[Alberta's Child]

I always knew that the whole "warm up the car" thing was something of a myth, but the owner's manuals for my first vehicle with a fuel-injected engine had a recommendation that I've followed to this day. When I start a vehicle and it idles at about 1500 RPMs, I let it run until the idle drops below 1000 RPMs before driving it. In the summer this can take 15-20 seconds, while on very cold winter days this can take 4-5 minutes.

Does anyone out there know if this has any effect whatsoever on the operation of a vehicle?

[octex]

When I start a vehicle and it idles at about 1500 RPMs, I let it run until the idle drops below 1000 RPMs before driving it. In the summer this can take 15-20 seconds, while on very cold winter days this can take 4-5 minutes.
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I know I’m late to this thread, so most posters have moved on.

I have an ‘01 Impala with 3800 V6 engine and it idles near 700 RPM. If doing 60-70 on freeway it’s only around 1200 RPM. ...........What kind of a beast car do you have that idles at 1500 RPM???

I bought new ‘68 and ‘72 VW Beetles and was told each time that no warmup was required in cold weather. That turned out to be true, but I can’t figure out why.