Cold Starting?

[epinionator89]

Yesterday morning (8 AM) I went out to the car to drive to school. I turned on the engine and it idled at 1500 RPM as usual (when it's not warmed up), and within ten seconds or so the engine revved to about 1800-2000 all by itself. Is that what's considered "cold starting"? Someone in OT mentioned something like this when he said "I know it's officially getting colder outside when..."

Off-Topic--And is it true that turning on the heater is just like turning on the A/C (it uses more gas)? I heard that from somewhere as well.

[leasaunce]

yeah i think thats should be normal.

[touringcamry]

I've only ever experience a really fast idle like that once. Typically my car idles around 1200. I guess it was just that cold during that one day. During the summer, where it's about 90 deg F by 7am, it sometimes just starts up and goes to regular idle.

I don't think the heater would cause the car to use more gas unless you count the power required to run the fan for the heaterr. That's the only was that I can see that it would cause higher gas use. Otherwise, the heater just shares the water with the radiator.

[nodrogkam]

Mornings around 50-70 degrees my car will start and idle in park or neutral at about 1800rpm. And while in drive it idles around 1300. Once teh car is warmed up it idles at about 800rpm in drive and 600rpm in neutral.

The heater wont use up more gas if u turn on the fresh air and not the fan. the fan eats gas.

Also one wierd thing i noticed...it seems like my idle is now but its not real bad...but when i have my headlights on. i notice everything inside and out dims a bit and it brightens up the second it goes above 1000rpm...so is my car not supposed to idle below 1000?

[Cyorke]

when the car is idling and you have lights and fans and raido and all the other electrical devices running it is jsut putting more of a load on the alternator and charging system. It happnes in most every car to some extent. Especially as it gets colder and daylight savings ends and all tat good stuff.

[nodrogkam]

Originally Posted by Cyorke

when the car is idling and you have lights and fans and raido and all the other electrical devices running it is jsut putting more of a load on the alternator and charging system. It happnes in most every car to some extent. Especially as it gets colder and daylight savings ends and all tat good stuff.

Mmm alright. So long as the car doesnt die im happy.