Cold Start!!!

[SirHSV]

I was told that I was damaging the engine by letting it warm up before driving. Dont forget Im talking about cold starts. I usually if i have time start the enigne in the morning and let it seat and warm up idle about 900rpm. I was told my someone that this damages the engine hmmm?? He told me that you must just drive it. My argument was engine cold not much oil up top pump then picks up oil lubes the engine everything is at working temp then engine is safe to give gas. How can I be damaging the engine by warming it up in one spot before driving?? Ok not always you get time to do this but please someone explain???? Whats best for the engine in the long run let seat or just drive normally until warm???

[-HSV-]

not entirely sure, heard many different things about it. i normally just get in and drive :s

[white_lie]

Either way, letting it idle or driving it cold is causing damamge. I would have thought letting it idle would be a little bit safer as there is no load on the motor, but that doesnt warm up your gearbox, diff and powersteering.... I usually let mine idle for a minute or so and then leave. I try and keep the revs under 2000-2500 though and its warm within 5-10kms.

Holden manuals usually state to drive the car rather than letting it idle.

[-HSV-]

Either way, letting it idle or driving it cold is causing damamge. I would have thought letting it idle would be a little bit safer as there is no load on the motor, but that doesnt warm up your gearbox, diff and powersteering.... I usually let mine idle for a minute or so and then leave. I try and keep the revs under 2000-2500 though and its warm within 5-10kms.

Holden manuals usually state to drive the car rather than letting it idle. i try to keep the revs under that as well, but i just cant resist ;)

[Andrew5]

Start it and drive it get the oil moving obviously dont thrash it, oils these days are designed to be thin to coat but in the morning they are all at bottom letting it idle puts more wear and tear on engine well thats what brockie told me, guess hed know about oil's cheers :P

[Niteshadow]

SirHSV,

I've never really been one to idle my engine to warm it up before taking off, but I wouldn't think you'd do anymore damage to the engine with it idling or driving slowly to warm it up. I wouldn't think that the oil would take long to completely cover all internal parts after you start the engine.
Maybe look at say a thinner oil for summer time & thicker oil in the winter if you go that far!
I'm running Mainlube 10W60 at the moment.

Niteshadow

[Generation Motorsport]

yes you should let it warm up, you bring the temps up gradually, remember the pistons like to expand at a slow rate (especially G111) you dont jump out of bed and sprint 100m, you need to stretch and warm up. the engine oil temp will come up gradually with the water. on some race engines, they cannot be revved until the oil gets up to temp. treat it nice, even if it only gets a minute or 2.

cheers
GM

[Chris75]

My understanding is that most engine wear occurs while the engine is warming up. An idling engine will take quite a lot longer to warm up than an engine being driven, therefore more time for wear to occur. Putting the engine under a little load by driving gently shouldn't cause any more wear than idling but it warms up alot quicker which reduces the time for the wear to occur.
I may be wrong but this is the theory that I've always believed.

[Carman]

The manual for the e-series specifically states "not" to warm the car up by letting it idle. Driving the car makes the engine warm quicker and also increases the circulation of oil around the engine.

[HSV271]

There are many schools on this topic, some say start it and go(NOT full blast) and you will be OK. Other say let it nudge the temp guage up from zero and then go. Also if you maintain your vehicle with good oil and regularly change the slippery suff, again you should be ok to start and go.

Personally I am from the old school so I start the car then open that gates(3), then I can pull out. Leave the beast running, then close the gates and set off wich is a good 2-5min before I take off. Even then I don't hammer her (Under 2000rpm) until the temp is at it's normal operating temp.

[ERASER]

In todays efi cars you just start and drive off lightly. The engine will warm up quicker under a slight load than just sitting there idling. The reason they say to start and go is cause efi cars run alot richer when there cold. While there running rich they are actually diluting/thinning out the oil with the richer fuel mix. So the longer it remains cold the more it dilutes your oil.

[fubs]

1/2min should be ok.Just don't hammer it till up to operating temp.
Just as much damage is being done idling as driving it smoothly.

[sk8ie_boi]

Hmmm, I normally leave it until the engine temp comes up a little bit, but guess from now, I'll just drive it slow right from the start..