It's starting to get colder here in Illinois, and I was just wondering how long a Z28 should be warmed up? I was reading the manual of a 2001 Crown Victoria and it said NOT to warm it up at all. I know it's a completely different motor, but do we really need to let our cars idle in the cold? I usually just let mine idle until I can defrost the windshield, but if it's not foggy, do I really have to warm it up? Thanks!

 

30 sec. to 1 min idle is long enough to get the oil flowing in the engine. That is what you need to do before you take off. Just no full throttles till engine has warmed up to proper opperating temp. I was told years ago that GM changed the manual to not warm up a car to alow them to post better MPG for the automobile.

 

I use Red Line 5w-30. I would imagine this will almost instantly get the parts lubed that need to be. I will let it warm up for a minute or so anyway, but I should be completely safe, right?

 

I try to let the car warm up until the piston slap goes away because I hate my car sounding like its knocking when I drive it. I probably shouldn't worry about it but who knows?

 

i let it warm up to its normal operating temp. about 3 min. the transmission seems fairly cranky unless the car has warmed up. although reverse seems to like the cold *shrug*. ive always been good about letting my vehicles warm up so its not a big deal for me to wait.

 

30 sec - 1 minute is usually fine. and yes, illinois is getting very cold. i dont even let my blazer warm up. talk about a bitch driving it. damn thing hates the cold.

 

30 seconds is about all I let mine site. Arizona really doesnt get cold during any time of the year though

 

I let mine warm up for about 30sec, that is just to get the oil flowing. Then I drive off and keep the RPMs under 2500 for 5 min or so, I usually never hammer it until after 10-15 min that way all the lubercants and parts are warmed up.

 

I won't let mine sit for more than a minute. Even if you wait ten minutes to let the engine warm up, you have done nothing to help the rest of the cars parts warm up in the drive line. So, when you think it is all warmed up and go and open her up right away you are going to do more damage to the driveline. Best to just start it up and let idle for a half minute or so then drive gentle for a few minutes so that everything can get warmed up. This is just the advice I have gotten from my friend who is a mechanic.

 

I would imagine it would be beneficial when the car gets to a higher milage, but I normally take off after a good 15 seconds or so getting comfortable, seat belt, etc.. I do not do any wide open throttle runs til the car is at around 170-180 minimum.. This does in fact help... as a matter of fact on alot of honda's (which alot rev from 6500-9k) there are rev limiters til the car becomes of operating temperature. I would call it safe measures to let the car warm up before driving period.. but I doubt it would be that detrimental unless you were performing WOT runs, or high rpm neutral rev's (4k+) soon as you turned the car on..