warming up engine in cold mornings

[vin888]

Do you warm up your car when you start it the morning? If yes how do you guys do it?

[cdn_tch]

1) Use the block heater for 2-4 hours (on a timer)
2) Put in D and drive gently. You will notice that if you are easy on the gas pedal, then the engine RPM stays constant ie. the TCH is doing its part to warmup the ICE in what it feels is the best way.

I'm doing this now when the morning temps are around freezing, and did it throughout the winter when it was -40.

Works for me, YMMV.

[vin888]

Originally Posted by cdn_tch

1) Use the block heater for 2-4 hours (on a timer)
2) Put in D and drive gently. You will notice that if you are easy on the gas pedal, then the engine RPM stays constant ie. the TCH is doing its part to warmup the ICE in what it feels is the best way.

I'm doing this now when the morning temps are around freezing, and did it throughout the winter when it was -40.

Works for me, YMMV.

Thanks for replying. We dont have snow here though
so is it the same? what do you mean block heater?

[cdn_tch]

A block heater is an open element like you have in an electric kettle, that is inserted into the engine block instead of one of the freeze plugs. It is a 400w heater which warms the coolant. The sooner your ICE is at operating temp, the sooner you are in Mode 4 and able to run in full EV mode.

In LA, your outdoor temps are warm enough that the hassle of getting a block heater just doesn't make it worthwhile. Just gently drive a mile or two until the ICE temp is in the normal operating range, then stop for 7 seconds (until the engine turns off. If it is off before you come to a stop slightly press on the gas pedal to start the ICE and then let it stop) and continue. The TCH/HSD needs that stop to transition from mode 3 to mode 4.

[Chunger]

As the others stated, no need to really warm up the engine... drive with a light foot and the electric motor will start you off and the ICE will kick in and warm up with little wear under light loads.

Engine block heaters were very useful when I lived in Boise though.. brrrrrr....