Warmup Time?

[skokie]

Does anyone beside me let their cars and truck run for 5 mins to warm up?

[Green Machine]

In the winter here in Iowa yes I do, maybe 10-15 minutes if it is real cold, but in the summer or in your climate that's just wasting gas. When weather is warm and vehicle has sat over night, I start them and let run for about 30 seconds before moving, and then drive fairly easy until temp come up. Your motor will warm up faster and lube better driving it easy rather than just letting it idle. My 2 cents.

Now if you are 2 blocks from the freeway on ramp, I would let it warm up more before hammering it down.

[GMC Jim]

Lived in Montana for many years. Used 2 headbolt heaters ( one on each side of a V-8); also a oil heater dipstick. This combo kept the coolant and the oil at a warm temp. When extremely cold, ( 10 to 30 below), would run the engine heaters all nite. When warmer; had the heaters on a time clock set for 2-3 hrs in early morning. Also used a battery warmer.
Am a firm believer that, in about 30 seconds after starting the truck; drive moderately untill the water temp rises. Some vehicle owners would wire a switch into the ignition sytem. This switch in the 'off' position would prevent spark reaching the plugs. Starting procedure would be to engage the starter for about 4-5 seconds ( or untill the oil gauge indicated pressure) , then flip the ignition switch to 'On' to start the engine. Idea behind this was to ensure bearings had received lubrication before engine started....... Jim

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by skokie

Does anyone beside me let their cars and truck run for 5 mins to warm up?

When it will run that long yes, sometimes it takes 5 minutes to get her started

[Longhorn Man]

99% of the time, I'll just hop in and go. There is absolutly no reason to warm up the engine, and in doing so all you are doing is burning more gas than need be.
If it'll run and drive when cold, then do it. Fire it up, run it for a min or so while you tilt the wheel, put on seat belt, install stereo face and tune in to your morning show, and once you have your morning cigarette lit and your morning bottle of dew open and the first gulp swallowed, pop it in gear and take off. just don't take off in a John Force style burn out and keep the revs below 2500, and it'll be ok.

Warm up the engine untill it is up to op temp, and you'll feel like you can get in and hopp on the freeway.... but the tranny, rear, and even the U-joints have had no time to warm up since they are sitting there doing nothing. Even the clutch benifits as do the brakes (esp drums which totally such untill warmed up) from being brought up to temp.