How long do you let your car warm up in the morning?
#1
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How long do you let your car warm up in the morning?
I know we all live in different areas of the country and the world, in some cases, but I was wondering how long these cars should be warmed up before you drive off in the morning. I'm sure a lot of it is temperature dependent, so, for example, the time to warm up will be much longer when it is 0 degrees outside versus when it is 70 degrees outside.
Here in Southern California, where the temperature is between 40 and 75 degrees in the morning most days, I let my car warm up for at least a minute before rolling out of the driveway. I try to take it easy on the motor until the car is fully warmed up.
Here in Southern California, where the temperature is between 40 and 75 degrees in the morning most days, I let my car warm up for at least a minute before rolling out of the driveway. I try to take it easy on the motor until the car is fully warmed up.
#2
No matter how cold/warm it is, I always let my car warm up for 5-15 minutes, depending on how cold it is. Even after that, I drive it all under 3,000 until it's been driven for at least another 15-20 minutes.
I'd rather waste a little more money on gas at idle, than to womp on the car when it's still "cold," only to pay for a new transmission down the line...
#4
The temperature in the morning here, where I live in FL, is around 55-65 deg. I start my max and start driving right away but never press the accelerator hard. Infact, I keep the rpm always below 2,000. There are two signals very near my home where I have to always wait for 5-7 minutes. That warms up my car.
This is how the CVT in my 07 Maxima SL (about 7000 miles) works. When I press the accelerator (I never floor it), the rpm gradually rises until about 1400-1700. Then it falls to about 1100 as if it shifted from the first to the second gear which is wierd (but found in all three CVT max's I drove) because the CVT is not supposed to have gear shifts like that. Then the rpm gradually rises steadily and never falls unless I release the accelerator. I have tried until 90 mph.
In the cold days, after the engine has been turned off for a few hours, the first "gear shift" takes longer. That is, the car runs at about 2000 rpm at 40-45 mph for a few minutes before the rpm comes down. And I presume that consumes more gas. So I was thinking of manually changing from 1st to 2nd gear one of these cold days but haven't tried that yet.
This is how the CVT in my 07 Maxima SL (about 7000 miles) works. When I press the accelerator (I never floor it), the rpm gradually rises until about 1400-1700. Then it falls to about 1100 as if it shifted from the first to the second gear which is wierd (but found in all three CVT max's I drove) because the CVT is not supposed to have gear shifts like that. Then the rpm gradually rises steadily and never falls unless I release the accelerator. I have tried until 90 mph.
In the cold days, after the engine has been turned off for a few hours, the first "gear shift" takes longer. That is, the car runs at about 2000 rpm at 40-45 mph for a few minutes before the rpm comes down. And I presume that consumes more gas. So I was thinking of manually changing from 1st to 2nd gear one of these cold days but haven't tried that yet.
Last edited by bb700092; 02-20-2008 at 08:38 AM.
#6
I just start the car and let the temp needle rise up to quarter of the way, sometimes half way (normal operation temp) and then start driving...... depending on the weather (summer or winter) the warm up time varies. So I don't have a set time, I just let the temp gauge tell me when to start driving.
#7
Dont exactly have a 6th gen but... I start the car and go immediately and redline every shift to get it to operating temperature asap. Then I would turn it off and wait till its cold and repeat.
LoLzjk. 5 minutes max and I would give it 2min minimum even when I'm in a hurry. Unless I'm really really really in a hurry, I would wait 30sec and go very easy on the paddle.
LoLzjk. 5 minutes max and I would give it 2min minimum even when I'm in a hurry. Unless I'm really really really in a hurry, I would wait 30sec and go very easy on the paddle.
#8
Everything is level with no stop signs or lights near where I live, and my Maxima is always kept in an insulated garage where the temp never drops below 55, so I always start rolling one second after starting the car, but drive very gently until the engine is warmed up.
