Is it Really Bad to Warm Up Vehicle By Idling ?

[JSRT4]

I know everyone says to warm up a car by driving it, as it warms up faster that way and all that stuff. But I can't resist warming my car up in winter by letting it idle for a few minutes. Is there any real harm in doing this, if so what ?. I've tried driving my vehicle totally cold and it sounds absolutely terrible, the valvetrain sounds like it is going to self destruct. This is on 5w20 oil and a 2009 vehicle. I don't buy the argument that driving the engine cold is better than idling and driving it somewhat warm. When I drive it somewhat warm it sounds perfectly fine.

I know all the stuff about this practice wasting fuel and it not being necessary but it just runs better after running at idle a bit. Any opinions on this ?

 

[beast3300]

I've always warmed up my engine. Time depending on outside temp. In the summer I might idle 30 secs, in the winter I may idle 15 mins.

 

[Bluestream]

I let it idle to warm up.
30-60 seconds in the winter; 0 seconds in summer

 

[rationull]

Think of all the people who warm up their cars like this, and all the people who don't. It probably won't make a practical difference to the life of the vehicle either way.

 

[Warstud]

Nothing wrong with letting it idle for a few minutes. But you have some that will let it run for an extended period of time (10-15 min) in order to warm the interior of the car...which is not good.

 

[pidster]

Assuming you have any place to plug one in, a block heater is so worth it even if you have to drop some cash to have a shop install it. If you do it when you need a coolant flush anyways the cost isnt so bad, as that is the most time consuming part of the install.

That aside, wasting some gas and getting some of it diluting your oil is the worst that even a 20 min idle warm up will do. If you're not doing long OCIs anyways I don't see the harm.

A minute or two warm up is no harm in any situation in my opinion.

 

[Herz]

When its really cold out I let it idle till my RPMs stabilize. When its warm out I start the truck, put my seatbelt on and I take off. I drive the car gently till it warms up.

Idling IMO dumps alot of uneeded gas into the oil, it also destroys your MPG and doesnt really aid the car at all. The best way to warm it up IMO is to drive it gentle untill its warm. You save gas, get more life out of your oil, among other things.

 

[Texan4Life]

I don't see anything wrong with idling.

For me though it how ever long it take me to put on my seat belt and drop it into gear.

And I always idle to warm up a diesel. a min or so in the summer and until the heat gauge moves in the winter. If it is below freezing I will let it idle while I eat breakfast and pack a lunch. about 30 min. sometimes an hour.

 

[DragRace]

I've always done it,dont intend on changing anytime soon.

Soon as the idle settles down in the winter,and windshield is clear,I'll drive. Summertime, maybe 30-seconds or so,then it's drive time

 

[Velo_Fello]

Let the engine run say 30-45 seconds to get the oil around the engine. Don't forget that your rings and cams are lubricated by splash. Then, drive gently until the engine is warm.

Anything else is 1) a waste of fuel 2) a souce of acidic condensation to corrode your engine

 

[CourierDriver]

I have never lost an engine do to idling it to warm it up, sounds like some of us may have questionable engines are not long for this world. I have owned a lot of cars and never lost an engine due to idling. Its a mute point

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
I have never lost an engine do to idling it to warm it up, sounds like some of us may have questionable engines are not long for this world. I have owned a lot of cars and never lost an engine due to idling. Its a mute point


x2 I agree

I've owned 5-6 vehicles thus far and none had any mechanical issues resulting from "idling".

 

[nfs480]

I always idle the engine in my '89 Accord for 10-15 minutes in the winter, that's how it's been treated since it was new and it currently has 221k miles on it. Somehow I doubt idling causes it any real harm, i'll have a UOA later this spring to tell me for sure. I let it idle for at least 10 minutes as that's how long it takes to go from high idle to normal idle.

 

[holla]

Originally Posted By: defektes

Idling IMO .... doesnt really aid the car at all.


when you drive a 2002 with only 130k on it.

 

[daves87rs]

I still warm mine up..just as long as I used to. (Don't have the time like I used to)


A few minutes in te winter is all they need.

 

[holla]

Don't drive it while its cold and noisy. I know it will warm up "faster" that way (as if faster is better), but you're putting higher stresses on a cold sloppy engine.

 

[Popinski]

Last August I let my car idle for 5 hours as I slept at a rest area with the heater on. I did an oil analysis shortly after I got home and the oil was still good.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
Last August I let my car idle for 5 hours as I slept at a rest area with the heater on. I did an oil analysis shortly after I got home and the oil was still good.


August....HEATER? you must have been at the polar ice cap rest stop i've been hearing about.

 

[Steve S]

I wouldn't worry.

 

[xBa380]

Before I leave for work, a minute or two until idle goes down.

When I leave work, almost none!