How Long To Warm Up Engine In Below Freezing?

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phaeton - 05 Dec 2005 17:31 GMT

Hello. I have a 1999 Ranger with the 2.5L 4. While it has no trouble
at all starting and driving when the weather is 0 F or below, what sort
of 'warmup time' would you recommend before driving?

The manual says "warming the engine up for extended periods is not
necessary", but "extended periods" is pretty open for debate, and it
also doesn't say "*do* warm the engine for 5 minutes before driving in
below zero weather".

You guys are probably going to kick my a.s, but this morning I was late
for work and pulled it out of the driveway about 20 seconds after I saw
the oil pressure gauge come up. I went through the gears very gently
(have to double clutch each shift when it's this cold anyways) and
never gave it more than 1/4" of throttle, but nonetheless I was
cruising up to 55mph within a couple of miles.

That's still probably pretty dumb, huh? I'm probably just asking for a
blown headgasket/cracked head.....

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Advocate - 05 Dec 2005 18:07 GMT

> You guys are probably going to kick my a.s, but this morning I was late
> for work and pulled it out of the driveway about 20 seconds after I saw
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> That's still probably pretty dumb, huh? I'm probably just asking for a
> blown headgasket/cracked head.....

No it's not dumb. The rule of thumb is only warm it up long enough until you
can drive it away...You did fine today.

After you've driven it a couple of miles, the engine is pleanty warm to
drive at highway speeds.

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Mellowed - 05 Dec 2005 22:35 GMT

There is nothing wrong with what you did. All you have to do is be
gentle (don't rev) while driving for several miles.

: Hello. I have a 1999 Ranger with the 2.5L 4. While it has no trouble
: at all starting and driving when the weather is 0 F or below, what sort
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
: That's still probably pretty dumb, huh? I'm probably just asking for a
: blown headgasket/cracked head.....

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JohnR66 - 06 Dec 2005 02:49 GMT

> Hello. I have a 1999 Ranger with the 2.5L 4. While it has no trouble
> at all starting and driving when the weather is 0 F or below, what sort
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> That's still probably pretty dumb, huh? I'm probably just asking for a
> blown headgasket/cracked head.....

I give it 1 minute normally and add a nother one or two when it is below
32F. As the others said, take it easy until it warms up. When you start to
feel luke warm air from the vents, you can start normal driving. I'd still
take it easy because, I found I get 2 mpg more when I start off gently.
John

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pete - 07 Dec 2005 09:21 GMT

I wait until the revs taper off. Even then take it easy on the gas. It will
take more than a few miles for the oil to warm up. What I noticed on my Audi
when I had it is that when the heater started to put out lots of heat the
temp gauge for the oil was near the normal line. Also my truck sits for days
without being started so what I'll do because it has an automatic
transmission is to let it coast down the street that way all the fluids get
to circulate.

>> Hello. I have a 1999 Ranger with the 2.5L 4. While it has no trouble
>> at all starting and driving when the weather is 0 F or below, what sort
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> take it easy because, I found I get 2 mpg more when I start off gently.
> John

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phaeton - 08 Dec 2005 02:43 GMT

Too bad I don't have an oil temp gauge..

However, in the case of an automatic transmission, the torque converter
drives the pump, so any time that the engine is running, the
transmission is circulating oil. Eventually this will warm up the oil,
but iirc they (the transmissions, and the oil) are engineered so that
they level still stays within spec even at low temps.

Coasting down a hill without any clutches engaged is typically (depends
on transmission) no different than coasting down a hill in drive. The
clutches aren't full of oil, true, but there should (note: SHOULD) be
oil pressure feed from the pump to any bearings and/or moving parts
that matter. There is a little more splash-n-spray action with
clutches engaged, but in theory the transmission should be fine
nonetheless.

My $0.02 from transmission studies. Engines I'm a little less
knowledgeable about.

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Rowbotth - 08 Dec 2005 03:25 GMT

> I wait until the revs taper off. Even then take it easy on the gas. It will
> take more than a few miles for the oil to warm up. What I noticed on my Audi
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> > take it easy because, I found I get 2 mpg more when I start off gently.
> > John

Probably 2-3 minutes. If it gets too cold, you will have a block heater
which will help with oil movement.

If you wait until the cab temperature no longer has the sharp cold bite
to it, you are probably going to be OK.

H.

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