how long to idle/warm up wintertime

[koss78a]

i live in ontario canada, northwestern ontario
in winter time how long should i let my new car, 2005 toyota corolla idle before i drive it .


our winters get as cold as -30 celisus or like -15 degrees F

what do u people suggest

just wandering if i shold invest in a remote starter

[REN69]

I usually warm mine up for about 5 mins before I get on the road. I got an 89 GTS.

[TOcorolla]

Usually, i start the car, and start shovelling the snow around ...so yeah about 5 mins. it will warm up pretty quickly. it makes a big difference if you keep your car inside your garage too.

[Flashmn]

you shouldnt warm the car up by idling. I idle for about a minute, when the oil pressure starts going up, I start to drive at moderate engine speeds. then when the engine temp goes near normal, I start driving normally.

Oh and see if you can get a engine pre-heater. Those are great in the winter, plug the car for about an hour or so, when you drive, it warms up alot faster.

Heres some info on the Defa system I'm getting to my car next weekend. http://www.defa.com/heating.php3?lang=3

[HiTzXRS]

ya know you can ask all you want man, but in the end you wont do what we say. im not trying to sound like a prick but if I say 5-10mins for your car to warmup...you might like 15mins. all i have to say is dont let your car warmup too too long. I personally think 5-10mins in the worst case. after that, and, when I get going the car starts to warm up really quick when you get going.


But as Levar Burton says it best "you dont have to take my word for it"


~HiTz~

[Flashmn]

But as Levar Burton says it best "you dont have to take my word for it"

And Scotty says "You canna heat it up anymore cap'n or it'll blow!"

[rolla-XRS]

If you're living in Northern Ontario I suggest you get a block heater and plug it in overnight (unless you park in a garage).

[Flashmn]

Naah, not overnight.. its also not good for the coolant if its on constantly. I think the rule goes 0- -5C ~30mins, -5-10C ~1hour, -10C-> 2hours. Atleast with the defa systems. The most top of the line version has an automatic timer in the car that sets the optimal time by reading the outside temperature (its frigging awesome) but its too pricey for my range. That system also has an automatic battery charger that charges from the wall outlet.

Also another great system is the webasto system, that basically doesnt need a wall outlet, it uses the cars gasoline to heat the engine and the cabin, basically running its own engine.

[89yotarollagts]

why would it not be a good idea to let it idle longer then 15 min when warming up ??? ( dont drive mine in winter so not a prob for me)

[Ukrainian102]

I dunno, but it's just bad for cars to idle long... anyone know the technical reason?

[Flashmn]

Oil pressure is really low, thats one. Plus the engine heats up very slow too.

[knightbr]

Technically the car will warm up faster when it's moving (unless it's -45 out), typically your RPM is going higher then if idling. I have read numerous times that letting the car sit idling for 10 minutes is not recommended. Reasons ranged from simply not being necessary to issues around the engine being warm but the rest of the car not being and problems arising from the difference.

I justify my flying down an on ramp at top speed as a way to heat up the car. Honestly officer I was just heating up my car!

Personally, if the windows are covered and it's cold I sit and let it idle until the crap melts off the windows simply because I am to damn lazy to get out and do any scrapping. Of course with 5 inches of snow I am about 2 hours late for work.

There isn't a whole bunch of right or wrong to this question I think your situation will dictate what you do. Example if you have a new born you can bet your ass that the wife is going to expect a warm car to put the baby in so suck it up and enjoy watching the smoke of your money burning out of the tail pipe!

Or if your single and have a hot date and your behind schedule your not going to sit for more then 1 to 2 minutes letting the car warm up. You have to get some pedal to the metal happening or you will be a lonesome dove that night

[ractive_roLLa]

when i am able to drive my car in the winter, i let it warm for 5mins more or less depends if im in a rush or not, i just let it warm up til the rpm gets low, as in to about 1000rpm instead of 1500rpm when i just start it up and its cold

[9000rpm]

1-2 mins. max idling, drive slowly, rpms as low as possible until temp. bar moves past first line, after that, increase rpms and in a few more minutes, temp bar will be up to normal position, about one-third.

[Katsimbris]

So, I emailed Toyota..., and this is what they said....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions.

According to the 2005 Corolla Owner's Manual, Section 3, (b) Starting the Engine, ...after the engine runs for about 10 seconds you are ready to drive.

While we would not advise you to let the vehicle idle for extended periods, idling longer than recommended wastes fuel and impacts the environment more than causing engine damage.