Hi all:

I'm wondering how long folks "warm up" the engine before actually leaving the driveway.

This is one of my longstanding questions, and I've heard opinions ranging from big-rig drivers who idle for "at least" five minutes, to an elder family member who preached "never" warming an engine up, to Click & Clack who seem to say "it depends" and go off about warming the block unevenly. I've even called the local radio call-in (KCKK for those in Denver) who told me to idle for "at least two minutes" before driving.

So what do other people do? My '02 Golf seems happier with a minute or two of idle time, and the Merc won't move until at least two minutes in. Is this an easy way to make an engine last longer or does it cause more harm than good??

Thanks;
sga