|
|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Remote starters and their purpose.....
One of my freinds just invested in a remote starter for a 92 mazda protege. I told him that the engine does not warm up by sitting there and idling, it warms up much faster by driving the car. I dont see the purpose then in these remote starts? I think it is more harmful to the engine by letting it sit there idiling and also wastes gas.
Whats everyones opinion on this?
__________________
99 C43 98 S420 99 C230K 01 C240 |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
We have a remote start in the 'ol Mazda, more for convience than saving the engine.
There is one very good purpose for thsese devices. When having to park in very cold environments where a electrical plug-in for your block heater is not available, then units that use a cold-temp sensor can start your vehicle below certain ambient temps, and runt he car/truck for a specificed time, shut it down, and wait. This can mean the difference between start/no start in tough situations. Very common use for rig workers, pipeline workers, etc. And yes, driving it warms the engine must faster.
__________________
John Shellenberg 1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Wouldnt warming up by driving defeat the purpose of warming up in the first place? I thought the point is to allow the oil to reach the optimal tempereature before revving/putting any load on the engine.
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I live in Florida and have no real need of a remote starter. But I grew up in Missouri, and we used to get freezing rain, which resulted in as much as an inch of ice on the windshield.
The car is undriveable until you can see out the windshield. I recently sent my sister a remote starter (which also serves to unlick doors and such) because she has no garage and tells me that sometimes it takes 15 minuets of scraping to get the ice iff the windshield. Her locks get frozen as well. If she could start the car and let it run for 20 minutes, the ice will slide right off and the locks will unfreeze, and of course, you can open the car without the key. The thing cost $70 plus shipping from JC Whitney near Chicago, they sell mail order, and comes with a video on how to install it. She knows lots of mechanics so I don't think this will be a problem.
__________________
Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty 1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf) 1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda) "Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana" ---Marx (Groucho) |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Well I let the 126 run for about 2-5 minutes then drive off slowly. I only let it run longer if I leave it outside and it snows, so while I clean the car off it idles.
__________________
99 C43 98 S420 99 C230K 01 C240 |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
My coolant temperature doesn't come up to temp when it's -5F out. You really have to drive it a bit. I don't have remote start, so I just let it run a bit and drive it around the block a coupla times before really going anywhere.
Kuan |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
yes sometimes when its really cold I drive around some sidestreets before getting onto the freeway.
__________________
99 C43 98 S420 99 C230K 01 C240 |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
joE 1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh> "Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning" http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
James Bond uses the remote starter facility on his BMW 750i in Tomorrow Never Dies after he steals the GPS encoder from Elliot Carver's printing factory. Obviously, if you're in the espionage game, this is a must have.
__________________
JJ Rodger 2013 G350 Bluetec 1999 SL 500 1993 E300 diesel T 1990 190 |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I agree. The point is to warm up the engine a bit before you drive it so that there's minimal wear/tear of engine when the oil's still not regulated enough in below freezing tempratures.
Remote start does just that, but with the comfort of you being inside the house instead of freezing yourself on the ice-cold leather seats with no heat for the first 5 mintues |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
It's also helpful to idle for a few minutes if you are going to begin driving immediately at speeds in excess of 55mph. When I leave the seminary, the main road is a highway with a lot of traffic that is 55mph+. I tried driving once immediately after starting, and one cannot travel safely at high speeds while the engine is still cold. If I start and warm the car up for at least 5 minutes, it's much better. I love my remote starter.
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I've driven 70 mph on a cold engine before (after going skiing while the car was parked the whole day). The car didn't give any external clues that it was being abused, and still hasn't to this day. -Sam |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Thanks for your message. Your words "hammer it" tell the whole story! I could very easily ease up to 65-70mph without a problem, but when the two-lane highway is a busy one, one fears for their life if one leaves the starting block limping up to highway speed! I've met lots of good people here in Illinois, but the way people drive around here ... makes me hold onto the steering wheel with two hands! Take care- Michael.
__________________
+AMDG+ 2005 W203 Running as fast as I can to stay behind!! |
Bookmarks |
|
|