You should drive gently for the first 5 minutes or so. That's to let other parts of your car get to normal operating temperature: things like transmission fluid, differential oil, shock absorber oil, brake fluid, wheel bearing grease, and even the springs. And none of those get warmed up with the car idling in "park".
Here is the issue. The colder it is the more time it takes the car to warm up.
So if it is say 15 degrees the oil is like a thick syrup, it will not flow that well through the engine. After say 5-7 minutes the oil will be warmed up so will flow normally.
Also by letting the car idle that warms up the antifreeze and engine area so the brake fluid and power steering fluid are a bit warmer.
Warming up the car up when the temperature is over 50 degrees is not needed.
Depends what vehicle you have. but think about it like this, engineers designed intent for operating temperature is operating temperature.
If you take off before that, its abusive to your parts.
They are your parts, if you think saving that little gas is more important, it's your water and your soap, you can wash it as fast as you want.
But when things start failing, operating harshly, have excessive play before you'd like; remember, you could have had your coffee before leaving the parking spot.
Your windows would have been clear to see out of. People would not be inconvenienced by having to give you a wider berth.
Since you are not making eye contact and steam is coming out the pipe.
You won't enter traffic in front of a car who has his lights off because you will have clear vision then too.
It just seems like the gas you try to save gets replaced by the parts that fail sooner. and its because you put them under load when they are cold, then create more internal heat and warm them faster.
I let ANY rig I'm driving warm up for a minute or so, just to get lube oil circulating
it has been tested that you only need to let it idle for about 30 seconds, if that. while you are not in motion, you are wasting fuel. warming up, it is even worse.
I've read that idling your car wastes gas and creates carbon monoxide adding to the green house effect.
This question isn't about global warming and an attempt to get people to care :)
I'm asking if it really benefits your car in the long run to warm it up as opposed to just driving it where it will warm up in a matter of minutes anyway.
Supposed studies have shown that depending on how long you warm it up or even idling it wastes your gas to the point where if you stop idling/warming it up you can save anywhere from $70 - $670 in gas money a year.
I don't know if that's true but i worked with a guy a few years back where he would warm up his car after work for 5 minutes before going home.
Even in summer!
I just want to know if it really helps your car or not.
Thank an thumbs up to all who answer ... just give me time to get back and read the answers.
