No need to warm up the car?

[meng-chieh]

I have a 2002 Camry XLE automatic and I'm a bit confused regarding whether or not to warm up my car. Until recently, I've always warmed up my car in the morning before driving by letting it sit in idle until the rpm drops below 1000, which takes about a minute or so. However, just yesterday someone told me that not only is it no necessary to warm up the car, but doing so actually hurts the car! Is this true? Or is it simply because they're lazy? If it's true, does it only apply to newer cars? (the person who said this owns a 2004/5 Mazda 6 automatic.)

[The Wolf]

I'd say they're lazy. Letting the car take a few min to warm up when it's cold is a good idea. I've let my cars warm up for 15-20 min with the heat on full blast before, no harm that I could tell.

[Ne0z31]

it is actually true, letting the car sit and idle isnt good for the car, and as my step-dad and dad say (who are both master techs) it is actually better to push your car a bit after backing it out. just let it idle for like 20-30 seconds to let the oil ciculate and then get goin... lettin it idle and warm up is actually lazier cause ur sittin in a nice cozy warm car :-P

[mescalito]

there was a thread about this just the other day i think...check the search button

how long to idle/warm up wintertime


oh i can't help myself, but for the guy whos post im under, wtf does 'teeth are for gay people' mean?

[Super Kaioken]

my car runs in high rpms if i don't warm it up....i guess it's pushing itself =/

[AMScamrySE]

Wow, Def let your car warm up. I dont give a shit whos a master tech or what not. Absolutly let it warm up for like a minute. Then drive it under 2k. Final answer.

[EKam]

Originally posted by Ne0z31
it is actually true, letting the car sit and idle isnt good for the car, and as my step-dad and dad say (who are both master techs) it is actually better to push your car a bit after backing it out. just let it idle for like 20-30 seconds to let the oil ciculate and then get goin... lettin it idle and warm up is actually lazier cause ur sittin in a nice cozy warm car :-P

You just said it's not good to let it sit and idle and yet you follow up with "let it idle for like 20-30 seconds", aren't you contradicting what you just wrote???

[hypeman]

i dont understand how letting the car sit in idle is hurting the car

[meng-chieh]

My thought exactly; I'd be inclined to believe that new technologies have allowed us to AVOID warming up the car, but would never believe that the said technologies would make warming up the car HARMFUL - it's like a step forward...in the wrong direction. That being said, I'm still open-minded to whatever people have to say...I may be just wrong.

Originally posted by hypeman
i dont understand how letting the car sit in idle is hurting the car

[Porkch0p220]

dont lissen to much to what people say. do what you wanna do, if you like a warm car, let it warm up. but just to let everyone know it is VERY bad for a car to take a short trip say 5-10 mins like we all usually do with out the car being up to running temp. just alittle info everyone should know. so when i take my car to school witch its like not even a mile away, i let her warm up fully. i have seen no problems accure, i actully feel she is more healthier

[Super Kaioken]

yeah. warming up your car is good. but for 15 minutes seems excessive at that point. a minute i say is good. cuz otherwise it's burning gas. or something.

[Porkch0p220]

yeah thats true, i do 5-10 depending on how COLD it is outside

[Super Kaioken]

true.......but see i live in the south. my warm up doesn't last long. i mean. it's like 64 degrees outside right now. not that cold. doesn't EVER get to freezing here.

[VVT-i Owns]

Cars have High Idle when cold because the ecu is trying to warm the car faster.

The reason for that is because the emission control components don't work when they're cold.

I don't really know if cars run richer when cold but if thats true that is the reason why it is bad for your car. Rich = bad for catalyst.

[The Wolf]

lettin it idle and warm up is actually lazier cause ur sittin in a nice cozy warm car :-P

I didn't say I was sitting in the car... When it's about 15 degrees outside and I have time, I let my car warm up for 10-15 min. This is for the heat to get going, though, not for the engine to warm up.