Do you warm up your car (let it idle) before driving it on cold days?

[RottenWillow]

which was the point of the thread -- driving off with less hydros coming out of the tailpipe vs all of the hydros that escaped while your car was idling there.

But anyways, with turbo's, does anyone reccomend a cool down period? All of the farm equip we used to run had big ass yellow stickers warning you to do a 2 minute idle to ensure proper lubrication. I've never heard this about cars.

Since we're talking about emissions, you think those super concentrated fuel system cleaners are bogus? Thought of that both b/c I just put one in and also b/c if they do actually clear out deposits the emissions are gonna spike for several hundred miles.

 

[chris302001]

Since we're talking about emissions, you think those super concentrated fuel system cleaners are bogus? Thought of that both b/c I just put one in and also b/c if they do actually clear out deposits the emissions are gonna spike for several hundred miles.

i dunno. I had a check engine light come on once, I read that valve deposits are a common cause of a light to come on so I threw a bottle of FSC in the tank and the light went away.

Do you mean that the detergent itself would raise emissions by being burnt off or a cleaner system would cause a spike in emissions?

 

[hesnobradpitt]

Yep i let it run , i hate a cold seat and car .

On the emission thing i have a classic Vett that i dont drive often i got a emissions test notice so i drove it about 1 mile to test station and it failed , i drove it straight to my mechanic and asked why coz i have spent bank to restore it perfect , he said coz the carbon didnt have time to burn out after siting for 6 months in my shop , i drove it back to the test station and it passed , so it was a lesson learnt for me .


Brad.

 

[Mr. dB]

i was more interested what everyone thought about the emissions produced by idling for 10 min plus driving vs 4 min or so of driving a cold engine. I think the idled car would still make fewer unburned hydrocarbons and was curious as to what everyone else might think, but nobody is saying anything about it.

I don't know about emissions, but you'll use more fuel if you let it idle, if the trip computer in my car is to be believed. Idle for ten minutes and the economy calculations for that trip will be shot to hell.

I bet there's at least a loose correlation between total fuel used, and total emissions produced.

 

[chris302001]

I don't know about emissions, but you'll use more fuel if you let it idle, if the trip computer in my car is to be believed. Idle for ten minutes and the economy calculations for that trip will be shot to hell.

I bet there's at least a loose correlation between total fuel used, and total emissions produced.

But when your car is cold its emissions are more like a 68 Caddy than a late model GTi. So I would imagine a much more open throttle for 5 min would produce much greater emissions than idling for 10 min. I could be completely wrong though.

This calls for the mythbusters!!!!

 

[mustang_00]

my news said warming up your vehicle (unless the windows are iced over) is illegal and you can get fined. hahaha i seriously had no idea of that stupid law and have been doing it since i've drove. go hemp

 

[Mr. dB]

But when your car is cold its emissions are more like a 68 Caddy than a late model GTi. So I would imagine a much more open throttle for 5 min would produce much greater emissions than idling for 10 min. I could be completely wrong though.

This calls for the mythbusters!!!!

Idling for 10 min plus the 5 minute journey? I doubt it.

 

[RottenWillow]

i dunno. I had a check engine light come on once, I read that valve deposits are a common cause of a light to come on so I threw a bottle of FSC in the tank and the light went away.

Do you mean that the detergent itself would raise emissions by being burnt off or a cleaner system would cause a spike in emissions?

If indeed it is acting as a solvent for accumulated deposits, as they break loose and get combusted your emissions should significantly rise, at least as long as it takes the vehicle to burn that tank of gas.

I know for certain that products like Sea Foam and Deep Creep massively increase emissions for several minutes as they act as powerful solvents for carbon. The fuel system cleaner stuff I just aint sure about. Always struck me as sorta snake oil products maybe.

 

[binö]

yea i'm big on the AM idle, esp to get the frost off the glass.
my pipes/headers are so loud though i can't idle for long in my hood

 

[gstacker]

If indeed it is acting as a solvent for accumulated deposits, as they break loose and get combusted your emissions should significantly rise, at least as long as it takes the vehicle to burn that tank of gas.

I know for certain that products like Sea Foam and Deep Creep massively increase emissions for several minutes as they act as powerful solvents for carbon. The fuel system cleaner stuff I just aint sure about. Always struck me as sorta snake oil products maybe.

Sea foams hardcore... Don't like to be around when that's gettin run through but it deff cleans out the combustion chambers of carbon witch reduces nox emissions... Anyways y'all are puttin way to much thought into this lol drive ur car to warm it up unless u just want the inside to be toasty before u drive off