Isn't the lower the RPM, the better for a car after starting?

[mystickid]

I always believed that the lower the car idles at the better after you start it up.
When I Start the car on a chilly or cold winter morning, the car rpm is high and you can hear it and then it gradually gets lower and lower till about 500 RPM. That's when i feel that my car is warmed up and ready to go. The heat is nice and toasty too when its idling an 500 RPM.

I have always thought that idling at a low RPM means its "ready to go" .

Someone please clarify.
perhaps i dont know what idling means. It means to have the started and just running right?

[mescalito]

sure - the rpms are higher when you start the car to get it warmed up quicker, and once it reaches operating temp, it idles normal.

you knew the answer already!

and look up the definition of idling - i hope you were joking.

[Pineapple]

Don't need to wait till RPM drop. Wait 30sec to a min then drive off. Just don't floor it or rev pass 4000 until coolant warm up to normal. You're wasting gas idling till its hot and driving slowly acturally warm the car up faster.
All you need to wait is for the oil to flow which is within a minute of starting. Don't rev untill oil get warm.

[greylock]

Engine has to rev hi when cold. Combustion chamber is too cold to maintain good burn so engine will quit unless the idle rpm is turned up until it warms up.

[terrastrife]

start and go.

all the waiting around is bullcrap.

even if you wanted to you can rev the shit outof your car, it will be fine, but you wouldnt because the motor would be too cold to make power so youre better off at a lower rpm anywya.

[leasaunce]

yeah man, start and go. you only have to warm it when your car was made before 1986 (i think).

most modern cars nowdays have stronger built engine. but if you drive the BMW M5, when you first started the car, the RPM gauge warn you not to REV the car above 4500RPM, as the car gets warmer the RPM warning light gradualy goes higher n higher....

Shown in this picture:

[Cyorke]

It is all normal operation. LIke most have said start it wait for the oil light to go off then be on your merry way. It is jsut like cars that used to have carburetors with chokes. You have to let it idle higher when cold for the engine to operate correctly.

[leasaunce]

well according to my instruction book, you gotta wait 10sec after starting the engine, then drive off. but it doesnt say anything about warming up the car.

[Cyorke]

Yeah within 10 seconds the oil light should be off and you will have oil correct oil pressure then you are ready to go.

[Ferrat]

Hey i have a carby'd carmy :P i don't have to wait more than a minute before taking off, as long as you don't push it, it runs fine

[Cyorke]

NO you dont have to wait if you dont want to but just like EFI cars have a fast cold idle carbed ones do to but it is controlled by the choke instead of the ECU.

[lucanhookup]

i always let my car warm up for 10 mins. i got a remote starter so yea its not like it takes my time. if i dont let my car warm up enough before i take off, white smoke comes out of the exhuast.

[leasaunce]

^^ yeah thats normal. either way it wont hurt the engine. unless ure pushing it hard while still cold.

[skewe]

Originally Posted by terrastrife

start and go.

all the waiting around is bullcrap.

even if you wanted to you can rev the shit outof your car, it will be fine, but you wouldnt because the motor would be too cold to make power so youre better off at a lower rpm anywya.

yeah.. you should start the car.
put it in gear and hit the gas till it hits 5000rpm, and 6500rpm for second gear

[SnakeyeS]

high revs at start up are also the ECU attempting to minimize the outputs of CO2, NO2 and NO.