To Idle or not to Idle, that is the ?

[George2615]

Only time I let it idle is if there is ice or snow on the windshield. Sometimes I use the remote start then get dressed and go out and scrape or brush it off then hop in and go. The remote start only lets it run for 10 minutes then shuts off so the that is the most idle time it gets before moving.

 

[MossRoad]

Or you lock the doors and keep a separate remote to unlock the doors with that way somebody can't just open the door and walk off with it.

Aaron Z

Or, you get one of these and put your ignition key on one end and your other keys on the other (that show's how old my truck is; two different keys), or if its single key, just a duplicate for the door lock, and you're good to go. I have this for my 93 Suburban. Our 2013 Impala has remote start, so no key needed.

 

[BoylermanCT]

So if idling your car at startup is so bad for it, why did GM include a remote starter on my car? I use it almost every day. I have a detached garage, so when I walk out the front door, I hit the remote starter. This lets the car run for 30 seconds before I put it in gear and go. If it is bad for the engine, I would think GM would shorten the warranty on cars with a remote starter. Same 6 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty as those without the remote starter. Yes, I realize I don't get any MPG for those 30 seconds, but my car makes up for it by shutting off the engine at stop lights and such. Start Stop technology works really well.

 

[MossRoad]

Geezers.... in winter, we started our 2000 Impala with one key, locked the doors and let it idle for as long as it took to clear the windows, then went out and drove away. We got rid of it at 186,000 miles two years ago and its still running fine for the lady that bought it. Now I realize that car did not have direct injection, it was throttle body.

'93 Suburban gets the same treatment when its cold and icy.

Our 2013 Impala is GDI. It has remote start. If we have to leave it outside and it gets frost or ice or snow, we start it and let it run, sometimes until it shuts itself off after 10 minutes. Now I realize that someone's going to bring up the valve coking issue because the fuel doesn't hit the back of the valves to clear off any oil that gets past the PCV system, etc........... I'll let you know when it becomes a problem.... 80K miles on it so far.

Its nice to run from a warm house out into the cold and jump into a warm car.

 

[cqaigy2]

Doesn't get very cold very often around here. I start the car, grab the ice scraper and clean all the windows, then get in and drive. Sometimes my breath freeze on the inside of the window, and needs to be scraped off. Love the heated seats.

 

[oldballs]

Must be nice to have heated seats. My truck idles a bit longer since I have to scrape my butt too.

 

[ClaySlayer]

Do not idle a direct injected motor with a high pressure fuel system. It will do just like your friend said. If it's port, heui, common rail, etc..Idle away.

Uh...common rail is a form of high pressure direct injection...is it not? So what causes the fuel to get past the rings and what's different about idling vs running that would change that?

 

[ClaySlayer]

So if idling your car at startup is so bad for it, why did GM include a remote starter on my car? I use it almost every day. I have a detached garage, so when I walk out the front door, I hit the remote starter. This lets the car run for 30 seconds before I put it in gear and go. If it is bad for the engine, I would think GM would shorten the warranty on cars with a remote starter. Same 6 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty as those without the remote starter. Yes, I realize I don't get any MPG for those 30 seconds, but my car makes up for it by shutting off the engine at stop lights and such. Start Stop technology works really well.

Only reasons I saw on the news story was theft or pollution related. Nothing about the engine itself. Sheep everywhere man....every freaking where that take this garbage hook, line, and sinker...

 

[Snobdds]

Uh...common rail is a form of high pressure direct injection...is it not? So what causes the fuel to get past the rings and what's different about idling vs running that would change that?

You're absolutely right, I should have clarified. Do not idle a direct injected NON mechanical motor with a high pressure fuel system.

Furthermore, it should be understood, idling is impossible to avoid. I'm talking excessive idling where the engine has no load and therefore "cool" for and an abnormally long time. A diesel needs heat to expand those rings and prevent washout.

Then there are the emissions systems, but we'll save that for later.

 

[Copperhead]

And I think that boils it down... the greenie crowd doesn't like idling vehicles and thieves like to run off with idling vehicles. I just don't see any appreciable benefit, for my situation, to do it but only in very rare circumstances. Winter or summer, vehicle gets started and backed out of garage. About 30 seconds of running to make sure oil has gotten into every little gallery and bearing. Then head down the road. I might use the Onstar app remote start about 2-3 times a year at most. Haven't used it at all this winter.

 

[Soundguy]

Or you lock the doors and keep a separate remote to unlock the doors with that way somebody can't just open the door and walk off with it.

Aaron Z

On my fords anyway, the factor keyless entry FOB won't lock / unlock the door when the vehicle is running. If the vehicle has the number pad on the side of the door, that WILL work however.

