I just start it and drive. Keep the RPM's below about 3500-4000 RPM for the first few minutes, etc. The blue cold light indicates coolant temperature which flows about the same at 33 degrees as it does at 130+ degrees when that light goes out. When the C light goes out, the oil is still nowhere near operating temp, so you'd need to wait quite a bit longer for the oil to be up to temp.

On occasion I do start it so it will warm up in order to ease scraping ice off the windows or I want the car to be warm immediately when I get in. Neither of those are for the good of the car, though, as I acknowledge that I'm just wasting gas, polluting a bit, and taking a risk that someone could break the window and drive off with an idling car.

 

I'm always late for work, so I just start and go. The car is parked in a garage, so it isn't that bad. When road conditions are bad, as in icy roads, I used to let my old 84 Accord warm up a bit longer so the engine isn't revving so high at idle. The Accord was left outside and in cold weather it idled quite high. Putting it into drive was scary at times if I left without warming her up a bit.

The Fit doesn't idle nearly as high as the Accord (non fuel injected) did.

 

I assume if you're at a traffic light it doesn't count.
WOW if only there was a law like that in the States. Then again, lawmakers are just as wasteful as the average Joe too.

I'm tired of seeing people sitting in their car on a beautiful day (high 50s, 60s, low 70s degree F weather) idling in a parking lot for 5 or 10 minutes at a time and hearing their A/C compressors go on and off (or lack thereof even).


Oh and I hope the ignorance on this engine "warm-up" matter is over. The engine warms up faster once it's moving! GET IN, START ENGINE, DRIVE!!! NO WAITING BS...assuming you don't live in the Arctic.

 

It is illegal to idle your car in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Unless you're at a stop light, of course. I've never heard of it being enforced. Not that it's newsworthy.

 

I never warm up my car, I just don't over rev it until the blue light goes away.

 

LOL, no I don't think so

Well, it's not exactly one of those laws that is actually enforced, but it does send a signal... or something I kind of hate laws that are "un-enforcable" or simply not enforced - kind of defeats the purpose of a law...

 

thhhhiiiiiissssssssssss

 

I usually just let it idle for about 15 secs or so and then just take it slow till the light turns off. By the time I hit the on ramp to the highway the light is off (I'm lucky, I live about 100 yards from the on ramp to my highway ) and Im on my way!

 

VA banned thongs being shown. for real.

 

Same as the others, I keep the engine purring below 2500 RPM for the first 5 minutes.

I notice the sound of the engine's a little rougher when puttering about after a cold start. I hear this when I drive around with the radio off. By the time I get to the highway though, it's smooth sailing.

 

I crank it up and start slowly moving. It is mostly down hill on a dirt road for the first 1/2 mile with a very short steep section at the mid way point which is the only time I use the accelerator, coasting the majority of the way in 1St..... The light is off by the time I reach pavement and I lightly use the accelerator in 3Rd or 4Th until I have driven about 1 mile or so..... When I first drive off idling in 1St. at about 1500 RPM the engine speed is is slowing the car as it would when down shifted to slow down.

 

When I'm leaving in the morning I take secondary streets through my neighborhood and keep the revs between 2-3k rpms. Warms up really quickly this way. I need to get my car warmed up as quick as possible as I only drive 2.5 miles to work.

 

what he said.

 

I've noticed that auto transmissions are designed to shift late when the engine is cold, and I assume that this is because it's not good to require a lot of torque from an engine when it's cold. So with my gearbox I let the engine idle for about a minute after a very cold start just to let the oil pressure build and then I begin to drive, keeping the revs relatively high by shifting later than usual and all the while taking care not to give it too much gas.

 

The fit already runs pretty thin oil so we should be fine. In larger 6 & 8 cyl engines running 10w40 Id say let it warm up.

All this talk about idling poluting and consuming extra gas is really weak though. It makes me wish I would have bought a hummer. not the h2 or h3 either the actual h1 hummer.

 

I agree with the first part about letting the car warm up. the fit should be plenty warm enough to drive in 10-15 seconds after start in cooler weather and 30 seconds or so in cold weather.

As for Idling, Polluting and Consuming... Being responsible isn't "weak" but the smart thing to do to. Preventing pollution and saving fuel when possible is the right thing to do and not because of global warming, etc... Not polluting so that my 3 yr old son's developing lungs have less CO to breath is the right thing to do. Saving Money by not burning fuel is a side benefit and that can be used to purchase other things. (but not those Chinese Hummers)

~SB

 

In the old days prior to electronic fuel injection I would disable the automatic choke to prevent fuel dilution of the oil and let the engine idle with a little help from the throttle before driving off... Even after doing so I would drive slowly at first to allow the transmission and differential time to circulate and warm a bit before driving at normal speed.

 

LIke everyone says, just be gentle until the blue light goes out.

The only car I know of that REALLY needs to be warmed up is some of the Mazda rotaries. This is because the rotor chamber heats up unevenly and it won't be the correct shape when it's cold.

For a regular car, just drive it. Fuel injection means that the old stalling/rough running people used to get when the engine is cold are behind us. If you use the correct oil, it will be all through the engine before you can put the car in gear.

 

No worries I'm sure your son will be fine. He isn't breathing a fraction of the carbon monoxide that you did when your parents drove you in their car.

 

Probably Right. I grew up in NJ and he's growing up in VT. But all of my car trips were in VW Buses so the engine was behind us and nothing came in the vents. First Bus took Regular and not unleaded.

That said, for my boy, the less the better... current rates are too much in my opinion.

~SB