Cold Weather Startup Sequences
02-03-2009, 11:35 AM
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Interesting...seems the consensus is wait a bt before driving off. This is why I like the RPM indicator on the pre-LCI cars which you can actually visibly see turning / indicating engine warmth. My personal routine is to start and move afer a few seconds as the manual says [kill the car but not the environment seems an awful ominous BMW position]....
I talked to my SA who reccomends the same thing. Get in, start up, buckle up, hit accept on the iDrive, start your seat/steering heaters, and off you go........ I don't rev the RPMs beyond 2-3K at the most. As someone said, revolutions however are how the lubricants flow around anyways so I see this as a Catch 22.....
Anyone use block heaters prior to starting???
I talked to my SA who reccomends the same thing. Get in, start up, buckle up, hit accept on the iDrive, start your seat/steering heaters, and off you go........ I don't rev the RPMs beyond 2-3K at the most. As someone said, revolutions however are how the lubricants flow around anyways so I see this as a Catch 22.....
Anyone use block heaters prior to starting???
02-03-2009, 11:54 AM
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like most drivers here, i wait till the rev limiter hits atleast 5k ---- ever driven the car first thing and feel the engine holding back so you cant easily rev hard?? The car takes care of its self with precaution - that being said, patience cannot hurt your car.
02-03-2009, 12:31 PM
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+1 from Subarashi. Go through the ritual and then once the seat is getting warm, put it into drive and away we go.
Problem for me is, the on ramp to the interstate is only 4 blocks from the house. Not alot of warm up time to get up and revving.
Problem for me is, the on ramp to the interstate is only 4 blocks from the house. Not alot of warm up time to get up and revving.
02-03-2009, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by subarashi' post='784263' date='Feb 3 2009, 03:35 PM
Anyone use block heaters prior to starting???
One question, what are block heaters, not quite familiar with that term?
02-03-2009, 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Bteljuice' post='784359' date='Feb 3 2009, 05:52 PM
One question, what are block heaters, not quite familiar with that term?
Loosen Up That Cold Gooey Oil
People who drive cars or trucks in very cold places either keep their cars in heated garages or use "block heaters" so they will start in cold weather.
A block heater is a little electric heater that is attached to the car's engine. It runs from an external electical source - like a long extension cord from your house - and you plug it in when the car is parked to keep the engine warm, or to warm the engine up before you try to start it.
Warming the engine loosens up the cold gooey oil, helps gasoline to vaporize, and makes chemicals in the battery more active.
In really cold places, people must use special synthetic motor oils that stay liquid in cold temperatures.
02-03-2009, 02:55 PM
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I've always heard that it's best not to wait as moving the car gets the lubricants moving--just keep the RPMs low. I just start up, buckle the belt, turn on the radar detector, steering wheel and seat heaters, pick a song, then back out of the garage. 30-40 seconds maybe? I have a short commute on regular streets and no need to rev the engine, but I really take it slow if it's crazy cold.
02-03-2009, 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by ADD' post='783956' date='Feb 3 2009, 08:39 AM
I usually "wait", if you call it that, while I click my seat belt, get situated etc. which is all of about 15 sec. This gives the fluids some time to at least "get around" before putting in gear and driving.
That said, the reason the manual recos to not let the car warm up at idle is for environmental reasons. Engines give off the most pollutants while in the warm up stage, and the fastest way to get the engine warm is by driving. Sure it may be worse for the car, but it's better for the environment!
I usually drive for the first few miles with not over 2000 to 2500 rpms, or until the heater fan revs up and starts blowing. That usually signals that there is sufficient heat in the system to blow warm air. Not a perfect measure of engine temp, but better than nothing, I guess.
That said, the reason the manual recos to not let the car warm up at idle is for environmental reasons. Engines give off the most pollutants while in the warm up stage, and the fastest way to get the engine warm is by driving. Sure it may be worse for the car, but it's better for the environment!
I usually drive for the first few miles with not over 2000 to 2500 rpms, or until the heater fan revs up and starts blowing. That usually signals that there is sufficient heat in the system to blow warm air. Not a perfect measure of engine temp, but better than nothing, I guess.