Need to warm up engine in the morning?

dewsd SG

I'm driving a 2003 Mazda 323. Due to habit, I always start the engine and leave it to warm up until the temperature meter is on the halfway mark between C & H.

I was doing the same thing to my Suzuki Swift previously as well. Never had any problems with the Swift.

Now, I heard that new cars do not require such warming up. I'm not really sure if this is true.

For the Swift, I sent for servicing about every 6 months. (I think that's not very regular for a 6 year old car). As for my Mazda now, I service every 5,000 km.

So, any advice?
Need to warm up the engine?
Does the advice differ for a rainy morning?

Thanks
Laughing

[email protected] SG

actually, singapore's temp hardly drops too low, so i think its fine if u don't warm it up.

david3305 SG

It is advisable to warm up the car for at least a minute and drives slowly for the first 1km. This gives the engine oil and other mechanical parts to be sufficently lubricated. Do not ram the engine when you first start up.
Cheers!

snowtop SG

irregardless old/new car, i would advise to warm up the car till the RPM steady state i.e. between 1000-750. keep the aircon off when warming up the engine.

something i noticed @ carparks:

-> some cars are more sensitive to warming up engine in 1st drive after a long period @ parking, some don't. (my own experience.)

-> some owners prefer to vroom off immediately, some don't.

still depends on whether which is your preference & patience. Mr. Green

ditzy SG

No need lah, unless singapore experiences winter. Laughing

pqr SG

from what i know... last time the cars need to warm up b4 moving off...they also need to step on the accelerator as they start the engine right?

but nowadays modern cars need not warm up due to technology... you can start and driove off immediately.

But do not floor the accelerator, drive off slowly and steady for 1st km or longer and then u can ram up the engine...

Check your car manual to be sure.

ditzy SG

Because last time the cars use carburettors, not fuel injection. Then theres the tendency to "knock". Laughing

snowtop SG

yep! my old car uses carb. engine. Mr. Green

for the new car, maybe its not called 'warm up' but i felt the car engine is smoother if i let engine goes into 'steady rpm' state then move off.

carmour SG

Laughing New car no need to warm up la...
Just need to wait for the dashboard alert lights like "ABS" and "Air-Bag" to go off, then can move off liao.

Warming up new car is waste of fuel only.

rumie SG

Originally posted by carmour:
New car no need to warm up la...
Just need to wait for the dashboard alert lights like "ABS" and "Air-Bag" to go off, then can move off liao.

[b]Warming up new car is waste of fuel only.[/b]

x2

just move off slowly...

btw, i'm driving a 2002/12 Mazda 323 too, have been doing this non-warming action and there's no problem yet so far...

btw, ask you something, when you just started off your car and moving off INITIALLY the first thing of the day, do you feel that it's a bit sluggish especially when it tries to auto shift from the 1st to 2nd gear?

you ARE driving a auto, right???

carmour SG

I'm driving a Toyota Corolla.
I don't really think my start is sluggish. Perhaps also because I accelerate slowly.
Anyway, carpark how to go fast. Laughing

dewsd SG

Yep. It happens to me too. Only in the morning.
So I go easy on the accelerator and let the car pick up slowly (about 2000rpm)
After that short while, the rest of the journey is fine.

Sometimes I needed extra power to speed up a little. I shift the gear to "2". Is this bad for auto gears?

rumie SG

you mean shift to L2 mode and activiate the HOLD, right?

i do that too, dunno whether it's bad but heard that it is the correct thing to do especially when going up slope (and even going down slope to prevent the car from auto shifting to 3rd gear which can be dangerous... read from mag).

i guess if the rpm is maintained at 2000 to 3000+ rpm, should be ok and not taxing on the engine.

but sometimes, i do use the HOLD on D mode to maintain at 3rd gear and rev the rpm till about 4000, just to have that kick.. haha, dont try that too often, i guess...

Ghee SG

This warm up mean to let time for the oil to lubricate the parts.... not whether Spore got winter or not.....

Even with new technology, the oil still take sometime to flow to all part of the engine.... so it's advisable to wait for a while before moving off......

AE86tofu SG

actually no need warm up one…..drive slowly and shift very early for the 1st few mins then later can drive as per normal