Winter...

[super_namer]

Hey guys... now that winter is coming, (well, already HERE in some parts)

how long do you warm up your car for before you head out on your early morning commute? any other special prcedures you do to prep the car in the cold cold mornings?

[powerslave]

Preferably I'll just take my pos truck...but...I let it warm up untill the temp needle is about to the end of the blue, then drive like a granny till its at operating temp.

[Steve24]

the fearless taurus does not need warming up

[Mark_In_PA]

i just start the car, scrape the frost off the windsheild and put the rear defroster on and go. You waste more gas if you just let the car idle and it qill warm up faster if you drive it. Just dont go past 3k.

[super_namer]

what i usually do is let it idle till it hits about middle of the blue...

just trying to see whats the best way to do it and which wya not to do it...

any more input... well for those of you who worry about your non-POS lol.

[4.6isdriver]

u dont need to warm up...just FLYYYYYYYYYYY

[super_namer]

Originally Posted by 4.6isdriver

u dont need to warm up...just FLYYYYYYYYYYY

HEY.... floridians and californians do NOT get any say in this.. lol.

[4.6isdriver]

Bostonian at heart!

but fineeeeeeeeeeeee

[ithrowcraze]

like 2 minutes at atleast. if my turbos are not warm my car doesnt want to move.

[super_namer]

Originally Posted by ithrowcraze

like 2 minutes at atleast. if my turbos are not warm my car doesnt want to move.

i dont have so much of a problem with turbos...lucky me... haha

[XiaoNio]

I'm going to agree with Mark. I've read that it can actually be bad for your car to warm up the engine alone. The reason being that even if your engine is warmed up and ready to go, it doesn't mean the rest of your car is ready. What you should do is just drive lightly for a little while. Warming up just your engine gives you the false sense that your car is in good working order (not that after your engine warms up you dump your clutch leaving the driveway...). But yea, overall it's less wasteful and better for your entire car if you warm it up together by driving gently. Also, manufacturers have been saying for about 10 years now that the cars they build don't require a a warmup period.

[L3it3r]

I don't warm my car up since it only takes about 2-3 minutes for my temp gauge to hit ~200 degrees So basically, by the time I get to the stop light about a mile and a half from my neighborhood that is right next to 95, my car is Toasty warm.

[bmwintheblood]

just start it and drive slowly... no need to wait... they key to this procedure is : Drive Slowly : (or at least like he said, not past 3K)

[super_namer]

yea, i undertsand the slow part...
But then again im in ottawa canada right now... and in a month or so, it will reach -40 degrees celcius... driving slow will take 20 years for the temp to get anywhere... and before it has time to warm up adequately, i will be on the highway...

anyone know some common problems whch will occur with "improper warming up"

[bmwintheblood]

it only takes less than 2 minutes to get your car at "regular" temperature idling... and by driving slow i mean do the speed limit without trying to peel out anywhere just drive normal and in less than 2 minutes your car will be at normal levels.

thats like, getting into your car turn it on sit there for a second checking whatever you need to. go out of your driveway and drive to the highway your car will be fine by then i wouldnt worry. I know how it is to be in cold winters with my 325, I lived in pittsburgh (and am moving back in 5 days) and i drove it to canada around the algonquin national park during november december months.