To warm-up or not to warm-up...

[IdahoRanger]

Start, back out of the garage, close garage and drive away. I don't care it it's 108 or -8 I just go but take it slow. By the time I'm out of the neighborhood it's full throttle.

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[Bravohook]

LOL... Yes I opted for the block heater in every car I've had in the last 30 years... it's a Minnesota thing.
With the 2019 Ranger, I also got a battery warmer. They do help.

boom you are set

 

[Frenchy]

I will state that modern vehicles have been designed to get upto operating temperature within the first 5 miles of driving. It doesnt always happen when stupid cold out, but it will get there.

As for using the remote start to warm the truck up because you would like a warm cab is just fine. If it wasnt ok then Ford would not offer the feature.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Ya'll worried about a damn truck, I have to warm up my own engine when I get out of bed. A lot of damn cursing and groaning and after about 5 minutes I can move around as normal.

 

[awd.nv]

Hope @P. A. Schilke chimes in: Was reading that starting the vehicle and letting warm up VS start driving directly is bad, in the long term, for the engine. Several reliable references confirmed this. saying that parts of the engine/trans could be starved of oil, thus accelerating wear.

As it has been -10 around here lately, I use remote start so it's warmer inside when I get in... not per sa to warm the engine to get the oil flowing before a load is put on it by driving.

Given that we use 5w-30 or even 0w-30 and the idle is 1200 to 1500 rpm till the catalytic converter is warmed up, I don't see where the oil starvation would come from.

Your thoughts...

I just read probably the same article yesterday or so, showed up on my google news feed. The way I always dealt with the topic was that if you didn't have time to warm up an engine, just go easy on her till she is warm. The main thing is making sure oil has been circulated before a load is placed on the engine. Historically you want the pistons to expand properly and other parts. Perhaps todays engines are tight enough that is isn't an issue like before (just look at our oils now).

With the Ranger I try to have it go into low idle at least before I take off so I usually remote start it before I step out the door.

I think the damage occurring when warming up an engine as stated in the article is sensationalized for clicks. There is a difference from not needing to warm the engine (and driving it easy as stated by the article) and damage from letting it warm up. If the oil isn't returning to the pan fast enough to cause essentially cavitation, there are bigger issues than letting it warm up too long.

The only thing I imagine is carbon build up from letting an engine idle for long periods of time. Which is also why I like getting on it when getting on the freeway. Otherwise I generally am pretty light footed with our vehicles.

At the end of the day, the only people that should be taken seriously are the engine design engineers/manufacturer so these are just my opinions.

 

[CB750F]

As Anthony said " I think the damage occurring when warming up an engine as stated in the article is sensationalized for clicks "

Synthetic oil is like water very liquid in winter, I think, not like 'real' oil.
Don't go WOT before the engine is fully warmed up*90f or 0f).
Just my internet belief.
Old habits die hard(again), I let it idle 1 or 2 mins before I go.

 

[OrangeStreak]

My old school OTC about warming up tells me to let the needle get to the 1st mark between C&H then drive slowly until completely warmed up

 

[mtsoxfan]

Maybe someone can create a wear graph, showing wear percentages of internal parts at various temps, loads, warm up time etc.
Since fuel injection, I warm for 30 secs or so and go. I have heat within a mile or so...

 

[AzScorpion]

Start, back out of the garage, close garage and drive away. I don't care it it's 108 or -8 I just go but take it slow. By the time I'm out of the neighborhood it's full throttle.

My OCD would never allow me to do that. lol Heck even letting it warm a few minutes it still sounds like a school bus for the first mile or two. ?

 

[IdahoRanger]

My OCD would never allow me to do that. lol Heck even letting it warm a few minutes it still sounds like a school bus for the first mile or two. ?

Oh, it's loud, people think I'm speeding down the street as the clutch fan roars.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

I'm staying out of this argument

 

[LT Dangle]

I remote mine almost every day (especially now, when its cold) because I want to be warm... but also because I currently have a very short commute so I want to made sure its running at normal temp before i have to shut it off again... good idea? ?‍ but it sounds good in my head.

 

[got3fords]

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-driving/should-you-warm-up-your-car-before-driving-a5580016349/

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I use the remote start every time I drive the truck. If it's warm out, it gets gets 30-120 seconds or so as I walk to it and get settled. If it's mild cold out, it gets 3-5 minutes to warm the oil/water and get things flowing smoothly. If it's proper cold, it will get 10-15 minutes depending on ice/snow accumulation on the windshield and potential for freezing once under way. If my windshield or wipers are frozen 1/4 mile down the road it's about visibility and safety, so warming is essential.

What really freaks people out is, if I am diving pretty hard in cold conditions, is that I will also use the remote start as a cool down feature after parking. I only do this for gradual cooling of the turbo, when I come in hot, like when I am late for work. I'll use the app in those situations and run it for 5 minutes to let the turbo come down gradually, then shut it down with the app remotely.

 

[airline tech]

I heard this years ago, but for me I will always let it warm up when its below freezing, just piece of mind that the oil is thinned some and flowing freely. I would rather do this than (oh crap) what's that noise (Lifter, Bearing) - But then again, this Ranger is my first new vehicle and I want it to last so I take care of it, I have had co-workers that start and 30 seconds later are pulling out.
My first vehicle with remote start, man it is GREAT not to have to scape frost/ice anymore when leaving work, this is my main reason for warming up the truck during colder weather in addition to getting the oil moving

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