How long do you guys let your cars warm up?

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dan

When I got my 87 300TD in NOV, I had to let it warm up for couple of minutes. Otherwise, it ran rough and made loud noise for the first mile or so.

After some cleaning and lots of TLC, now I drive it off as soon as the oil pressure pegs and this takes about one second after I crank it up. And I am talking about the mornings of the Michigan winter.

There should be a lot of factors affecting this improvement, but I think the three main ones are:

1. I am using Power Service additive in every tank (8 oz per fill up)

2. I am using a 10W-40 Castrol Syntec oil.

3. I have changed all fluids and filters.

I also live in Michigan and only wait until the diesel smooths out, about 15-30 seconds. I have noticed that this winter it takes longer than last. Maybe I need to clean the injectors. I have a block heater but don't use it.

I also have a block heater but do not use it.

Jack: Where in Michigan?

We have a few MB diesel drivers here in the greater Grand Rapids area.

"warming up" a diesel at idle takes forever. I usually let it idle for about 15 seconds and take it real easy on the accelerator until the oil has had a chance to thin out a bit.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Maybe I am doing my car some harm by letting it idle for at least 5 minutes, & often much longer before I take off in the morning. Although I am in Canada, here on the west coast, right on the ocean, we have winters like San Francisco - much better off than the rest of Canada. We very rarely get snow, and the temperature rarely dips below freezing. The mountains keep the "Pineapple Express" (tradewinds from Hawaii) staying here on the lower mainland of BC, however it does rain a lot here. (On Vancouver Island it is positively tropical compared to here) I start my car, go in the house & have a coffee (or finish off reading/posting to this group) and then go out to a toasty warm car that is not sluggish, like it has been when I do not let it warm up as thoroughly.
I use Mobil 1 Delvac Synth 5W30
I have heard of guys in colder climates elsewhere in Canada letting diesel MB's idle for hours without reporting ill effects. In fact, I know of a fellow in Manitoba (where it gets verrry cold in the winter, like 40 below) who just did not shut his 240d off from Nov. until mid March.
Has anyone heard exactly what problems may arise from prolonged idling? I knowthat it is not good for gassers.

Greg Webdale aka Ducati

When cold, I let mine warm up until the temp gauge moves off zero pegged. Just a habit.

JCD

I've never warmed any of my cars up beyond the time it takes them to idle smoothly and run in gear on the autos, including when I lived in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in the dead of winter.

Once you have oil flow, there is very little gained by extended idle other than heating the interior, and with a diesel, most times that takes forever as they engine isn't producing much heat.

If a diesel is running properly, extended idle won't hurt it, and they use very, very little fuel. If it is running poorly, you will get carboned up valves and rings, and running will get worse rapidly until you drive it hard for a while (as in a trip to Florida -- did wonders for the 300D!)

The only thing to watch is that you drive gently for the first mile or so if you don't warm the engine up -- oil flow is poor with dino oil, not much of a problem with synthetic, and you can cause exess wear on the bearings from low oil flow until the engine warms up.

My Volvo will be blowing heat from the heater within half a mile or so, and the temp guage will be moving unless it is below zero. The 220D and 300D take a little longer -- about 2 miles for the blower to come on in the 300D.

Unless you must blast up an interstate ramp right out of the drive at 80 mph, warmup isn't necessary. Won't hurt anything, though.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I have noticed a big difference since switching to the Shell Rotella synthetic 5W40. I used to have very sluggish throttle response during the first quarter to half mile or so; now I just have a slight improvement after a few miles of driving.

My idle seems much smoother, but the last time my car was in for an oil change my mechanic replaced the air filter mounting brackets. The combination has made my idle quieter, and I now have real power pulling out of my driveway on a 25 deg F day.

Before, with the 15W40 Delo 400, the engine really had to run for several miles until it got into its groove and began to get out of its own way.

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

I try to let the thing warm up for a minute or two in the morning. It helps with the power in the car. After I back out of the driveway I have a hill to go up. If it is cold, the car has NO power. I could almost walk faster than it accelerates. If the car is warmed up a bit though, it's no worries.

Only issues I've had this winter so far is the car rarely gets over 40 degrees driving in the city. If I get out on the highway it gets up to 80 degrees just fine. Hard to get good heat in those 15 degree mornings here in The Peoples Rebublic!

I'm sure I could use some good fuel supliments, but I can not find Redline ANYWHERE around here.

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The Duke
President
Raoul Duke Media LLC
95 Honda RS 125 (Sold)
87 Yamaha TZR 250
83 300SD (Gone)
92 Nissan Crapfinder (For Sale)
USGPRU #66
COMPoST #130

Try Walmart, they have both PowerService and the new Rotella fuel treatments. If you're fixed on Redline, check their website and/or call them and they will either tell you of a local outlet, or sell it to you direct.

JCD