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Do you let your engine idle?

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by T-Rex266, Feb 25, 2016.

  1. Feb 25, 2016 at 5:35 PM
    #1
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 [OP] Elon approved Staff Member

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    With it being the winter, there has been times where I let it warm up 15 mins or so before I hop in and go.
    Idling in the winter is not unheard. However, this article says different.

    So, do you idle your engine before hoping in?
     
  2. Feb 25, 2016 at 5:49 PM
    #2
    Wynnded

    Wynnded What MPG...

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    My remote start is set to shut down after 10 minutes. That hasn't happened yet.
     
  3. Feb 25, 2016 at 5:51 PM
    #3
    rons23

    rons23 Get The Led Out!!!

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    I idle it enough for oil to circulate, about 30 or so seconds, then off to the races.
     
  4. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:01 PM
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    joonbug

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    30-60 seconds in my tundra. No warm up at all in my other cars I don't care so much about.
     
  5. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:15 PM
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    AMRE2ME2

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    It also depends on where you live and how cold it is outside. Most nights here at 8400ft., it's around 0-20 degrees when I leave. I do let my truck warm up for 5-10 minutes. One thing that article completely left out was getting the oil to warm up before turning that engine up to 4000 rpms. That will do more harm to the cylinder walls then anything else.
     
  6. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:17 PM
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    mdavis

    mdavis I need a beer.

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    I usually let it warm up for about 5 minutes before I pull off. Probably continue doing what I do as I've never had any problems with any of my other vehicles.
     
  7. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:23 PM
    #7
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Two minutes max for me. Cylinder wash is no joke and have seen it coming from the diesel world.
     
  8. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:28 PM
    #8
    CaptTyler

    CaptTyler Life’s too short to have an ugly boat.

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    Well...it doesn't get too cold in Florida lol but I let it idle 30-45 seconds or so also.
     
  9. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:30 PM
    #9
    tibadoe

    tibadoe New Member

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    30 - 60 seconds (depending on the temps) to get the oil flowing through the engine and it's time to go. Idling is also bad for a catalytic converter.
     
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  10. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:33 PM
    #10
    tibadoe

    tibadoe New Member

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    I believe they covered that towards the end of the article: "Of course, hopping into your car and gunning it straightaway will put unnecessary strain on your engine. It takes 5 to 15 minutes for your engine to warm up, so take it nice and easy for the first part of your drive."
     
  11. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:38 PM
    #11
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 [OP] Elon approved Staff Member

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    Once the engine is at operating temps, would idling matter then?

    @LOTSOFTOYS
     
  12. Feb 25, 2016 at 6:50 PM
    #12
    zcarpenter92

    zcarpenter92 Yotas and Yellow Jackets

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    When it's cold out, I let mine idle for 5-10 before I take off. When it's warm, usually two minutes or so.
     
  13. Feb 25, 2016 at 8:34 PM
    #13
    Wynnded

    Wynnded What MPG...

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    From reading that I've done years ago, there's no significant harm done as long as your cooling system can handle it. And you're just wasting gasoline. Most figured that turning the vehicle off after one minute was a reasonable amount of time to balance any extra gasoline used on restart. FWIW
     
  14. Feb 26, 2016 at 3:54 AM
    #14
    Hopendreams

    Hopendreams New Member

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    There are many other important considerations. Rear end gear oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic oil in the shocks, rubber characteristics, metal shrinkage and stress on o rings and gaskets in places other than the engine. Give it 15 seconds or so for oil pressure to come up, which is instantaneous anyway, at any temp. Move it to 30 seconds for temps above 0 degrees and up to a minute for everything else. If it should be below -15 degrees....move. lol
     
  15. Feb 26, 2016 at 4:26 AM
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    GQ 66

    GQ 66 (Input clever saying)

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    I let mine idle long enough for the fan to turn off and then I'm off.
     
