Stop Hurting Your Engine.....When It's Cold Outside

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/biggest-myth-warming-car-winter-164138459.html

"Stop hurting your engine by 'warming up' the car when it's cold out"

"If you're one of the many drivers who thinks it's important to idle your car — turn it on and let it sit — in these frigid winter months to protect the engine, you've likely fallen victim to a myth that may be doing more harm than good."

Some of this seems counterintuitive; but makes sense at the same time. I guess I'll get a couple cans of windshield de-icer and find out.

 

[GWguy]

And don't forget to check your tires. They WILL be down, and it makes a difference in snow/ice traction.

 

[glhs837]

Got t see the wifes new Jeep system in action yesterday. Actually shows you a graphic of the truck, and all four pressures, with one that's out of spec highlighted in red, both text and glow around the tire.

 

[BlueBird]

And don't forget to check your tires. They WILL be down, and it makes a difference in snow/ice traction.

That's not what the NFL wants you to believe. Sorry couldn't resist and no I'm not a Patriots fan, just that time of year and your comment brought back memories of the ideal gas law.

I read the article this morning about warming your engine up. Makes sense to me!

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Still the last thing to wear out on any modern car.

 

[glhs837]

Exactly. You might reduce the +200K of service you can expect down to a little under 200K, which to most owners still might as well be forever. For that, I'll climb into a warm car every day. I dont do it for the motor, I do it for me.

 

[Radiant1]

Exactly. You might reduce the +200K of service you can expect down to a little under 200K, which to most owners still might as well be forever. For that, I'll climb into a warm car every day. I dont do it for the motor, I do it for me.

^^This, and remote start is the best invention ever!

 

[GURPS]

my bigger annoyance is the FI immediate revving up the motor as soon as it starts
.... then it settles on high idle because its cold



damn can we get the oil flowing 1st

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

my bigger annoyance is the FI immediate revving up the motor as soon as it starts
.... then it settles on high idle because its cold



damn can we get the oil flowing 1st

That was somewhat easier before FI. With carbureted cars, with distributors, of course; you could unplug the coil and turn the motor over til you saw oil pressure.....but you knew that already, GURPS.

 

[glhs837]

Engine driven oil pump means higher RPMS increase oil pressure, getting it where it needs to be faster. I'm just gonna assume that the engineers who decide this did the math and it's better to rev higher than chug along waiting for the cold oil. Although with modern engines using a lot of super thin oil, three of mine, from the 99 BMW to the 2006 Charger use oils starting with 0. Wife 2015 Jeep uses 5w-20. Even cold, these oils are pretty htin and flow well.

 

[Larry Gude]

And don't forget to check your tires. They WILL be down, and it makes a difference in snow/ice traction.

Question: we reduce psi for sand to increase traction. Why wouldn't that same idea help in snow and ice?

 

[Gilligan]

my bigger annoyance is the FI immediate revving up the motor as soon as it starts
.... then it settles on high idle because its cold



damn can we get the oil flowing 1st

That's why the half-million-dollars-each high-performance diesels we use in the various craft have full-jacket water heaters and a pre-start oil distribution pump. ;-)

 

[GWguy]

Question: we reduce psi for sand to increase traction. Why wouldn't that same idea help in snow and ice?

Reducing pressure on sand spreads the tire over a larger surface area so you float on top of the sand. The sand fills in the cupping in the middle of the tire from low pressure and you get maximum traction. On snow and ice, reduced tire pressure and cupping means less tire actually providing traction.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

Engine driven oil pump means higher RPMS increase oil pressure, getting it where it needs to be faster. I'm just gonna assume that the engineers who decide this did the math and it's better to rev higher than chug along waiting for the cold oil. Although with modern engines using a lot of super thin oil, three of mine, from the 99 BMW to the 2006 Charger use oils starting with 0. Wife 2015 Jeep uses 5w-20. Even cold, these oils are pretty htin and flow well.

I learned this when I read the specs on my '16 Mazda. My first thought was '0-W-20??'