Idling a car?? Whats everyones methods??

[AAXR8]

Hi, I was told by a neighbour that idling cars was not a good thing??
I was told different that you should warn your car up minimum 3 mins,
So as you can see we have a great to and throw conversation over the fence!!But can you idle a car for to long? What would be the Maximum you could idle a car for?? Or it dosn't matter as long as it does not over heat or any other problem etc?

[Peter B - CV8]

On a modern (fuel injected) car there's no need or benefit in a prolonged idle time. I just fire her up, wait approx 10 seconds (for the idle to settle & diagnostics to clear) & then hit the road - taking it easy until it's warmed up.

[tut0r]

According to the booklet for my BF falcon, it says let the car warm up for at least 30 seconds before driving, probably to allow oil to filter through everywhere and lubricate.

[Franco Cozzo]

When I was leaving for work in the mornings I let it idle 15 mins before I got in to drive, mainly to heat up the car cause it was always under 10 degrees in the mornings here or to melt ice off the thing.

Or it was hot in summer so the A/C would be going for 10-15 to cool it down before I got into drive.

If it was my WS Fiesta I'd start it 30 minutes early before I left work during clean up time then go back in to work and let it idle with the A/C going in the car park because it sucked hardcore on any day over 25.

[turbojosh]

I don't care what the car is or how modern it is... I'll warm anything up for minimum 5 minutes no matter how hot/cold the weather is. You look after your car, it'll look after you.

[buggo]

Wow man 30 mins to warm up seems a lil excessive.

I normally follow the procedure of turning on accessories and give it a sec or two for the fuel to prime, start it, spend a minute choosing a song, maybe a bit longer on a real cold morning and take it easy for 10 odd mins before giving it any real stick. The aircon is up to temp within a couple of minutes max.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by buggo

Wow man 30 mins to warm up seems a lil excessive.

I normally follow the procedure of turning on accessories and give it a sec or two for the fuel to prime, start it, spend a minute choosing a song, maybe a bit longer on a real cold morning and take it easy for 10 odd mins before giving it any real stick. The aircon is up to temp within a couple of minutes max.

That was only for the WS Fiesta because the A/C is horrible in those things, like a emphasaema sufferer in the dash blowing at you.

[mik]

I usually give it about 20 seconds before I drive off, and I try to lay of hard acceleration and higher rev range till it warms up to operating temp..........
As for idling for long periods i was told it glazes up the bores, rightly or wrongly i try and avoid it if possible.

[hedgehobb]

Yep, at least 1-2 minutes idle on cold mornings, then Grand-ma shift and make sure revs are kept low until temperature gauge shifts. Even then the tranny is still cold so at least 10-15 minutes babying the vehicle.

Once I am sure operating temps are optimal, I give it some "spirited" driving. Even modern engines are based on the laws of Thermodynamics. That is that metal heated will expand. And thrash a cold engine/tranny will shorten the life span of the potential of the vehicle.*

edit:*IMHO (no proof this is true apart from the metal expanding)

[CoupeKing]

I always warm mine up for a minute or 2, especially if you got an old rattler. Get those clearances happening. Im sure the people on here that race warm their motors up beforehand, more than likely for a number of reasons including prolonged engine life.

[Trump]

30 seconds idling if left overnight, then no shenanigans until it hits normal operating temp.
Excessive idling glazes the bores.

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by AAXR8

Hi, I was told by a neighbour that idling cars was not a good thing??
I was told different that you should warn your car up minimum 3 mins,
So as you can see we have a great to and throw conversation over the fence!!But can you idle a car for to long? What would be the Maximum you could idle a car for?? Or it dosn't matter as long as it does not over heat or any other problem etc?

A few year ago I watched a video that showed oil flow to the internals of an engine. From memory, it took 2 minutes for low viscosity oil to get to the valve train on an idling engine, and I think they had one that took about 8 minutes. That's not good, but it's something that an average owner would not notice - valve train wear causing slight performance/economy drop, and slight oil consumption at idle and down hill runs.

Long idle times can also cause cylinder bores to glaze - compression ring working with little to no load.

I've been taught to start the car and then get ready to drive - seat belt, check mirrors and surroundings, adjust radio etc and then drive off. 30 - 60 seconds is all it takes. Drive gently and all the cars mechanical componentry will warm up equally; and faster than idling in the driveway.

Another thing to note; it takes 10 km for an engine to reach complete operating temperature. This is when the unburnt hydrocarbons will burn off and dissolve. Idling in the driveway is fill your sump with unburnt hydrocarbons faster than driving.

[mechanic]

Agree with johnydep.
Because I was the new apprentice and had to get new cars from Brisbane to our workshop [ 340 miles, excuse the spelling as it's SOO night and I've had a few ], I used to pick brand new cars up and drive them home through the bush at night. These were BMC and Toyota, even then it was get in and drive.
When I started with Ford in '68 I was told don't worry about warming up periods and running in procedures. That workshop was only 130 ks from Brisbane and the boss would know how long it should take at the speed limit, used to ask questions if I was too late.
I've only had to deal with freezing temperatures when I worked In NZ for a while so don't really know what's the best in the southern states.
Start and go is my personal theory.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by johnydep

A few year ago I watched a video that showed oil flow to the internals of an engine. From memory, it took 2 minutes for low viscosity oil to get to the valve train on an idling engine, and I think they had one that took about 8 minutes. That's not good, but it's something that an average owner would not notice - valve train wear causing slight performance/economy drop, and slight oil consumption at idle and down hill runs.

Long idle times can also cause cylinder bores to glaze - compression ring working with little to no load.

