How long do you let your car warm up? - Taurus Car Club of America : Ford Taurus Forum

Simon182 · 11-10-2012, 10:32 AM

Just wondering.. In the morning or if I havent driven it in half the day I usually let it run for a minute or two until I hear the engine quiet down and the rpm's lower to idle.

What about you guys?

glock20man · 11-10-2012, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon182

Just wondering.. In the morning or if I havent driven it in half the day I usually let it run for a minute or two until I hear the engine quiet down and the rpm's lower to idle.

What about you guys?

yeah, that's about right. till the rpms drop. around 5 min. for me. the longer I let it warm up the more gas I notice it eats up.

Lgbpop · 11-10-2012, 11:08 AM

20-30 seconds if that much to let the RPMs drop to normal idle. I'm not a big fan of slamming the car into gear at higher idle. Otherwise, no need to let it idle for too long.

Breeves002 · 11-10-2012, 11:31 AM

I let it idle down to when it gets just below or at 1k RPM, usually 20-30 seconds like lgbpop. Gives it time to get into closed loop and the oil to get around.

TaurusDailyDriver · 11-10-2012, 11:32 AM

When it is 30 degrees or below, I'll start it and let it run a minute or two at the very least.
Normally I'll give it about 30 seconds.

TaurusSE98 · 11-10-2012, 04:55 PM

I just wait for it to drop to 1000 rpm before shifting out of park. Much smoother on all the driveline components I'd imagine...

don2775 · 11-10-2012, 05:49 PM

In the colder months around here, I use my remote start and give it at least 15 min, that way the defroster has cleared the windows and the rear def. has cleaned the back window. As you probably guessed, I have no garage, true it eats more gas, but I would rather sacrifice some fuel for safety.

behlinla · 11-10-2012, 07:59 PM

Like the others here, I wait until the engine speeds drops below 1000 RPM, which should take less than 30 sec. When it's really cold I use my block heater, otherwise I just drive it very gingerly until I see the temp needle start to rise.

Even when it's below zero, I don't like to idle my car more than a minute or two. It wastes gas and creates unnecessary pollution. Air quality is actually worst here in the winter from people idling their cars excessively. If the windshield is covered, I bush/scrape it off rather than waiting for the defrost to warm up. I can handle being cold in the for two minutes before the heat kicks in.

SoNic67 · 11-10-2012, 08:04 PM

I let it idle only a few seconds (10-15), enough to let the oil film on cylinder walls to set in place, to protect steel from the exhaust gases acidity.
After that, the faster you get to normal temperature, the less gas you waste.

sheila · 11-10-2012, 08:31 PM

I start it up, buckle up and go.

11-10-2012, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Simon182 Member Member Number: 45250 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles Chapter: West Coast Drives: 2002 Ford Taurus SES. 24V Duratec. Metallic Gray. :) Visit: My Garage Posts: 423 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 3	How long do you let your car warm up? Just wondering.. In the morning or if I havent driven it in half the day I usually let it run for a minute or two until I hear the engine quiet down and the rpm's lower to idle. What about you guys?

11-10-2012, 11:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Breeves002 The Big Cheese Member Number: 49890 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Chapter: Midwest Drives: 2008 Mercury Sable Premier Visit: My Garage Posts: 4,011 Trader Score: 6 reviews Rep Power: 10	I let it idle down to when it gets just below or at 1k RPM, usually 20-30 seconds like lgbpop. Gives it time to get into closed loop and the oil to get around. __________________ Sam 2008 Mercury Sable Premier 2012 Kia Soul Base AT 1.6GDI Moved On: 2000 Sable LS Premium Duratec View what I have for sale: HERE ENTER NOW FOR May's WAGON ONLY CAR OF THE MONTH!! *CLICK HERE*

11-10-2012, 11:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
TaurusDailyDriver The Page 93 Mastermind Member Number: 42443 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Chapter: Northeast Drives: 2006 Taurus SE Vulcan 3.0L OHV V6 Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,318 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 4	When it is 30 degrees or below, I'll start it and let it run a minute or two at the very least. Normally I'll give it about 30 seconds. __________________ Paul T. \|2006 Taurus SE \| Silver Frost \|The 'Official' Bull of Central New York! \| October 2012 COTM \|2005 Taurus SEL\| Vibrant White \| The Stock Bull \|1999 Taurus SE \| Toreador Red \| Retired with 112k

11-10-2012, 05:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
don2775 Senior Member Member Number: 18080 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Zeeland, Michigan Drives: '97 Taurus GL Visit: My Garage Posts: 911 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	In the colder months around here, I use my remote start and give it at least 15 min, that way the defroster has cleared the windows and the rear def. has cleaned the back window. As you probably guessed, I have no garage, true it eats more gas, but I would rather sacrifice some fuel for safety. __________________

11-10-2012, 07:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
behlinla Technical Advisor Member Number: 14275 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Chapter: Midwest Drives: 2006 Taurus SEL Visit: My Garage Posts: 5,705 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 10	Like the others here, I wait until the engine speeds drops below 1000 RPM, which should take less than 30 sec. When it's really cold I use my block heater, otherwise I just drive it very gingerly until I see the temp needle start to rise. Even when it's below zero, I don't like to idle my car more than a minute or two. It wastes gas and creates unnecessary pollution. Air quality is actually worst here in the winter from people idling their cars excessively. If the windshield is covered, I bush/scrape it off rather than waiting for the defrost to warm up. I can handle being cold in the for two minutes before the heat kicks in. Last edited by behlinla; 11-10-2012 at 10:11 PM.

11-10-2012, 11:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Lgbpop Devoted Member Member Number: 7489 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Fort Myers, Florida USA Chapter: Southeast Drives: '90 Taurus GL Wagon 3.0L; '65 Rambler Ambassador 990 convertible Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,411 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 10	20-30 seconds if that much to let the RPMs drop to normal idle. I'm not a big fan of slamming the car into gear at higher idle. Otherwise, no need to let it idle for too long.

11-10-2012, 04:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
TaurusSE98 Junior Member Member Number: 49924 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter: West Coast Drives: 98 Taurus SE 3.0 Visit: My Garage Posts: 56 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 1	I just wait for it to drop to 1000 rpm before shifting out of park. Much smoother on all the driveline components I'd imagine...

11-10-2012, 08:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
SoNic67 Devoted Member Member Number: 35029 Join Date: Mar 2011 Chapter: Northeast Drives: 1996 Sable LS, 3.0L V6 24V Duratec Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,320 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 5	I let it idle only a few seconds (10-15), enough to let the oil film on cylinder walls to set in place, to protect steel from the exhaust gases acidity. After that, the faster you get to normal temperature, the less gas you waste.

11-10-2012, 08:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
sheila Crazy Devoted Member Member Number: 10865 Join Date: Dec 2006 Visit: My Garage Posts: 8,861 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 21	I start it up, buckle up and go.

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