Just wondering how long you all allow a cold engine to "warm-up" before starting to drive. I've known people who start driving as soon as the engine is running. At the other extreme, a neighbor used to come out, start his truck, go back inside for 10 or 20 minutes (!) and then come out and drive away. I once asked him if he had to do that to be able to drive and he said no, it's better to let the engine fully warm up before driving.

My opinion: I always let a cold engine idle for a little while before taking off. Even if it's been sitting in a 100F parking lot all day, I let it idle for at least 10 or 20 seconds. Not so much as to let it warm up, but to give the oil a chance to circulate. If I've just made a short stop, like when getting gas, I'll just start and go. If it's been sitting all night and it's below freezing, I'll let it idle maybe a minute before driving and then take it easy 'til it's warmed up.

Yes, no, sorta?

------------------
Danny
'98 F-150 Std., RC, SB, 4x2, 4.2L, 5-sp, 3.08, AC, speed control, rear slider
with Syntec engine oil, MTL trans fluid, Edelbrock shocks, 50 Series Flowmaster, K&N with airbox mod, electric radiator fan

 

Right on the money. What you do is exactly what I do. Letting a Later model Engine warn up for 10-20 minutes is either somone living in the old days or someone being overly ****..

------------------
99 F150 5.4 4x4 ORP 3.73 styleside deep wedgewood blue ..no mods (yet)

 

Even worse, idling an engine for that long directly after startup, might mean the top (camshafts & lifters) is running without proper lubrication for 20 minutes. bad idea!

I would rank it right next to racing a cold engine.

------------------
99 Black Lightning
Rhino liner
Superchip is in the mail !

 

In the owner's manual it says do not let the truck idle over 10 minutes. I've seen people start their truck and go to WOT all in about .5 seconds.. wow

------------------
J Randall
elktag1az@aol.com
Arizona F150 4x4 SC '97

 

I usualy start and let the idle speed drop to normal (on start-up it normaly runs up around 1200 then drops after 10-20 seconds) then drive away.
Jeff

------------------
1999 F150 Lariat
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield, VentVisors, Class III hitch, Ford molded mud guards, soft tonneau, factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty), tinted windows

 

During the summer I start it up and go in the winter I start it up let it idle while I scrape the frost of the windows before heading out.

[This message has been edited by hmustang (edited 08-18-1999).]