Winter starting.

[oldcro]

I'm sure this question has been asked (flogged to death) before, but what is the best way to drive off on a cold morning.

Is it 1. Start engine and leave to idle until warm then drive off. or
2. Drive off straight away unless of course time is needed to remove ice from windows.

Please justify your answer with reasons, pictures, evidence and personal experiences where possible for extra points.

[Silestanix]

I know it's bad...but I personally start the car, wait a few mins then I go.

if the windows need de-icing then I press the button on the keyfob to start the car (Clifford Smart start alarm thingy), get some de-icer or lukewarm water, sort the windows out then I disarm the alarm, jump in and drive off (Having replaced the items where they belong and not running the risk of a clip 'round the ear from my mum).

[Dryce]

Originally Posted by oldcro

Is it 1. Start engine and leave to idle until warm then drive off. or
2. Drive off straight away unless of course time is needed to remove ice from windows.

On a cold start my car will idle up the driveway in reverse. That gives it 30s before moving off. I don't see any reason to specifically warm it up over and beyond that first 30s to allow the oil to circulate.

[LastMinute]

I suppose it depends what you mean by "best"...

The car is designed to perform in all normal environmental conditions. What is stopping you driving off immediately on a cold morning?

The engine is designed to work under a load. What is to be gained by leaving it idling?

[Silestanix]

Originally Posted by Dryce

On a cold start my car will idle up the driveway in reverse. That gives it 30s before moving off. I don't see any reason to specifically warm it up over and beyond that first 30s to allow the oil to circulate.

Exactly...I mainly allow the auto box's oil to circulate properly, smoother changes, otherwise my car changes at high rpm's...not a good thing especially since I have to leave home at 6am...!

Lastminute...Only reason why I let it Idle...well, is because of the reason above, and also to let the heater booster to kick in (Mines fitted with an aux'y heater controlled from the onboard computer).

[124fan]

On a cold morning, our car would have been kept in the garage the night before, as it is most nights...so we would just drive off after starting.

On the odd occasion the car was not in the garage then it would be started and left running while all the windows were cleared, I use tepid water and the vehicles own heater, so she could be running for perhaps 5 min.

Cheers

[robert.saunders]

Car sits on drive. I start it up, flick on the heated windscreen/rear window, put blowers onto screen, scrape side windows and then once front screen clear I drive off!

I don't subscribe to the lukewarm water theory, something about that gives me shudders! Gimme a scraper anyday!!

[Silestanix]

Originally Posted by robert.saunders

Car sits on drive. I start it up, flick on the heated windscreen/rear window, put blowers onto screen, scrape side windows and then once front screen clear I drive off!

I don't subscribe to the lukewarm water theory, something about that gives me shudders! Gimme a scraper anyday!!

Hahaha! I used to use a scraper Robert, but my mum used my car one morning last year and she used lukewarm/cold water to clear the ice. She's been doing it since she started driving about 23 years ago...so I guess I just trust it and follow what she does. Only time I didn't do that was when I had a freinds car, a Ford Orion 1.6GLX, it had a heated front windscreen ().

[robert.saunders]

The heated windscreen is a boon - best Ford feature IMO

[GizmoB73]

Originally Posted by Silestanix

if the windows need de-icing then I press the button on the keyfob to start the car (Clifford Smart start alarm thingy), get some de-icer or lukewarm water, sort the windows out then I disarm the alarm, jump in and drive off (Having replaced the items where they belong and not running the risk of a clip 'round the ear from my mum).

Putting warm or any water that has been boiled and cooled on your car windscreen is a bad idea. If it is too warm you risk cracking your windscreen, but even it has cooled sufficiently to eliminate this risk, boiled water has fewer impurities and will freeze more quickly. If you don't wipe it cleanly off your windscreen quickly it will just freeze as a thin layer of ice.

I think the MB manuals state that you should not leave the car idling on the driveway. It probably isn't good for the CAT and it doesn't really get the oil circulating properly at tickover.

Personally I ignore this as I like to get in the car when it has had chance to warm up a little and the heater has defrosted the windscreen. My Bad!

[fredfloggle]

Originally Posted by GizmoB73

Putting warm or any water that has been boiled and cooled on your car windscreen is a bad idea. If it is too warm you risk cracking your windscreen, but even it has cooled sufficiently to eliminate this risk, boiled water has fewer impurities and will freeze more quickly. If you don't wipe it cleanly off your windscreen quickly it will just freeze as a thin layer of ice.

I think the MB manuals state that you should not leave the car idling on the driveway. It probably isn't good for the CAT and it doesn't really get the oil circulating properly at tickover.

Personally I ignore this as I like to get in the car when it has had chance to warm up a little and the heater has defrosted the windscreen. My Bad!

Probably 0.03 of a degree , but with global warming it may make all the difference.

[robert.saunders]

Originally Posted by fredfloggle

Probably 0.03 of a degree , but with global warming it may make all the difference.

Regarding the environment, which is better:

1) Idle and warm up heater;
2) Drive off as soon as possible, ie clear screen, cool/cold heater?

[Dave Lewis]

Originally Posted by robert.saunders

The heated windscreen is a boon - best Ford feature IMO

Yes, this is the only thing I miss about the Scorpio I had a few years ago. And I do mean the only thing.

[fredfloggle]

Originally Posted by robert.saunders

Regarding the environment, which is better:

1) Idle and warm up heater;
2) Drive off as soon as possible, ie clear screen, cool/cold heater?

2) - without a doubt get the CATS to light up as soon as .

My other comment was a bit tongue in cheek regarding the freezing point of water.

[robert.saunders]

Originally Posted by fredfloggle

My other comment was a bit tongue in cheek regarding the freezing point of water.

I know But it got me thinking at a tangent, which is never good