Do you wait for your car to warm up?

[Jeremy Walton]

I always let mine have about one or two minutes before taking off and take it easy till I get about 10 minutes into the drive... Which then consists of sitting on the Eastern Freeway car park and going no where fast anyway.

You left out the option for - I let it warm up so the heater is going and the inside has warmed up so the girl friend will get in and not complain!!

Cheers Jeremy

[FPV8U]

I try to let mine idle for a few minutes, then take it really easy, lucky for me where i live usually going on 100km/h roads meaning, the car warm up at around 2,000Rpm putting along the highway.

[4Vman]

The poll needs modifying as others have said.

I Idle for a min or 2 then drive off carefully till it reaches opperating temp.

[falzoony]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

As it is winter I am curious to know if other people are similar to me. I have been ridiculed for waiting for my car to warm up before I drive. When it is very cold and the car hasn't been used for a while, I wait for at least one minute after starting the vehicle before I drive the car. Once I start to drive the car I drive it gently and don't start giving it stick until it reaches normal operating temperatures. I don't believe it is good to put a cold engine under a lot of load. Does anybody agree or do similar things?

FF

Yep I do the same thing. I let mine warm up for a couple of minutes then I take off. I hate driving a cold car I feel sorry for it.lol
and I like to be able to have the heater working straight away :

[sgt_doofey]

Depends if the car is completely fogged in and I can't see squat out of the window!
Generally, I start her on petrol and let it idle whilst I go and pour some water over the windows to help see. I then switch it over to LPG and drive off as normal. If it's really bad, I have to sit for about 5-10 minutes to let the windows defrost before I can safely drive.
Normal driving doesn't push the car past about 2000-2500rpm, so I just drive normally when cold.

[xbcool]

the xb gets to warm up for a minute or two.
and the vt commodore (work car) is usually in gear and moving while its still cranking and it gets treated like a rental car (yes it does deserve it)

[TZENU]

A couple of minutes and im on the way..

The XY takes about 5-7minutes..

[seXE]

my old XE took about 5 minutes to warm up enough to be driveable. old crappy thing. but the EB, i tend to drive off almost instantly. out of habit, ill sit there for a while, then think "what am i waiting for?"

[FORD3V]

Always warm it up for 5-10 mins, then drive it below 2 n'half grand for another 10 mins, after that ill usually thrash the balls of it.

[RUQ1KA]

Originally Posted by xbcool

and the vt commodore (work car) is usually in gear and moving while its still cranking and it gets treated like a rental car (yes it does deserve it)

pretty much the same with my VX, but i do park it on carpet in the garage, so it doesn't get too cold when its really cold outside

With the cortina, it needs to warm up or its going no where:P

The wagon gets to idle a minute or so before i start moving it

[Flouro_Joe]

I run HPR 40 in my Clevo, when its cold the oil pressure gauge looks like it is going to break. I take it real easy now, especially since winter has set in.

[Quasi]

I'm in Canberra.....it's winter.....

[vandrsxr6]

I voted NO, but i drive it very slowly before it warms up.

[LTDterri]

I let the P6 warm up for a couple of minutes, annoy the neighbour with the fumes and noise, she doesn't like taking off cold in any case but the Territory is start and go slowly

[jaydee]

I have an XC V8 on gas/petrol. She fires up straight away on gas and I can drive off.
On petrol it coughs and splutters until warmed up a bit.
I at least wait until the oil pressure has built up before I take off though.

[burnz]

idol for about 90 second,
then go,i dont go over 2000 rpm no need.

[pecker73]

bunch of pussies.....

I drive it like its stolen... Start, GO and get the boost kicking in before you hit the end of the street... :eclipsee_

[BA_BOSS]

When cold (over night) always let it idle for at least 5 minutes before driving it nice & easy the first few K's. Takes quite a while for the oil temp to come up, even when the water temp reaches normal. Oil temp is the real indicator.

I think my neighbours must love the growl of the Di Fillipo system because they have never complained lol....

[Kenster]

I usually warm it up unless its a rush then i don't like to get the best out of the car for ny condition im going to in

[DODDO]

I let it idle for about 5 mins or so, then i take it really easy until the temp guage is up in its normal position.

[private9]

I just start it, pop my seat belt on, adjust whatever I have to, and then drive gently for the first 5-10 minutes.

I thought that it was bad to leave cold cars idling. From what I've been told it's better to just drive straight away to get it up to temp quickly, and just drive it gently. Better than leaving it idling with lower oil pressure for 5-10 minutes I would've thought.

[private9]

I once had an Alfa as a weekender, that I used to put my foot down, start it, let it rev to the limiter the second it started and then side step the clutch every single time I drove it - which wasn't all that often. Does that count as warming it up?!

[DivHunter]

Originally Posted by Quasi

I'm in Canberra.....it's winter.....

so you light a fire under the engine to unfreeze the oil.

[Tribal]

I like to enjoy a couple of minutes of BB V8 sound and then cruise for a few k's before giving it any stick
Mainly cause the tyres are cold and I have no traction... :hihi:

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Fairmont99

so you light a fire under the engine to unfreeze the oil.

used to have to do that to diesel's,
throw a hesham bag over them and pour kero over them
and set it on fire (no joke) just to start them.

[tankclare]

i have to let mine idle and warm up otherwise i'll stall it half way down the road haha..i sometimes even go for a lap around the block before going down the street

[vztrt]

The BA is driven slowly till it reaches temperature. EFI motors dont need to be warmed up and it can actually cause more damage.

Also the manual says drive it immediately and get the car up to temp, so I'll listen to the engineers.

[mcflux]

Start 'n' Go here ;)

[redxm]

The AU3 gets driven by the mrs. I think she just jumps in and goes. The hilux gets started, wait 10 secs for the rattles to stop then away we go. The bike gets warmed up for 5-10 minutes

[MITCHAY]

I used to warm my TX5 up all the time. With this car I just don't boost the crapola out of it till its warm.

Got to love -3 degrees here in Canberra until you get out of the car that is :