Aight guys, me and my friend who is a engineer and does motor swaps for fun always debate that you should not drive your car unless it has reached normal running temp. Now since it is winter in the north east, I honestly don't have 10-15 minutes to sit in the car and wait for it to warm up. Depending on the day, and how much time I have to get to work, I let it idle for anywhere from 2-5 minutes tops. Will this cause any long term problems if I do not let it reach running temp? Since I live on a military base, my work is only about 5 minutes down the road, sometimes by the time I get to work its still not a running temp...

 

Repost of a LONG thread.

 

I nevAr do, just take it easy the first 5-8 minutes.

Did that for 5 years and 145k miles on my 4g, doesn't seem to mind.

I do, because the little wench isn't warmed up when I'm heading to work....

Owners manual states 30 seconds.

 

That is a good way to sludge up your engine. You should really consider taking the long way home 2-3 times a week and get on the freeway.

 

I drive other than back and forth to work, just that I am in the military and when it is freezing cold out and 5 in the morning I don't feel like sitting there for 10 min. But yes, I do a lot of highway driving, back and forth from MD to NJ at least 2wice a month.

 

You should be driving it on the freeway twice a week. I hope you are at the very least changing the oil pretty frequently. ie...3,000 miles on decent dino oil.

 

Who the he// waits 10-15 minutes to warm up their vehicle?

**EDIT** neighbor does in his 78 Chevy truck ..

 

I drive other than back and forth to work, I do have a life other than these threads and work! It is typical for me to go on the highway almost everday, no worry there, I was just curious about warm up. And to JWaxMax99 thanks... sorry for reposting a long thread. Wish we could search.... for anyone that never saw this thread, here it is below.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=345732

 

Me too, really I do...

 

Hmmmm ... I start it, wait for the RPMs to drop from the start, at about 1150-1200K I will drop into drive and floor it our to 6.5K, smile, and enjoy my car.

 

i think it will mess it up, atleast thats what i heard about doing that

 

I'd love to know where he got his engineering degree.

True engineering and common sense can be confusing.

 

oh jeez, not another "how long do I warm up my car in the cold" thread.

I usually wait 'til the temp. needle goes slightly past "C," then drive off. If I'm in a hurry, I wait about a minute, drive off, and keep the rpms at 2K until the max warms towards normal

 

I was at the movie theatre on Friday and saw a guy warming up his i30...by holding what sounded like 6000rpms for 2 minutes! Steam was billowing out of the tailpipe, and I felt like kicking him in the head.

Anyway, I don't warm up the car by letting it sit. Start it, turn on heat, back up and drive away. I'll keep it under 2500 rpms until the temp gauge starts to rise.