"do not let the engine warm up at a standstill" ... interesting ... for the most part, what I have read so far is very normal, the key positions, seat belts, etc, but this is the first time I have read in a car manual not to let the car warm up before driving.... I just thought that was interesting .... a big change in habit, this will be, for me... but a time saver

Doug

 

Back in the olden days there were a couple of reasons for letting the engine come up to temperature before driving off: (1) to allow the oil to thin out enough to provide adequate lubrication, and (2) because the automatic choke often would not sufficiently enrichen the fuel mixture and the car would be prone to stalling. If you learned to drive when I did (before automatic chokes) then (2) wasn’t a problem.

With modern cars and lubricants it is preferable to drive off as soon as there is oil pressure. Since most cars do not have an oil pressure gauge a ten to fifteen second wait is sufficient. Allowing the cold engine to idle for a long period increases the amount of particulate and acid formation. Driving off promptly lets the engine come up to a temperature above the vapor point of the combustion byproducts, thus reducing the amounts of sludge, varnish, particulates, and acids in your engine and exhaust system. Go easy on the throttle and RPMs until the temp gauge is up into the normal range.

If your cold engine drive is very short - - say under ten miles - - it may be worthwhile to take the long route to allow the byproducts to boil off. (yet another excuse to drive your MINI more)

 

My Jetta's manual said the same thing.

What I had to get used to was the instruction to not give the car any gas when starting up - push in clutch, turn key, car's brain knows what to do. I imagine most of this has to do with minimizing emissions.

 

When did auto chokes come out? Before my time it would appear (well, before I started to drive at least)

10 miles? I live about 5 from work, so I guess I as screwed

Doug

 

I did let my car warm up when I lived in North Dakota and it was - 40 below dead of winter.

Now all the warm up I need is a wheely out of the driveway to get the tires hot.

 

There is a law here in Germany, and I suspect in the rest of Europe to lot let your car warm up for more than 3 minutes. Yes, it is different and the explanations are right on.

Talk about a wheelie... I think someone needs to come out with a chrome wheelie bar so we can look even more agressive!!! We'll show those 4.6L & 5.7L American muscle cars who's boss!

 

The bmw manuals say the same thing.

 

Automatic chokes started becoming popular in the late '40s and '50s. By 1960 most cars (except Volkswagon) had them.

 

Warm you car up for 3 minutes? On the road I take it, not stopped I hope

Doug

 

Being that our MINI's are front-wheel drive. I guess you'd put the wheelie bar on the front. That way, when you pop the clutch in reverse....

Actually, that's a pretty funny image. I wonder if anyone's ever actually pulled a reverse wheelie in a MINI?

 

As a person who has worked on cars for 20 years, I just can't get comfortable with the idea of no warm up. Here's why...

I've installed several camshafts in hot rod Chevrolet engines in my days. To adjust the valves properly, you fire it up with the valve covers off. Wait until you see oil flowing, then make the needed adjustments. It takes 4-5 minutes after cold startup to see the oil flowing up there.

Until oil is warmed up and flowing properly, it just doesn't make sense to drive a car hard. I like for mine to warm up for a 2-5 minutes before I drive off, but since I'm almost always running late I rarely get to do that.

When I DO drive off, I keep the RPM's below 2000 until the heater starts to blow warm air. Since I'm used to V8 engines, they have enough torque to navigate my neighborhood and stay below 2000. Once the oil pressure drops at idle speed, you are getting proper flow for those with Chrono-Pack or add on gauges.

Rawhyde