This was recommended by the dealer to improve gas mileage.

"Avoid idling to warm up an engine. Instead accelerate gently until your engine has reached operating temperature."

This is now the second time I've heard this. Is it now no longer necessary to warm up the engine?

 

Idle = engine wear plain and simple
in mornins get in start er up drive like Grandma taught u for first 1000 feet then drive like grandpaw does now peddle to the metal all they way

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Ordered 11/8/00
Build week of 11/27/00
Delivery Date 1/06/01
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XLT 2001 Supercrew
Arizona Beige
5.4
Tow Pk
Captain chairs
Bed Liner.
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Nothen` Dirty` Going` On`Here`

 

I start 'er up. Put on my seatbelt, push the button and wait for the garage door to close, take it easy for the couple of blocks out of my subdivision. Of course, I always baby my truck, no matter what the weather. I never stomp it.

 

Warmup hasn't been necessary since we did away with carburators; it's been a waste of time and fuel ever since. Keep the revs below 3K for first 5 minutes of running, especially when it's REALLY cold, and drive away as soon as the oil pressure comes up.

That said, if you hate getting into a REALLY cold truck, invest in engine block heater. It'll get the engine reasonably toasty, and get heater output in a fairly quick order. Just have to remember to plug the silly thing in overnight.

 

When the temperatures are cold..I still let it warm up for a few minutes before heading down the road. I also avoid heavy acceleration until the temperature needle is near its regular spot on the gauge.

I think it is more a matter of preference.

I have also heard to avoid long warm up periods as it is not necessary. Heavy acceleration on a cold engine is never a good idea.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with super engine cooling/auxiliary transmission cooling HD package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil, build 7/2000

 

Minimal warm up seems to be the ticket. Take it easy until the temp is at or close to the normal range. My truck takes a long time to warm up at idle. If the windows aren't bad, I can generate more heat in 2-3 minutes of easy driving than I can in 10 minutes at idle.

 

With combustion chamber temps well over 1000 degrees it doesn't take anywhere near 1-2 minutes to get the pistons and rings hot, just drive easy for the first block or two and all is good



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2001 x-cab 4x4

1993 Mustang LX hatchback, 10.46 @ 131.60

1997 Cobra for sale

 

Avoiding excessive idling to warm up an engine also helps cut down on fuel washed cylinders and fuel contaminated oil. The faster you warm up an engine the better, within reason. You don't want to be hammering it onto a freeway while the oil is still cold.

Best to drive around the neighborhood for a few minutes before hitting the freeway.

If you're only going to be driving on surface streets, don't worry about warming up the engine. Whenever your vehicle is driveable, that's warm enough to get moving.

 

I don't think you need to wait for the engine to warm up as much as you want time for the oil to circulate. These newfangled, computer controlled engines can be driven as soon as you start them. But I'd give a little time to let the oil start oozing into all the nooks and crannys. When it's below freezing, I'll let it idle for a little while, but prolly no more than a minute. And, as has been said, take is easy 'til the engine temp comes up to normal.

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Danny
'98 F-150 Std., RC, SB, 4x2, 4.2L, 5-sp, 3.08, AC, speed control, rear slider.
Mods: Mobil 1 engine oil, Red Line D4-ATF trans fluid, Edelbrock IAS shocks, 50 Series Flowmaster, K&N with airbox mod, Perma-Cool electric radiator fan, Superchip, ASP underdrive pulley

 

How about when it's -20F or colder?

 

Luckily, I have a couple of miles of low speed roads before I get to the highway each morning. There is another guy in my neighborhood with a F150 who drives slow when he leaves for work also. I saw him this morning a block back and I slowed even more showing that I baby truck more than him. He never gained on me. We looked like we were both in a funeral.
I've got to beat this guy somehow!

I'm thinking of getting a bumpersticker that says,

'I'M SLOWER THAN YOU'
'DON'T MAKE ME PROVE IT'

 

I agree with the minimal warm-up sentiment. That's what I practice. Of course you'll get better mileage... when sitting still you're getting 0.00 MPG!

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Y2K Oxford White XLT S.C., V6, Auto, FoMoCo Mud Flaps, Lund Bugflector, Tinted windows, Auxillary BU lights, 2x55W DRL, UNGO Keyless entry, FoMoCo/Duraliner bedliner

 

Thanks for all the usefull info guys.

Because it's new, I was babying it by idling it for 5-10 minutes every morning. My commute is ALL surface streets so the normal drive should be fine.

Good 'ole common sense.

Thanks again.

 

My understanding has been that the newer engines have MANY alloys. One part is made of one alloy/metal, while another is different. Two parts made of different metals that will expand at different rates! This can be detrimental if they are moving parts.

This was confirmed by a motorcycle dealership. Years ago, I bought a new Yamaha YZ125 racing bike. They told me to be carefull to warm it up for a while until all the parts had time to get hot and expand. Otherwise you might do serious damage.

I understand that a 5.4 is built totally different than a 125 cc 2 stroker!

Are not the pistons, rings, bock, heads, crank, cam, etc... Made of different materials? Will they not expand at different rates? If tolerances between moving parts are tighter these days, would that not cause some premature wear? Possibly?


Just my .02

I run it after 30 seconds to a minute at most!

[This message has been edited by Rand (edited 01-10-2001).]