#11
start her up, flip on the heated seats/wheel and hop in the shower; 7-15 min of idle time then i baby it as the manual trans does not like changing gears in the cold; keep it under 3-3500 and shift it like a baby till the trans warms up
#13
In the winter I remote start it for 10 mins with the heat blasting. Its also good for snow. So by the time i get out the ice is falling off my car already. In the summer 2-3 mins and it just starts to get off of C. then just take it easy for a few mins. By the time I can get to a road with the speed limit off 30mph+ everything is warmed up.
#15
hmmm never really timed it. Got remote start on mine so i just click it a few mins b4 i leave the house and when i get in....ahhhhh nice n toasty. And if i should so happen to get side tracked and not get out to my car in time, it shuts off automatically in 15 minutes.
#16
i dont have a 6th gen neither but being the guy i am i always even if im 30 mins late to class i still warm up my car till it reaches the the first bar then i stay under 2k and drive still it reaches the operating temp. plus my car is a 2k so its kinda getting moody now so i really have to baby it. i get pissed if i c someone just start the car and drive off without even giving it 20 secs when its 20f out.
#18
I can't believe everyone in this thread follows these specific guidelines when you get into the Maxima. You would think that a 35,000 dollar car wouldn't need to be babied like this everytime you got in it. My Cavalier started and drove just fine without warming it, and so does my Maxima. I can understand if your in sub-zero temperatures, but come on...
#21
----I just start the car and let the temp needle rise -----up to quarter of the way, sometimes half way (normal operation temp) and then start driving...... depending on the weather (summer or winter) the warm up time varies. So I don't have a set time, I just let the temp gauge tell me when to start driving.
Last edited by larsim; 02-20-2008 at 04:22 PM.
#23
in jersey its like 30 so i just let the needle drop below the 1 then just start driving. but i keep it under 2k rpm until the car is normal. GAS is to expensive to be wasting just for another 2-5 mins.
#24
hmmm never really timed it. Got remote start on mine so i just click it a few mins b4 i leave the house and when i get in....ahhhhh nice n toasty. And if i should so happen to get side tracked and not get out to my car in time, it shuts off automatically in 15 minutes.
#26
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Nice feedback. I think its always a good idea to let parts warm up, even here in gorgeous sunny Southern California, and even if its just a minute or two. I think Nissan even recommends it.
#27
I can't believe everyone in this thread follows these specific guidelines when you get into the Maxima. You would think that a 35,000 dollar car wouldn't need to be babied like this everytime you got in it. My Cavalier started and drove just fine without warming it, and so does my Maxima. I can understand if your in sub-zero temperatures, but come on...
#28
are u kidding me u guys warm up ur car in 60deg weather? for wat reason? only time i warm up my car is when i got time to while shovellin snow. otherwise i jump in n slamm on the gas, let it warm up that way. even if the tranny is cold i just keep it in 1st or second but i dun go past 3000.
#33
#35
#37
I can't believe everyone in this thread follows these specific guidelines when you get into the Maxima. You would think that a 35,000 dollar car wouldn't need to be babied like this everytime you got in it. My Cavalier started and drove just fine without warming it, and so does my Maxima. I can understand if your in sub-zero temperatures, but come on...
#38
I turned the car on and went inside the station to change, when I came out, about 15 min later she was at operating temp idling around 650-700.
Normally in the morning, I go outside, turn on the car and come back in and eat my CornFlakes, then when I go back outside, shes ready to play.
Kamski
#40
[QUOTE=kamilkluczewski;6257330]Dueski, couple of weeks ago it was [B]-19C [/B]here. QUOTE]
I wouldn't even go outside. lol
I wait till the steering wheel is warm than I am off. I don't like to wear gloves when I drive. When I am in Florida I just start the car and go.
I wouldn't even go outside. lol
I wait till the steering wheel is warm than I am off. I don't like to wear gloves when I drive. When I am in Florida I just start the car and go.