How long do you let your car idle?

[jayupark]

It's gotten cold again in NYC... I've heard alot of differing opinions on how long you should let your car idle, but was wondering how long y'all let your cars idle?

When it's cold outside (below 40F or 5C) how long do you let your car idle? (sorry for the cheezy options...)

[joph09]

really depends if I plugged my block heater, and how cold it is. I know or has always been told that you shouldn't let the car idle long, can't remember the reasons though, but 5 minutes is Max for me, like this morning I didn't plug my car in because my sis plugged her's into the timer first and it -20C, -33 w/ windchill, I idled the car 5 mins, on warmer days 2-3mins.

[BlueRush]

I usually hit the car starter when I'm getting ready to brush my teeth. That way by the time I'm done, and I get my jacket and hat on, the car's nice and warm. Usually 5-10 minutes depending on the temperature and if I've driven it lately.

I need to get me a block heater!

[KeWLKaT]

I'd like a block heater also.

But now we have temps a bit below freezing and I just start it, place my coat/bag/whatever, put the radio fascia on, wait another minute or so, and start rolling.

The thing is you don't want to drive it HARD when it's cold. Driving it cold is ok, but moderated.

Then as soon as it reaches operating temps i like to test if my BOV still works :D:D:D:D

[Doohickie]

I literally get it in gear before the idle dies down from the initial startup, and I take off.

[KeWLKaT]

thats because you live in the land where snow is just an urban legend

[Tyburn]

in the morning I just come outa home, turn the engine, and have a smoke.
that should take no more than 5 minutes and I believe that should be enough for Vancouver weather. (even though its a bit extreme thesedays)
the temprature gage is usually still at the bottom when I get in to the car, but as soon as I get outa my parking lot, it starts go up.

[Kens GLS]

I have a remote car starter so 3-5 minutes before I drive it.

[GrGaKC]

I get going soon, not idling for long, but don't drive it hard first couple of miles. Then again, my XD is garaged, and in the garage the temps are around 10C when it's freezing outside...

[BIGROB]

well seeing how i live in LA and it doesnt get extremely cold down here theres really no need to let it warm up. but when it does get a bit nipply around here i let it sit for around 3 mins before going n e where.

[o2coolchris]

I start it up, pull out of the drive way into the alley, go half a block down and then coast in traffic for the next 10 minutes at about 15-25mph, and by the time i have to get off the traffic congested road, the car is nice and toasty and ready for the open road... Thats how the warm up goes in chicago... unless you have to dig your car out of the snow, then its different.

[toymachine566]

In the mornings I put pants on and start it, then do my morning routines:

empty the tank
get fully dressed
brush teeth
say goodbye
then go

but if i'm out somewhere, I let it idle maybe like 15-30 seconds (realistically) then drive easy until shes warm then when shes all heated up I let her have it :D

[Codenomics]

Depends on how much ice my car has on it lol. If my black car is white when i go out in the morning then i wait a good 15 minutes. I drive right down the street and I am on the freeway, i dont want to risk anything

[PSUsouthpaw]

Most cold mornings I'll go out, start the car, turn off the fans, throw my junk (Whatever books, binders or packed lunches for the day) in the back, get in, pick whichver cd I want to listen to, load it, than put it in gear and get moving. I usually get warm air coming in the HVAC within a mile of the house or so...

[Fishslayer]

Depends.

If the car is covered in ice (we DO get that in SoCal @ 1400 ft) I let it go about 5 minutes or until the wipers will work.

Very rarely do I just start & go in the AM.

Fishslayer

[06elantra]

where i am, winter temps rarely go below 25C (yay for living in the tropics of australia!!!)

when i get in the car in the morning, il start the car, put the window down, go searching for my smokes - light one, adjust the cd/radio (ie go searching for a song im in the mood for) and then pick a gear (reverse coz of the garage funnily enuf) and back out and go wherever im going - all up less than 30seconds easily

intial 'startup flare' would have died down, and itl be sitting on about 1000rpm when im goign.

i have a friend, who will *religiously* start his car, then wait until the temp gauge has moved up into the mid range of the gauge (normal Op Temp) and THEN he'l go..
says that when you start and go, the choke doesnt fully disengage and you end up using more fuel...
i tried to let my car warm up before driving.. i never felt any difference personally in the fuel usage...

[ghrpdx]

I literally get it in gear before the idle dies down from the initial startup, and I take off.
Me too ... even if it's sub-zero outside.

[thewilson]

I dont have a set time but I do let it idle until the rpms are at their regular sub 1k range and the engine temperature guage is moving up doesnt have to be up to operating temp but it does have to have moved up above the C for me to drive. I will say this process never takes over 3 minutes down this way. If my car has ice on it I use the time to go grab some water and de-ice my car. Suprised you can just start it and go without any ill effects at such low temperatures. well at least according to the poll sub 40F

[BobMs_wht2k2]

Get in, start it up, put the seat belt on, change radio station and back out of the warm garage. So less than 30 seconds and then take it easy until there's hot heat out of the vents.

[redbull_ng]

less then 30 sec.. it doesnt get under 65deg here.. and thats winter for you :-D

[exsailor]

I usually "start and go" but in the winter I look out of the window and, if there is frost on the cars, I use my remote starter and run for about 10mins (remembering to leave the ac on defrost and speed at 2 the night before) I also put on the emergency brake so that my daylight running lights don't come on with the car started.

[04GTboySC]

^ same here, i usually start and go but in the winter time if we hve frost which is rare i usually let the car warm up till its almost gone away i want to get remote start so bad

[Daan]

Usually less than a minute. Now if I could get the wife to quit blasting down the street at 40mph on a dead-cold engine...

It's actually illegal to let your car idle here if you're not in it. Something to do with the huge upswing of car theft in the winter...

[korai9989]

I'm upstate and I let mine idle until it levels off and the temp guage starts to move, that's usually good enough. I hate waiting though.

^and i never leave my car running without me being in it.

[evan938]

ive been having the issue, which a few people have also had, and attributed it to the fuel filter...on cold mornings, if i get in and go, it likes to shut down about 5 min into my trip. it takes about 3-4 minutes of sitting before it fires right back up, and i dont have trouble the rest of the day. lately ive been starting it, coming back in, brush my teeth, feed the cats, put socks/shoes on, and go back down, and it doesnt give me a problem

fuel filter may get replaced this weekend

[FadeToBlack]

I usually let mine idle for 5-10 minutes if it's cold out. If it's not cold, I just get in and go.

[babot]

I just let it idle until idling engine goes below 1krpm, and don't push it hard until the engine gets warm.