I thought I read that when starting the engine, just start driving immediately. What happens if I run back in side because I forgot something or I am backing up and say someones outside and flags you down and you sit there and chat for a minute or two. I will be ideling a lot for my job and is the problem only when the car is cold?. Thanks

 

The recommendation is that it's not necessary to let the engine "warm up" before driving. That's not to say that you can't, or shouldn't.

The theory is that you should warm up the entire drive train by just driving (gently). On a cold day, if you let the car run for 5-10 minutes; the engine is warm but the transmission and other components aren't.

 

2 schools of thought on this one.

Everyone seems to agree that most engine wear happens when the engine is warming up.

One school thinks a longer idle warm up reduces wear, the other that the faster warm up of an engine being driven produces less wear. As its MINI's engine I assume that they have considered this before putting it in the manual and therefore have chosen the best option for their engine.

 

I tend to start a car, run about 15-30 seconds while checking mirrors, putting on belt, etc. I think that is a good idea to make sure all the parts are thoroughly wetted with oil. Particularly important if you haven't been in the car for hours. Then go. Bearings will tend to a more neutral position with minimum wear with no load and will wet easily.

 

The main thing is that burning fuel for no reason is bad for the environment and the world's oil supplies.

 

Doesn't the car have to be started to program your preferences? While you're doing that, the car will be idling for quite a few minutes, especially if you're just learning :impatient . So, is that a bad thing? Or can you program it while in the radio ready mode?

 

I've always heard that an additional factor is that idling for a longtime tends to build up carbon in the engine. This may no longer be true of modern engines with computer controlled injection, but was true of the old carburetor fed engines.
However, it takes a lot of idling to make a difference. This was an argument against letting it idle every day for five minutes before heading out.

 

I always wait till the rpm's drop to 750-800, takes max two minutes but usually around a min.

 

So, I have a 2010 MCS that I normally let sit idle as I turn it on for a few minutes, open my gate, back it out into driveway from garage and then let it idle while I close the gate, and then finally take off. Total of up to 10 minutes tops. I notice the vapor/white smoke, condensation in the exhaust pipe etc.on cold mornings. I was always told that an engine was best left to warm up before venturing off. Is this not the case for a Mini?

 

I always wait a couple minutes for the revs to drop to low idle while the car warms up while im setting up my bluetooth and stuff.

 

This