Cold weather starting and idleing?

[George2615]

I don't know how you're supposed to drive safely when your windshield is frozen over and you have no defrosters because your engine is cold. I think whoever wrote that article never drove in winter weather.

In the 5-8 min. it takes to scrape the ice and snow my defrosters are putting out enough heat to defrost the windows and take off. The 10 min. warmup is better for me.

 

[two_bit_score]

I never leave it running long but I like to let it warm up.

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[tcreeley]

I plug my tractor in all the time during the winter. The engine may be warm, but the hydraulic oil is cold. Letting it warm up heats thatoil and puts less stress on the engine trying to push that around. My pick up runs needs less warm up time, but on the 5F and colder days, does better with some warm up.

 

[Looking4new]

The link didn't work for me, but I'm a warmer upper my self and don't see how warming a vehicle up would hurt a thing but the "greenie's" imagination. Tractors & other basically hydraulic machines I give an easy 15-20 min. in the real cold. I just picture a .10 cent o ring, of which there are many, hard as a rock failing in the cold. How many internal plastic parts are in today's machines & vehicles? You know what plastic does in the cold!

Thanks George, but I'm stickin to my warm up. There's a whole lot more than just the cyl. walls to be concerned with, at least in my little brain My pickup is closing in on 7000 hours. Oil & filter changes only, but prolly 100 hours of warm up time:laughing:

I plug my tractor in all the time during the winter. The engine may be warm, but the hydraulic oil is cold. Letting it warm up heats thatoil and puts less stress on the engine trying to push that around. My pick up runs needs less warm up time, but on the 5F and colder days, does better with some warm up.

I don't care what the greenies have to say about warm ups. I can't afford to replace a $30,000.oo tractor or a $18,000.oo Jeep just because some tree hugging bozo thinks that I shouldn't warm my vehicle up in the cold winter.
Summertime is a totally different story. Summer I start, oil pressure gets up and I am gone. The air conditioning will catch up sooner or later.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I did not read the article nor will I change my MO. If the vehicle is outside and the glass is not frosted over, I start the engine, let the guages settle then proceed without excessively reving the engine. If the glass is frosted over then I let the engine idle until the defroster has melted the glaze off enough to drive safely. I have scratched the glass on more than one vehicle trying to clear the glass enough to drive safely.

Perhaps the article was written by one of those drivers that you see peering out of a little clearing while the rest of the vehicle is still covered in snow?

 

[Bladehauler]

On my truck engine (16 liter Cat ) when its below freezing I let it run for about a half hour before taking off with a load , course if its below 0 it runs all night to keep me warm , Im thinking that article was written by someone dealing with those brutal L.A winters .

 

[94BULLITT]

I only let it warm up a couple minutes then drive easy til it is warmed up.

 

[devildog1]

Yep I warm up everything I use in winter. My L3540 is plugged into a battery tender in un-heated garage , I have a block heater if it gets anywhere around 0 or below which I use for about 1/2 hour before start up. My new Denali spends it's winter night in same garage as tractor and i start it up and usually drive on my way. For when it's out side and the weather is cold(0) I use the re-mote starter for a 5 to 10 minute before I take off. This has worked well for me with all my different gas or diesel trucks and tractors. I tend to agree with most here that the writer of article has no real experience with the cold North East winters which we have, so far we had only one or two days below zero.
DevilDog

 

[Thomas]

I read it but I will stay w/letting warm up.
Think there would be more strain on oils flowing freely on quick start moving 35+ mph below freezing and than some.

 

[MF283]

I don't start anything & throw it into gear, regardless of the time of year, winter is longer & summer i allow time for fluids to move(normal idle) before taking off.

Ronnie