Wait few seconds before driving on a cold engine?

masterboy123

Winters are about to start and I notice car engine is taking longer to get fully warmed up. Usually I avoid sudden acceleration while engine is cold and then drive more freely once engine is warmed up.

I am wondering if it's advisable to wait few seconds (say 30 seconds) before driving your car in the mornings?

Also i have seen the use of Block Heaters but not sure if it's used in Ireland?

Voodoomelon

Virtually all manufacturers recommend starting the car, stick on your seatbelt, put the car in gear and go. Nothing heats the engine up faster than driving.

denismc

Diesel engines have a glow plug that give the cylinders a little heat when cold, but that is just there to help starting the engine. There is a little symbol that comes on when it is active, looks like a pigs tail! It is always a good idea to allow this light to go out before starting the engine fully, especially in cold weather.

SEPT 23 1989

Keep the revs up until the heater heats up and the ice clears off the screen

jmreire

Starting up an engine ( especially in the winter ) and revving the *** out of it to warm it up quicker, is a sure fired guaranteed way to reduce it's life. I'm not saying that you should start it up, and have a coffee while its warming up. ( In some Countries ( Germany being one ) it's forbidden to have an internal combustion engine running while the vehicle is parked. I would always start the engine first thing, and let it run while putting on the seat belt, radio etc. 20/25 seconds max, then drive off, but not over rev it until it has warmed up a bit. When stopping it, especially after a long drive, likewise, I would let the engine tick over for even 15-20 secs before switching it off.

Eric Cartman

if it has a turbo you should be waiting 30 seconds anyway on startup to let oil get to it, as for driving, I always just take it handy and keep the revs low while the engines cold.

CJhaughey

Any engine will benefit from allowing oil pressure to build up before engaging gear and driving off, I start the car, fit seatbelt, check dash for warning lights, then wait 10 seconds and start driving.
Petrol engines do benefit from block heaters especially in the winter, it makes a big difference to economy and oil circulation.
Block Heaters aren't that expensive DEFA heaters start at about €60 and are very easy to fit.

challengemaster

If your car doesn't have adequate oil pressure during crank, the engine has problems.

rex-x

Eric Cartman wrote: »

if it has a turbo you should be waiting 30 seconds anyway on startup to let oil get to it, as for driving, I always just take it handy and keep the revs low while the engines cold.

Oil will be at the turbo before the starter finished turning, there is no need to wait.

Pkiernan

rex-x wrote: »

Oil will be at the turbo before the starter finished turning, there is no need to wait.

Exactly

masterboy123

It's a diesel C class automatic 2015 model, bluetec.

I have never come across that pig tail sign.

I don't think I have turbo on my car.

What I usually do is, start the car with Push Start button (even before sitting in the car), tuck the seat belt and then change to Reverse gear to get out from the drive way, finally switching auto gear to D. Basically 10 seconds from starting up engine to putting the car in Reverse gear.

Another thing, is it better to start the car in Drive mode, rather than Reversing? At present I just park straight into garage, and then reverse the car out.

My friends in Sweden have this block heaters fitted which heats up the oil within a minute in freezing cold weathers.

I am using Castrol Magnatec 5W30 C3 oil.

denismc wrote: »

Diesel engines have a glow plug that give the cylinders a little heat when cold, but that is just there to help starting the engine. There is a little symbol that comes on when it is active, looks like a pigs tail! It is always a good idea to allow this light to go out before starting the engine fully, especially in cold weather.

Gregor Samsa

masterboy123 wrote: »

It's a diesel C class automatic 2015 model, bluetec.

I have never come across that pig tail sign.

I don't think I have turbo on my car

On modern diesels, the glow plug light merely flashes for a split second when you're starting the car. On older ones, you used to have to turn the key to position 1, then wait for the light to go out before starting the car. On my two diesels (both 2010) it's instantaneous even in the depths of winter, so not something that has to be thought about.


I'm pretty sure you have a turbo.

fancy pigeon

I'd be the other way round. With turbo engines I let them idle varying amounts of time before I shut them off, driving dependent. Especially with the Z/406 which would have older style turbos (2x hybrids in the Z that are a pig to replace). Even the Avensis gets time to wind down after a run

When starting off from stone cold I just drive off, no hard acceleration until the car is well warmed up. Because I start mostly on deserted country roads this is easy to do

rex-x

masterboy123 wrote: »

I don't think I have turbo on my car.

There have been no diesel engines sold in Ireland since circa 2009 without a turbo, they just cant meet emissions without one so you have a turbo

masterboy123

Thanks for the picture. Yes, I have noticed this light today, it came up for less than a second when all other signs lit up as well.

It appears I have turbo as well, I didn't know that. I am somewhat poor in motors and been relying on my fella boardsies to seek info and help

Cheers

phutyle wrote: »

On modern diesels, the glow plug light merely flashes for a split second when you're starting the car. On older ones, you used to have to turn the key to position 1, then wait for the light to go out before starting the car. On my two diesels (both 2010) it's instantaneous even in the depths of winter, so not something that has to be thought about.


I'm pretty sure you have a turbo.

kirving

In a modern diesel, the glow plugs will be activated remotely when you unlock the car, and heat in very quickly, so you'll often miss the light unless you're very quick.

SBPhoto

I don't know about the Merc but the A6 won't start unless the selector is in P

masterboy123

Merc goes to P automatically when you turn off engine or even open the driver side door.

SBPhoto wrote: »

I don't know about the Merc but the A6 won't start unless the selector is in P

dense

Also a good idea to start an engine with the clutch engaged.


In fact some won't start now unless you do.

biko

Engines are designed to be started and driven normally immediately.
Don't rev higher than normal or wait longer than you normally would.

masterboy123

No clutch in auto car.

dense wrote: »

Also a good idea to start an engine with the clutch engaged.


In fact some won't start now unless you do.

Midnight_EG

masterboy123 wrote: »

No clutch pedal in auto car.

challengemaster

Midnight_EG wrote: »

No physical clutch either - torque converters used in autos. :pac:

Skylinehead

challengemaster wrote: »

No physical clutch either - torque converters used in autos. :pac:

...but then there's dual clutch autos too :pac: