how long you guy warm your car for?

[f0rz4m0t0rsp0rtf4n]

Originally Posted by lymphomaniac

Two things that the display console (for the 2013's) needs is an analog temperature display and an analog fuel guage. Having the "cold engine" / "overheating engine" / "you're engine is so hot it's burning a ****ing hole in your wallet" indicators are not enough. Having pixelated boxes representing amount of fuel is unnerving, because there's no way to know if it's a true representation of the amount of fuel left (and relative to what?). I'd rather see a needle indicate where the system's temperature is at (in a relative sense) and another needle identify how much fuel is in my tank. [/rant]

Back to the OP's question: I don't idle it for that long unless I'm waiting for someone: either I'm waiting for someone to get to my car, or someone to get out of my way (I live in an apartment building where everyone has a common parking area). Under normal circumstances, usually I will idle for no more than 20 seconds, and then go easy on the engine until the blue dummy light turns off. I just completed the specified break-in period, but I'm trying not to go over 4k rpm until I reach about 5000km on my odometer.

got 2013 as well. wish there is a temp gauge indicator.

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[madkayaker]

Block heater FTW, and I live in GA where it only snows once every couple of years. I set a timer the night before so it comes on just long enough in advance for it to be warm. Instant warm air from the vents, and the oil temp gauge is starting to climb by the time I get out of the driveway. I hate hearing piston slap.

[Commander Keen]

I use the block heater whenever possible, year round. In any case, the car is moving within 30 seconds.

[Jeverill]

5 - 10 minutes

[bottles]

5 min or so

[PleiadesSTi]

3hrs with a brick on the accelerator pedal. Nothing like the sound of a subie engine bouncing off it's rev limiter for hours on end.

[skyrocket101]

I am warming up all of my subies until the arrow reaches the first mark. My 2003 Forester got 220K miles without any issues until I sold it last summer.

[WRXSteye20008]

With new pistons in the car and it being winter time I let it warm up to the second mark which is about 10 minutes.

[SubieSnacks02]

Originally Posted by PleiadesSTi

3hrs with a brick on the accelerator pedal. Nothing like the sound of a subie engine bouncing off it's rev limiter for hours on end.

Hahaha especially bright and early

[Horuku]

I wait for it to hit 1500 rpm before taking off, idk why I do it though ;P . Then I keep her under 3k until warmed up.

[albanhaj]

Once my car is heated inside and is nice and warm

[MrFine67]

Good 5 minutes, then keep under 3k rpm for a few miles

[silverboost0303]

I remote start it for about 5, then take off keeping the rpm's down as others have stated.

[tomacGTi]

Long enough for the piston slap and TO bearing squeak to go away. Then drive off like a sane human being.

Been in the low 20's in PA lately.

[ManualOverAuto]

Originally Posted by tomacGTi

Long enough for the piston slap to go away, Then drive off like a sane human being.

Been in the low 20's in PA lately.

My exact life.

I have a bad TOB too, lol.

To keep with the thread, I just bought a magnetic plug-in heater yesterday. For now I'm using it on the oil pan, just to see how it helps with cold-start cranking. It will also be able to stick to the block and act as a block heater if I want.

I used it on the oil pan this morning but I don't think I let it go long enough. Guess it needs over an hour.

[Ryuduo]

None. I just start my car and drive away at low RPMS (1-2.5k) until temp gauge is normal. THEN DRIVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT.

[MattTHEpainter]

Originally Posted by tomacGTi

Long enough for the piston slap and TO bearing squeak to go away. Then drive off like a sane human being.

Been in the low 20's in PA lately.

Haha exactly.

[08wrbrex]

Usually 5 min but lately its been 10-15 min because its been in the single digits

[Anubis80]

I am sure this has been covered in the thread, but based on some reading I did years ago one of the worst things you can do to a car is a cold start with long idle.

Example 1- let the car idle until its in normal op temp. Not a good idea.

Example 2- start car cold and move it and then shut off. Also read that is horrible to do. For example back out of garage to wash car.

The best thing you can do is start the car let it idle for 30-60 secs and then drive. The car is MUCH more efficient at warming up while driving vs sitting. Dont rev it up high of course but keep rpms low until operating temp is reached.

[luan87us]

Less than a minute since I park in a closed garage.

[ManualOverAuto]

Originally Posted by Anubis80

I am sure this has been covered in the thread, but based on some reading I did years ago one of the worst things you can do to a car is a cold start with long idle.

Example 1- let the car idle until its in normal op temp. Not a good idea.

Example 2- start car cold and move it and then shut off. Also read that is horrible to do. For example back out of garage to wash car.

The best thing you can do is start the car let it idle for 30-60 secs and then drive. The car is MUCH more efficient at warming up while driving vs sitting. Dont rev it up high of course but keep rpms low until operating temp is reached.

Unless you have piston slap......that **** changes everything.

[ManualOverAuto]

Kind of a follow up from my last comment:

Got to take advantage of my magnetic heater finally. Guess it takes atleast 2 hours to make a difference in heating the oil in the pan.

Starting a car from a completely cold start with warm oil is awesome. To my surprise, the car took about half as long to warm up as usual.

I bought the magnetic heater just for cold-starts this winter, to help with the thicker, cold oil. Turns out it could help with the piston slap as well. The quicker my pistons heat up and expand the better. This also means less time and gas spent letting my car idle to warm up.

[tibug]

Originally Posted by ManualOverAuto

Unless you have piston slap......that **** changes everything.

Why does piston slap change everything?

[ManualOverAuto]

Originally Posted by tibug

Why does piston slap change everything?

The 'wear' on your engine from driving while your pistons are slappin' away (still cold), out weights the 'wear' from letting your car idle too long to warm up.

Atleast for me. That's how I look at it.

Although, I'm sure some will disagree.

[tibug]

Originally Posted by ManualOverAuto

The 'wear' on your engine from driving while your pistons are slappin' away (still cold), out weights the 'wear' from letting your car idle too long to warm up.

Atleast for me. That's how I look at it.

Sounds fishy to me. I've never heard that Subaru piston slap was anything other than an annoyance with very minor effects on longevity. However, there is plenty of evidence that prolonged cold idle periods are quite bad for the vehicle.