Warming up your car during winter in Canada
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: TO Canada
Warming up your car during winter in Canada
i found that idling the engine just for warming up is a waste of gas..
recently i drive my car right away, and drive slow on local roads, accelerates at 2000rpm max, and stop for traffic lights.......
i will continue doing that until the radiator temp reach 1/3 of its normal temperature (1/6 of the bar).... then i'll accurate at 2500rpm max till it is completely warmup
any thoughts? good or bad? any recommendation?
recently i drive my car right away, and drive slow on local roads, accelerates at 2000rpm max, and stop for traffic lights.......
i will continue doing that until the radiator temp reach 1/3 of its normal temperature (1/6 of the bar).... then i'll accurate at 2500rpm max till it is completely warmup
any thoughts? good or bad? any recommendation?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
DO YOU, have any IDEA what driving your car without warming it up in the winter does to your engine. Let me put it to you this way. Oil in order to do its job in an engine for the most part is heat activated.
Take a bottle of oil *if you feel like wasting a bit, put it in the freezer. an hour later take it out. Open it and pour it out. Now take one at room temp pour it out, and one that is heated to about 55'c or higher, then pour.
Remember oil needs to coat your engine internals to work properly, if does not coat , it is not effective as a lub. I see some many dumb asses start their car. after a -40'c night, slam it in to D and red line that car up and down the road in the hope to warm them selves up.
Your doing your car serious damage with metal on metal contact.
You think its a waste of gas? think of the pain in the *** a blown gasket or leaking oil will be. that extra 3 minutes of gas idling in the morning protects your engine. If its extremely code, you bet your *** your gonna let it warm up for 5 minutes.
make no mistake. anyone who tells you, oh ya 30 seconds is fine, is sadly mistaken, unless they have a block heater.
This is just talking about your engine, your AUTO transmission is a good example. a cold tranny depending on the car of course, will give slow / delayed sloppy shifts compared to a well warmed up car.
Be careful and beware.
Take a bottle of oil *if you feel like wasting a bit, put it in the freezer. an hour later take it out. Open it and pour it out. Now take one at room temp pour it out, and one that is heated to about 55'c or higher, then pour.
Remember oil needs to coat your engine internals to work properly, if does not coat , it is not effective as a lub. I see some many dumb asses start their car. after a -40'c night, slam it in to D and red line that car up and down the road in the hope to warm them selves up.
Your doing your car serious damage with metal on metal contact.
You think its a waste of gas? think of the pain in the *** a blown gasket or leaking oil will be. that extra 3 minutes of gas idling in the morning protects your engine. If its extremely code, you bet your *** your gonna let it warm up for 5 minutes.
make no mistake. anyone who tells you, oh ya 30 seconds is fine, is sadly mistaken, unless they have a block heater.
This is just talking about your engine, your AUTO transmission is a good example. a cold tranny depending on the car of course, will give slow / delayed sloppy shifts compared to a well warmed up car.
Be careful and beware.
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Canada
Yeah I have a block heater but the moment temperatures dropped close to the 0c mark here, I've been giving her about 5-6 mins of idle time to allow for warm up. Sure it hurts my fuel economy but thats a small cost compared to the longrun health of your car. Especially if you have a CVT, they need more time than normal for warmup.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB
Well lately since it's been about -20 celcius in the mornings I've been letting the car idle about 5-6 min, takes that long to clear the snow and frost anyways.
Karan,
You have a block heater? Northside Mits told me it was a waste of money because of new technology the car doesn't need one however, if it's ever too cold to start I'll be calling them to get it started and then have them throw in a block heater for free.
Karan,
You have a block heater? Northside Mits told me it was a waste of money because of new technology the car doesn't need one however, if it's ever too cold to start I'll be calling them to get it started and then have them throw in a block heater for free.
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Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 721
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From: Edmonton, Canada
Yeah its getting really frigid here in Edmonton lately, sometimes I even give it close to 10 mins of idle time when its been parked outside.
And yeah I did get a block heater included with mine for sure. They were offering it in the cost so figured why not.
And yeah I did get a block heater included with mine for sure. They were offering it in the cost so figured why not.
now when u say cold.. would 40-60 degree temp be considered cold??? like 1 minute warm time?? im still confused why canadian cars dont have an option of having a block heater...
Evolving Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Albany
I live in upstate new york and from november till march its pretty cold outside. how much is a block heater and is it something I could install myself and what does it do exactly besides warm the block.
I have a stick on pan heater...we're in the negatives now...my evo's plugged in and warmed up for a good 10 minutes before I drive. That and I had to run the defrost to get the ice off the windows...