I've been taught to start the car and then get ready to drive - seat belt, check mirrors and surroundings, adjust radio etc and then drive off. 30 - 60 seconds is all it takes. Drive gently and all the cars mechanical componentry will warm up equally; and faster than idling in the driveway.

Another thing to note; it takes 10 km for an engine to reach complete operating temperature. This is when the unburnt hydrocarbons will burn off and dissolve. Idling in the driveway is fill your sump with unburnt hydrocarbons faster than driving.

This. However, I've found the few Euro4 Falcons I've driven (and the SSV), warm up far quicker than my Euro3 XR.

[b2428]

On a cold night after work its normally a 1 smoke idle just to warm the diesel up a bit otherwise it's just a take it easy for first few Kays thing. Finding atm it takes ages to move the temp guage however. The colder its getting the longer it takes. After driving is different if I have been having a go always like to give it a few minutes. If I have been taking it easier normally just enough to check the windows are up.

When I was going for my truck license the instructor was always happy with it going off after reversing into the yard so figured taking it easy before turning it off was good enough.

On another note though I was told you should make sure the air con is turned off before starting. Something about less strain on the engine. Never done it though due to both the monde and falcon taking there time to start working. Both have climate control. Not sure about normal air.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by johnydep

Another thing to note; it takes 10 km for an engine to reach complete operating temperature.

Surely this would vary with the ambient temperature and the manner in which the vehicle was driven

[jpd80]

I drive off steady in my EcoLPI Ute and it's up to temperature inside 2 to 3 minutes.
Modern emission control engines warm a lot faster than golden oldies.

[GASWAGON]

The latest news is that with 'modern' engines (Post 2000) the metals that are used are much more tolerent to temp conditions......So its perfectly o.k to take off even after 5 seconds.

Thats the beauty of modern tech even though it can be a real pain when it breaks down.

[mr smith]

I have it in gear before the starter motor has even stopped spining. Warming up is old dude stuff.

[Jastel]

Cold car, 30 sec to a minute is plenty drive gently till operating temp is reached.

Glazing bores, no. My cabs run 24/7 and idle for long periods between jobs despite my best efforts to get the drivers to turn them off...the a/c doesn't work without the engine so they let them run. Its not their car....

[Sox]

Originally Posted by turbojosh

I don't care what the car is or how modern it is... I'll warm anything up for minimum 5 minutes no matter how hot/cold the weather is. You look after your car, it'll look after you.

Unfortunately you're not looking after it by doing that.
Idling an engine to warm up is worse than driving off cold.

Originally Posted by mr smith

I have it in gear before the starter motor has even stopped spining. Warming up is old dude stuff.

Correct.

There is no compelling reason to warm up a modern car engine by stationary idling.

We used to idle our engines because they wouldn't run well with carburettors when cold.
Modern engines are ready to drive immediately, and better for it.

Engines warm up much faster when driving than idling.
Not only that, the rest of the drive train, transmission, diff, tyres, also warm up at the same time.

Idling an engine to warm up is not only totally unnecessary, but wasteful of fuel.

[pottery beige]

if it starts

its ready to go

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Sox

Idling an engine to warm up is not only totally unnecessary, but wasteful of fuel.

Wrong. With all of the engine oil in the sump after sitting overnight, taking off just after turning the key can be problematic. With no oil in the upper engine (read valvetrain), accelerated wear happens.

[Sox]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Wrong. With all of the engine oil in the sump after sitting overnight, taking off just after turning the key can be problematic. With no oil in the upper engine (read valvetrain), accelerated wear happens.

Nope.
The oil flows through an engine much faster if the revs are above idle, such as driving.

[smciner1]

With my BA GT and Wife's FG XR6, I don't warm them up before I drive off, just idle out the drive way amd take it easy. Golden rule with any Car, never thash a cold Engine.

With my XB GT, I idle that for only a minute before heading out. I use the Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge as a guide as it takes longer to warm the Oil up than the Coolant. Once the Oil Pressure drops down to normal levels, all clear to give it a squirt.

[Tassie f100]

For the past twenty years i,ve never done a warm up Start it up and go.Haven,t got less than 350ks out of any of them.Mazda 929 v6 Mitsi 3.5 Verada currently Kia Pregio diesel van.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by Jastel

My cabs run 24/7

I thought thats why most Taxis get huge mileage because they always run hot.

[Ben73]

10 - 20 seconds in my own car. Usually as I put seat belt on and change the song.

Work cars idle for extended periods. I remember one day we drove it for 2 hours, let it idle for 4 hours and then drove it another 2 hours.
But most only idle for about 20-60 minuets in 24 hours.

I also have seen 2 locomotives idle for 3 days straight.
Not a big deal considering they usually have the engine running for a month at a time or even longer.

[danzvtil]

All this idling to warm up stuff is 1950s style bunkum. Most owners manuals don't recommend any extended idle period, it wastes fuel.
BTW the commodores sent to the middle east were heat tested for 8 HOURS IDLE TIME in 50 deg temperatures as the arabs drive to work, park and leave it all day with the AC running!

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

When I was leaving for work in the mornings I let it idle 15 mins before I got in to drive, mainly to heat up the car cause it was always under 10 degrees in the mornings here or to melt ice off the thing.

Or it was hot in summer so the A/C would be going for 10-15 to cool it down before I got into drive.

If it was my WS Fiesta I'd start it 30 minutes early before I left work during clean up time then go back in to work and let it idle with the A/C going in the car park because it sucked hardcore on any day over 25.

I do the same if I lived where you do ( Mount Macedon), Be like living in the Ice Age.