On my old 99F350, the lock cyl is loose, and you can simply start it and pull the keys out. lock the door. FOB still won't work.. but the key will unlock the door.

On the wifes 2014 ford, it didn't have keyless entry as an option, so we added it aftermarket.. it's FOB WILL unlock the door with the engine running.

 

[aczlan]

On my fords anyway, the factor keyless entry FOB won't lock / unlock the door when the vehicle is running. If the vehicle has the number pad on the side of the door, that WILL work however.
On my old 99F350, the lock cyl is loose, and you can simply start it and pull the keys out. lock the door. FOB still won't work.. but the key will unlock the door.
On the wifes 2014 ford, it didn't have keyless entry as an option, so we added it aftermarket.. it's FOB WILL unlock the door with the engine running.

I will have to play with that. IIRC, the wife's Yukon lets you lock/unlock with a keyfob with the engine running. I will have to check with my 2008 Taurus X and see what it does.

Aaron Z

 

[dragoneggs]

On my fords anyway, the factor keyless entry FOB won't lock / unlock the door when the vehicle is running. If the vehicle has the number pad on the side of the door, that WILL work however.

On my old 99F350, the lock cyl is loose, and you can simply start it and pull the keys out. lock the door. FOB still won't work.. but the key will unlock the door.

On the wifes 2014 ford, it didn't have keyless entry as an option, so we added it aftermarket.. it's FOB WILL unlock the door with the engine running.

I have keyless entry on my 2006 F150. Never have used it and couldn't if I wanted to... I suppose the code is in my glove compartment somewhere.

 

[aczlan]

I will have to play with that. IIRC, the wife's Yukon lets you lock/unlock with a keyfob with the engine running. I will have to check with my 2008 Taurus X and see what it does.

Aaron Z

I checked and my 2008 Taurus X will let me lock and unlock the doors with the remote while the engine is running.

Aaron Z

 

[Oldpath05]

Uh...common rail is a form of high pressure direct injection...is it not? So what causes the fuel to get past the rings and what's different about idling vs running that would change that?

That's what I dont get either and I thought fuel systems were computerised anyways so the motor ALWAYS gets the exact right amount of fuel, no more no less.

 

[Oldpath05]

Now I'm at Walmart waiting for the wife to come out, it's 7pm, single digits, long check out lines, I gave my socks to her to buy so I can go out to my 04 jeep Liberty, start it up, turn heat on and let it run, idling, and thinking OH NO, after reading this thread, I'm ruining my engine, all that extra gas running down my cylinder walls, diluting the oil and worst of all making the news people and environmentalist upset, one plus for electric vehicles.

 

[Snobdds]

That's what I dont get either and I thought fuel systems were computerised anyways so the motor ALWAYS gets the exact right amount of fuel, no more no less.

Computerized fuel delivery systems do put the right amount of fuel for the load it senses. However, if there is no load or heat being generated, the rings in the motor are not sealing as well as they should be. Then you get washout and oil dilution.

Case in point. The Ford 6.4 powerstoroke. Although the regen cycle contributed to some of the oil dilution with fuel, it can't all be contributed to it. The oil is trashed in 3000 miles because it has so much fuel in it.

 

[lilranch2001]

Must be nice to have heated seats. My truck idles a bit longer since I have to scrape my butt too.

If you wipe before it gets crusty you do not need to scrape....
Just sayin

 

[pmsmechanic]

Uh...common rail is a form of high pressure direct injection...is it not? So what causes the fuel to get past the rings and what's different about idling vs running that would change that?

All newer FI engines inject fuel at higher pressures to make smaller fuel droplets. Smaller droplets burn more completely and quicker. That all being said, you still need a hot engine to burn all the fuel in a droplet. The fuel that doesn't burn (gas or diesel) when an engine is idling runs down the cylinder walls and dilutes the oil. Oil is a lubricant. Fuel is not a lubricant.

This is why most newer engines also have longer oil change intervals. Smaller droplets = better combustion = less oil contamination.

 

[Btown]

All newer FI engines inject fuel at higher pressures to make smaller fuel droplets. Smaller droplets burn more completely and quicker. That all being said, you still need a hot engine to burn all the fuel in a droplet. The fuel that doesn't burn (gas or diesel) when an engine is idling runs down the cylinder walls and dilutes the oil. Oil is a lubricant. Fuel is not a lubricant.

This is why most newer engines also have longer oil change intervals. Smaller droplets = better combustion = less oil contamination.

Diesel fuel is not a engine lubricant, but it is a lubricant for high pressure fuel pumps. Put a little gas in a newer diesel with a hpfp and see what happens. That fuel pump will grenade due to lack of lubrication. VW had a huge issue with this. Poor quality fuel can also be to blame. There there are lubrication standards that have to be met with diesel fuel. But yes it will not lubricate your engine parts well.