R56 How should I warm my car up?
5th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 952
Likes: 6
From: Chandler, AZ
You do have a valid point there - Google the question about warming up, and you'll find a lot of stuff that sounds like something Al Gore came up with, which I'd ignore completely. However, the "warmitup" notion actually died long before Al started selling carbon credits (or invented the internet, for that matter), and it is now pretty commonly accepted that driving off gently, rather than sitting and idling, is what's best overall for your machine.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,578
Likes: 4
From: Paradise
I usually sit from 2-3 minutes. That's just me, but I would rather take a couple of minutes, let my oil reach everywhere it needs to go, get my engine up and ready for work, and then take it easy from there. People don't realize how much work an engine has to do to get to decent RPMs.
Additionally, I've found that much of the roots of the argument against warming up, also has ties to the environmental movement, and we all know how they can be.
My verdict: Give it 2-3 minutes, start the car with all accessories off, and drive gently from there.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 500
Likes: 3
It would be interesting to see what the inside of your engine looks like. I'd guess you have some serious carbon build-up.
I don't think it would be all that bad at all, because occasially, I like to delve into the throttle, and a couple good WOT runs will really clean these things out. Only when at proper operating tempature of course.
Environmentalists like Click & Clack, the car guys on NPR? I've always heard the don't idle recommendation from mechanics and car manuals. This info has been around for a very long time. I've not heard it from environmentalists. They are more concerned where you dump used oil.
Ironic you mention NPR.
But these guys, I take with a grain of salt too, because I personally feel they are more interested in their corny jokes amongst themselves than anything else. Apparantly, the rest of the world shares my opinion, because if anyone took them seriously, they would have expanded beyond NPR. I also think these manuals talk about excessive idling. 5-10 minutes. 1-3 minutes is not that harmful, and you can vary that number depending on conditions, and how long the vehicle has sat. I don't reccomend it EVERY time now.
Exactly what is this verdict based on? It goes against the advice of most experts.
This verdict is based on my own personal knowledge of automotives, as well as my own state's climate. As I said before, I think most speak out about people who go out in the morning, start the car, and then come back 10 to 15 min. later, or the folks who like 5 min. or longer. There really can't be any harmful effect to letting your engine get oil in all those little cavets, and on the top of the block before you start revving to get around.
I don't think it would be all that bad at all, because occasially, I like to delve into the throttle, and a couple good WOT runs will really clean these things out. Only when at proper operating tempature of course.
Environmentalists like Click & Clack, the car guys on NPR? I've always heard the don't idle recommendation from mechanics and car manuals. This info has been around for a very long time. I've not heard it from environmentalists. They are more concerned where you dump used oil.
Ironic you mention NPR.
But these guys, I take with a grain of salt too, because I personally feel they are more interested in their corny jokes amongst themselves than anything else. Apparantly, the rest of the world shares my opinion, because if anyone took them seriously, they would have expanded beyond NPR. I also think these manuals talk about excessive idling. 5-10 minutes. 1-3 minutes is not that harmful, and you can vary that number depending on conditions, and how long the vehicle has sat. I don't reccomend it EVERY time now. Exactly what is this verdict based on? It goes against the advice of most experts.
This verdict is based on my own personal knowledge of automotives, as well as my own state's climate. As I said before, I think most speak out about people who go out in the morning, start the car, and then come back 10 to 15 min. later, or the folks who like 5 min. or longer. There really can't be any harmful effect to letting your engine get oil in all those little cavets, and on the top of the block before you start revving to get around.
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