Why should you always drive off after starting you car...?
 

Just wondering....

It says in every car manual I've ever had that you shouldn't leave your car idling after you've started, you should drive straight off...

Cinders.

It gets warmer quicker and gets off the choke quicker.
Less bore washing and saves you fuel, it's a win win.

Dipster

Whats bore washing?....

I was having an debate with a lad at work as I said it's best to drive straight off and not to idle your car (as it says in the manual) and he says it's ok to leave it idling.

Does leaving your car idling at startup damage it in any way?...

Thanks,
Cinders.

Oil being washed off the bores by excess petrol in the mixture.
Not sure how relevant it is now days.

Dipster

Given the petrol smell from de-catted Scoobies after a cold start I'd say it could be a factor.

Probably best to just drive off, as the tramsission oil won't heat up when standing still. I doubt letting it idle for a few mins does any harm, but I'd guess it's not a substitute for driving it gently to warm it up.

Regards,

mmm ive always wondered about this??

hi all - first post!

oil pressure is very low on idle. not sure about scoobies but generally below 1bar compared to 4 or 5 bar at 2k+ - this isn't good when your engine is cold, as this is the time your engine needs maximum lubrication.

also, i doubt it'd be running rich enough for washing anyway.

hi m8, welcome to the mad house :)

Dipster

On my MY00, during the cold spell, I've taken to waiting until the water needle is level with the first marker on the dash instruments. This takes about 2 mins or a little longer when very cold.

If I'm in a hurry what I'll tend to do is give it about 30 seconds and then drive in 1st until out of our little estate so its running at 2-2.5K and this warms it up quicker.

If it is potentially damaging to leave the car idle when cold, then driving in 1st gear for a short distance and obviously low speed is maybe better for the car?

A lot of modern cars during the warm up period inject a lot more fuel to act like a choke! If you let the car idle from cold as was said above the bores will be washed clean of vital lubricant! Also some fecker might drive off in your beloved scoob whilst your inside keeping warm!!!!
dave

My car runs much easier after 2-3 mins of idling.

It's a grumpy cow in the mornings anyway :)

I don't really have alot of choice - I drive a few hundred yards to the bottom of my road and join a stationery line of traffic - where the car sits at idle speed!!!:freak3:

:lol1: FPMSL at the thought of people starting their car, reversing out of the garage as quick as they can, leaping out of the car, running to close the garage door and sprinting back to the drivers side. Jumping in and frantically putting on the seat belt, just to get moving incase they are damaging their engine :lol1:

LOL@GM. Brings visions of the old style Le Mans Starts...

Have you been watching me mate????:D:D
dave

:lol: Amongst others :D

Thats what I do :D

Oi - You been seeing my missus :D

There is on some cars some self-calibrating things on the ECU - these can need a short period (several seconds, definitely not minutes) to properly initialise. Where this is the case, 5-10 seconds of idling before touching the throttle or anything may be beneficial.

Gentle driving is the best, but i thought you couldn't drive a turbo charged car until the turbo had warmed up or am i being stupid. I have a sport which doesn't get driven past 3k until its warm. Saying that if a turbo car is driven to the same extent you would be driving in the"zone" before it was all working as it should be and at the right temp. Yet what do i know?? The only thing i really do know is that if you thrash a cold engine it gets f****d, because the lubrication hasnt been around the engine enough.