do i need to warm my car if using synthetic oil?

[ken zai]

just as the subject says?

myth or reality?
do i need to warm my car in cold temps. if using synthetic oil??

thanks

[autxr]

I don't care what oil is in my car, I start it, put my seatbelt on and then go. Makes no difference to me. I've never had an engine die on me, all the "old" cars have easily gotten over 100,000 miles with this treatment.

Scott

[ken zai]

ok thanks..
but why do soo many ppl warm up their car in cold weather..like freezing...temps?
there must be a logical reason?

and dont say..cuz they are stupid.

[choski30]

Probably to get the frost off their windshield

[ken zai]

dont think so :)

[leadfoot]

I kinda doubt anything bad'll really happen. . . but a frozen glass will shatter if you put hot liquid in it. Perhaps it stresses out the engine more. But most times, I don't have the time to warm my car up. *shrug* Oh well . . .

[oodolbyoo]

Warming you car up for more than one minute is actually bad for it. Yes, the engine is warmed up, but not your transmission or or other non-engine working components. Alot of people let there cars warm up for like a few minutes and figure its ok to drive it hard because its "warmed up", when the only thing that is warm is the engine not the rest of the cars components. Letting your car warm up for excessive amounts of time before initially driving it can causes condensation that can lead to problems down the road. The best way to warm up a car is to drive it. After the first mile your good to go.

I heard this guy from Motor Week talking about this. Pat Goss...guy knows his S****

[cbr600drm]

It takes a few seconds at least(longer in cold weather) for the oil which has drained down to the oil pan over night to resirculate and lube up the pistons and everything else. As long as you drive the car enough to get it up to full operating temp it will burn off the condensation.

[VZV21]

Back in the carburated days, this was necessary.

Now with fuel injetion, start the car, wait a few moments, then go. Drive gently and the car will warm up faster than having it sit at idle.

[Personafied]

I warm it up so it will be warm and cozy when I get in it.....

[Kit99bar]

the best way to warm you car up is to just straight up start driving it and keep the revs low util the temp gauge is in the mid way point.
idle warm up isnt' bad, but not necessary

hey comon, Autxr does it and imho that guy is pretty dang smart

[Modern Angel]

Yup.. just start up your car, wait about 30 seconds and than go.. try not to rev much higher than like 3K RPM's until your engine is fully heated up though since it takes awhile for oil to fully lubricate your engine.. and it also take some time for your tranny fluid to get nice and warmed up as well.

I know that on Honda engines with VTEC, the ECU won't even let you engage VTEC until the engine is properly warmed up.

This advice holds true for anytime of the year, not just the winter.

[WillyK]

Originally posted by Personafied
I warm it up so it will be warm and cozy when I get in it.....

Same here. When it is freezing outside I wanna be nice and warm when I get in the car to drive.

[Modern Angel]

Originally posted by WillyK


Same here. When it is freezing outside I wanna be nice and warm when I get in the car to drive.

It's actually not that good for your car to let it just sit and idle for long periods of time since the oil is not able to sufficiently lubricate your engine while at idle.. Which is why it's better to just get in your car and go - but keep the revs low until the car heats up - than to just let your car sit and warm up.

On a cold morning after not being driven all night your oil is just sitting down in your oil pan and just running at idle is not enough to pull it all up and around your engine.