Ok, so it is bitterly cold now, and a friend and I got into a debate about warming up the cars during driving.

I thought if I drove in one lower gear, the engine would rev a little higher thus creating more friction and more explosions and in turn heating the engine up a little faster. It just made sense.

However, my friend said that when you drive in higher gear, your cooling system flows faster because it is pumped faster. That being the case, it would take longer for the water to get warm because it is flowing faster and not allowing the heat exchange to take place.

So, which is it? It probably doesn't even matter but for a minute or so, but I was just curious. Anyone got any definitive answers on this?

 

Sorry your friend doesn't know what he's talking about. The thermostat remains closed until the car reaches operating temps. Until the thermostat opens the coolant will remain in the engine.

And I wouldn't even allow the car to idle more than one minute. There is a long discussion on a thread started by Dave B. My brother just bought a new Civic Si and even in the manual it tells you not to idle excessively. Drive slowly and dont rev the engine too quickly or too fast.

 

That's what I was thinking. I usually don't go above 2500 in my cold 2k2.

One more question: In "Auto" mode on the heater, is it waiting for the engine to reach a certain temp before it blows the fans at full? It seems that way. Just curious.

 

Uh oh... Getting into the "How should I warm up the car" debate always starts a war.



SuDZ

 

Hey, just bring back that thread from 2 years ago! Man I love newbies! (No offense, btw)


Heck, I'll do it...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....warming+up+car

 

I know how to warm up your car.....
Haha no really aren't you supposed to use ECON in thewinter to warm the car because it's basically VENT, so it sucks hot air from the engine bay to warm your tushie. I works for me....also heated seats help.

 

The auto setting holds back the fan until the heater warms up, that way you don't get blasted with cold air.

ECON just keeps the a/c from coming on which won't come on anyways once the temp gets cold enough. Leave it on AUTO and it will remove condensation if there is any.


ARFF

 

turn on car , keep it under 3k

 

Ditto

I start it up let it idle for 15-20 seconds, I clutch in and go through all the gears in that 15 second period, then I slowly take off and keep it below 3K until water temp is dead even, then I just drive normally.

 

I keep a flask of whiskey in the glove box when the car is cold.....after a few slugs I get warm real fast...