  16. Feb 26, 2016 at 5:21 AM
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    Nor7

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    I've seen that article before, just someone trying to stir up discussion and sell advertising on their website, driving easy and idling keep your rpms low and are practically the same thing. For every article like that there are probably 10 that say the opposite.
     
  17. Feb 26, 2016 at 5:22 AM
    #17
    Nor7

    Nor7 Chilton Manual Guy

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    I'll be getting a remote start soon just so I CAN idle it before I get in (and so I can run the A/C to cool down the truck in this Texas heat).
     
  18. Feb 26, 2016 at 6:06 AM
    #18
    LOTSOFTOYS

    LOTSOFTOYS Toyota Whisperer

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    I let my vehicle idle for a 20 30 second or so. Like someone said before, let the oil make it all the wah to the heads before being mean to it:)
     
  19. Feb 26, 2016 at 6:20 AM
    #19
    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    His claim is that idling does not warm up the engine quickly. I personally don't see any difference in the rate of temperature rise between idling and driving. (disclaimer: I did not measure it with stop watch. It's according to my butt-o-meter, haha.)
     
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  20. Feb 26, 2016 at 7:41 AM
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    Wynnded

    Wynnded What MPG...

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    If there isn't snow to deal with, and I'm not in some kind of hurry, this is what I do as well. That fan is loud...
     
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  21. Feb 26, 2016 at 8:32 AM
    #21
    FirstGenTundra

    FirstGenTundra R2R

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    Yes, usually let her idle for 1 to 5 mins in the winter time. 30 seconds in warm weather. Only when its super cold (for VA) do I let her idle for longer then 5 mins but that's more for the engine then my comfort. I'm more concerned with getting the oil pumping threw my engine and up the my cams and rockers than anything.
     
  22. Feb 26, 2016 at 9:33 AM
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    Black Wolf

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    Remember, the 5.7L has 32 valves and 4 cams way up high. Winter time in north mid west US, up thru Canada, and AK can be pretty brutal. Daily. Well below zero. You definitely want that engine warmed up for a few. Not to mention the heater/defrost. [​IMG]
     
  23. Feb 26, 2016 at 10:19 AM
    #23
    csuviper

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    This is where i am at as well on the coldest of winter mornings.
     
  24. Feb 26, 2016 at 11:30 AM
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    TruckLife900

    TruckLife900 I'd rather B hunting

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    Same here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    "So unless you're rolling in a 1970s Chevelle" I wish... I do warm up my carb motorcycle :p
     
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  25. Feb 26, 2016 at 12:42 PM
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    TXMiamiFan

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    I usually wait until the RPMs drop down to idle after I turn it on and it's been off for a while.
     
  26. Feb 26, 2016 at 1:13 PM
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    applesquirel

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    Coming from the subaru world where i would have to let it idle for at least 5 min before it would start to act right I think i will continue to at least let it warm up for 2. I like to know that the oil is doing its job. Thats my 2 cents lol
     
  27. Feb 26, 2016 at 2:35 PM
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    AMRE2ME2

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    Some of these posts would make more sense if we knew where you lived. Put your state in your profile.
     
  28. Feb 27, 2016 at 6:58 AM
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    MT Madman

    MT Madman Just an ordinary guy

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    At least 30 seconds as I get buckled in but more if I've gotta clear the windows, with 0 - 20 synthetic oil not worried too much because it gets flowing right away
     
  29. Feb 27, 2016 at 8:58 AM
    #29
    Wynnded

    Wynnded What MPG...

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    My motorbike is EFI and the manufacturer says not to "warm it up", my '70 carbed El Camino will drive off with about the same warm up as my Tundra.:D
     
  30. Feb 27, 2016 at 9:16 PM
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    DBL TAP

    DBL TAP Light 'em up

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    I run my just long enough to bring the idle down from 1100 to 800. Not a bad idea to run an oil analysis occasionally if you're concerned about cylinder wash and excessive wear. I use Blackstone Labs.
     

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