On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 09
01 -0500, "el Diablo" <nomail@spam.not>
wrote:
>
>"Reynaud" <sjimk@mts.net> wrote in message
>news:dRTyd.5439$Ka6.35038@news1.mts.net...
>>
>> "Ryan" <nomoremail@netzero.com> wrote in message
>> news:IESyd.249706$V41.213638@attbi_s52...
>> >I keep seeing and hearing different opinions about this:
>> >
>> > When it's cold outside (say 32 degrees or lower), what is the best way
>to
>> > get a car going after it has been sitting and the engine is cold?
>> >
>> > Years ago I read an article from some Q&A article in the newspaper.
>These
>> > two guys said it's better for a car if you just get in and go. For
>> > starters, the car will warm up quicker...plus there is something about
>> > that
>> > it's easier on the engine. For years I have always drove this way...get
>> > in
>> > and go. After about 1.5 to 2 miles, the car is at normal operating
>> > temperature. Well, a co-worker at work said that you actually want to
>> > leave
>> > them run to heat up the oil. His opinion (this was mostly for older
>cars)
>> > was that if you don't allow the oil to heat up, it might ruin the
>> > transmission.
>> >
>> > So I am asking folks here: My previous car did have some transmission
>> > problems, but that occurred after 100K miles. I know that the previous
>> > owner did let it sit and heat up. I didn't, and I now wonder if it
>> > eventually caused problems. This was in a V6 with 5w-30 motor oil. I
>now
>> > have a 2000 Grand Am V6. This summer I switched from 5w-30 to 10w-30
>Max
>> > Life oil since the engine has over 100K on it now. The car actually
>runs
>> > pretty well. I want to try to keep it as it will be paid off come
>> > February.
>> > So, to the folks here....what is the best way to drive a cold car in the
>> > winter? Let it warm up fully? Partially? Or just start driving and
>have
>> > it warm up quicker? Is the cold oil that big of a problem with the
>> > transmission? Granted I have not had a problem over the last 4 years,
>> > however I am now using a heavy oil (first time using it this
>> > winter)...could
>> > that make a difference?
>> >
>> > PS: My owners manual says nothing about this in the book. At least not
>> > what
>> > I could find.
>> >
>> >#%*
>> Most people in Man. where it gets real cold just warm the vehicle for an
>few
>> minutes and then drive slowly till the heater starts throwing heat
>> thereafter normal operation.
>>
>> Rey
>>
>>
>
>Follow Reynaud's advice, you can't go wrong with a few minutes of war up in
>cold weather. It allows the metals to start warming and expanding before
>putting major stress on the engine and transmission.
>
>Brian
>
As a mechanic, my advice is start the car, get out and make sure your
headlights, tail-lights and licence plates are free of snow and the
wipers not frozen to the windshield. Scrape the windsheild if
necessary, then drive away gently. Do not "push" the car untill the
temperature guage comes off the bottom or you start to get heat from
the heater, then progressively increase your power.
This "warmup" before putting in gear and driving away should be
minimum 15 seconds - 2 minutes. That is generally sufficient - and
gentle driving warms the engine, transmission, final drive, and wheel
bearings together.
Warming the car up for 10 minutes then driving like a bat out of hell
is very hard on final drive and bearings, and can also be hard on
transmissions.