I let my car idle for a few minutes (3 to 5) during cold weather, but it's only out of habit. A good friend of mine told me about an article he once read in Popular Mechanics that said that letting a car idle in cold weather for extended periods causes excess crankcase pressure. ??? I find letting the car warm up a little makes the engine and tranny more smooth. Even tho' I leased the car I still treat it as if it were my own.

Andrew

 

No matter what the conditions I always wait before I start the car until the engine light goes out.

Once I have the car started I drive it gently until the 3 bars.

Also I often drive it gently until I think that the tires are warm too. I don't want to slide off my country lanes and into a bush or tree.

Sam.

 

Never mind the engine, someone figure out a way to warm up the shift knob !! Damn that thing gets cold !! It's hot in the summer, cold in the winter.........it's like black leather seats!!

 

I fold my cover then start the car. I then get out and put my cover and bag in the trunk. I smile and drive off.

One thing I have tried with good success is to park the car overnight with the shifter in reverse. The cold shifts are much smoother and much less notchy. I have found that if I leave the car in first, I have trouble getting it to shift into second when it is a cold morning. A cold third is definately clunky. When I leave the car parked in reverse the cold shifts are like butta. Mmmmm, butta.

 

I reverse off the drive then ...away.
Just do not rev it high immediately.

 

if you read on it also mentions to drive slowly to warm up the car not to floor it. so don't try to vtec...your car will warm up better if you drive rather than sit there. so no need to wait for warm up

 

My car is in the garage, so I don't really warm up the car. My warmup consists of sitting in the car for 10 seconds before going into reverse and pulling out.

 

Is it necessary to put the gear in first of reverse when the car is parked?

 

Correction "first or reverse"

 

Are you talking about putting it in 1st before Reverse so the rear gear is synchro'd? If you are, it is not necessary in this car, the R gear has a synchro. If you're not, just ignore me .

Andrew