust system by letting your car warm up, is
nonsense as well. That doesn't even make sense.

I welcome any debate on the subject, and I sure there is good rational for
those who disagree, but we actually did the studies, and tore down the
engines afterwards. Believe me...seeing, is believing.

Take care.

--
It's just about going fast...that's all...

http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/
"Pravin Nair" <pnsunysb@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:105e544d.0311031412.225b1210@posting.google.c om...
> Hi there,
>
> How important is it to warm up your engine first thing in the morning?.
>
> Does it increase the life time of the engine or some such?.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Pravin Nair.

http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/
"Jafir Elkurd" <jafir@nospam.no.spam.hotpop.com> wrote in message
news:vqdnnpi424j1e5@corp.supernews.com...

[snip]

>Also it is
> possible that the extreme rich running condition of a cold engine could
> cause cylinder lubrication problems, so you'd be better off driving the
car
> so that it will warm up quicker.

Modern engines that are properly tuned do not run "rich" when cold. They may
be running "richer" than normal conditions, but not overly so.

Today's modern engines are designed to burn ALL the full at any given
temperature range. If your modern engine is having fuel wash at ANY time,
there is something wrong.

Take care.

--
It's just about going fast...that's all...

http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/

In article <bo89pj$a3$1@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>,
"NetSock" <NetSock@nospam.com> wrote:

> With that said...I will make this blanket statement...
>
> "Allowing the engine coolant to reach its maximum operating temperature at
> idle after a cold start, will extend the life of the engine."
>
> Think about it...20 degree block, and your going to drive away after 30
> seconds!? Tolerances are too tight in a cold engine for loading
> purposes...you are "shaving" longevity away from your engine. We have done
> those precise studies in our fleet, and that is our findings.

Netsock,

Have you done any testing with regard to systems like the PreLuber?

It'd be interesting to compare an engine on PreLuber and an engine that
simply warms up to operating temperature.

In article <bo89pj$a3$1@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>,
"NetSock" <NetSock@nospam.com> wrote:

> With that said...I will make this blanket statement...
>
> "Allowing the engine coolant to reach its maximum operating temperature at
> idle after a cold start, will extend the life of the engine."

Oh, yeah, btw:

http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...anuary/01.html

http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...vember/18.html