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Cold Weather Startup Procedure

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cnett

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I usually let my truck warm up for 5 to 10 minutes (for the temp needle to move) before taking off when the weather is below freezing. How long is necessary?

I noticed my fuel mileage went way down b/c of the excessive idle time during cold weather. I can greatly improve my MPG by trimming my startup (idle) time. Just curious what other's do. ???

'07 KC SE 4x4
 
#2 ·
Really you don't need to let it warm much at all assuming you're not too cold.

Just watch the RPMs until the engine gets up to normal operating temps.

:cheers:
 
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#3 ·
5 to 10 minutes of warming up the car is a very good idea.
 
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#4 ·
In the days of carburetors, I'd let my vehicle run for a few minutes before driving.

With the Titan, I crank and go. I avoid WOT until the engine has warmed up, but other than that, I go about my way.
 
#6 ·
3 degrees here in PA this morning. That's -16C for those in the metric system. She took a bit to crank this morning. Just let her idle for 5 minutes until the heater kicked on. Everything was a little stiff, too. Steering, shifter, turnsignal stalk....they all acted like they were in sludge. Nothing crippling, but I could tell she was cold....
 
#7 ·
when i lived in colder climes, if the temperature was above 10 or so, i rarely would let it sit and warm up. I would just pull away easily keeping the revs low until i started to feel some noticeable heat from the vents before pushing it further. I was comfortable with doing that, but if you are of the sit and warm-up group its whatever makes you feel good. Make sure you have good oil pressure (previously mentioned) and your coolant strenght is sufficient for the climate you live in.
 
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#8 ·
The only time I leave my truck idle for more than a minute is when we are taking the kids and we need it warm in the truck right when we get in. Engines are not made for idling, a minute just so the oil has time to make a few rounds is all thats needed. Keep the rev's down and try not to make any aggressive shifts until the temp needle starts moving. I usually try and drive a quarter mile at below 30 mph just to get a little heat in the drivetrain fluids too before highway speeds.
 
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#9 ·
Gunner22 said:
The only time I leave my truck idle for more than a minute is when we are taking the kids and we need it warm in the truck right when we get in. Engines are not made for idling, a minute just so the oil has time to make a few rounds is all thats needed. Keep the rev's down and try not to make any aggressive shifts until the temp needle starts moving. I usually try and drive a quarter mile at below 30 mph just to get a little heat in the drivetrain fluids too before highway speeds.
Click to expand...
Same here...no need to let it idle unless the driver is cold:D
 
#10 ·
I think waiting 5 minutes or so is fine, if you do 10 or 15 than you have a cold
transmission and a hot engine. I personally like to have them both warm up together. Thats just my preference.
 
#11 ·
I've read that the best way to warm up a car is to drive it. Like Gunner, I let my cars idle for about 30 seconds, and then drive slowly until the vehicle is fully warmed up. You'll notice that the heater starts pumping out hot air much quicker.
 
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#12 ·
I let mine idle 1-minute just to get the oil circulated. After that I'm on the road.

With my new truck, when it's cold I try to start up about 10-15 minutes before I need to leave, let it run a minute to circulate oil, then kick in the fast idle for the remaining 10 minutes or so before I leave.
 
#13 ·
If this helps, conventional wisdom from an old wrench is to start the vehicle, then as soon as it's idling smoothly (used to have to do that on carbureted cars), count to 30. Drive away at a moderate pace until the engine warms up.

If it's really cold, then it'll be ready to go before the windows defrost... But still the wisdom is to drive at a moderate speed for a bit to give the drivetrain time to warm up.

With aluminum engines nowadays, you're warmed up pretty quick. Me, I keep the revs below 2200 until it's warmed up. You can still accelerate pretty well without hammering it.
:cheers:
 
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#14 ·
i push the button on teh remote and let her idle for about 15mins. im not trying to get into a cold truck. it was 0 today when i left for work at 5am and 14 when i came home at 2:30
 
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#15 ·
I let my truck run for about 10-15 mins. to get it nice and warm inside. The pass couple of weeks the windshield been frosted, and it has been 8 degrees or lower in the am all this week. Tues. morning was the coldest at -9 degrees. Yesterday morning was 1 degree!
 
#16 ·
It depends on how cold it is and what road you are going to travel. A cold engine tends to shudder, so I make a call on when it settles down and seems to be ready to go. If it is garaged at 30 degrees F, a few minutes is okay. If 10 degrees and outside, then give it about 5. If it is zero or below, then I go back to the sudder formula giving it about 5-8 minutes and then drive off very easy until everythng loosens up. If it is zero or below and I have to hit the highway right away, a longer warm up.
 
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#17 ·
The last few days here in Western New York has been in single digits. Was 3 degrees this morning. Since it sits outdoors (garage is heated but the wifey's car & my 'busa are in there) I let the Titan warm up for 'bout 10 minutes. Mostly to defrost the windows and make it warmer for me!!! As far as the truck goes, I don't really think it's necessary.
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
hotrod7 your situation sounds like mine. My titan also sits outside. The garage is heated but my girlfriend's vehicle sit inside along with my GSXR & TLR. I wish the garage was bigger... :ugh:

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to drastically cut down on my startup idle time.
 
#20 ·
cnett said:
I usually let my truck warm up for 5 to 10 minutes (for the temp needle to move) before taking off when the weather is below freezing. How long is necessary?

I noticed my fuel mileage went way down b/c of the excessive idle time during cold weather. I can greatly improve my MPG by trimming my startup (idle) time. Just curious what other's do. ???

'07 KC SE 4x4
Click to expand...
I have a Tiatan that does the same thing. I did a couple trips Ice fishing and same distance different days with only difference was I filled up after it was warm. Mileage was 17Mpg and 12mpg with a couple starts in between....
I also noticed the high idle doesn't kick down as fast as I'd like? My Titan will stay 1000rpm for like 5min, my way of thinking is when the O2 sensors starts reading say after 2mins it should help with Fuel economy???
My Titan is still throwing a 300 code too, maybe related?
 
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