engine rpm at start up

[subliminally incorrect]

hi all,

i noticed that when i start my car in the mornings, the engine rpm's are about 2000-3000rpms from the point i turn the key in the ignition, if i let my car idle for a bit the rpms drop down to 1000.

should i just let the car settle down to 1000rpm's before i shift to drive?

i have an automatic transmission with tiptronic. thanks

[Mazda3X2]

If the car is idling that high it must be cool enough to require a slight warm up. I am a big fan of letting an engine warm, even slightly before driving at all. In doing this it makes sure your oil if flowing nicely and your engine is not starving for lubrication at any spot. On mornings like this I would imagine 1 - 2 minutes would suffice. In the dead of winter I allow for a few minutes minimum myself.

Another note, drive it easy until you start getting a decent temperature reading on your gauge. I see a lot of guys from work get in after a day with the car sitting in -25, start the car, slap it in drive and give 'er down the highway. Always makes me cringe....:loco

Little things like this can save lots of unnecessary wear over the life of an engine.

[Mazda3X2]

Lol....I never really mentioned anything about your shifting into gear. :loco

I would let the revs drop before shifting into gear. If you do what I mention in my last post this shouldn't be an issue. As the engine starts to warm up, the idle lowers fairly quickly in injected cars.

Shifting into gear with high revs would cause some strain on some drive line components. Maybe not a big deal in itself once a while, but over time....



hi all,

i noticed that when i start my car in the mornings, the engine rpm's are about 2000-3000rpms from the point i turn the key in the ignition, if i let my car idle for a bit the rpms drop down to 1000.

should i just let the car settle down to 1000rpm's before i shift to drive?

i have an automatic transmission with tiptronic. thanks

[Donutz]

should i just let the car settle down to 1000rpm's before i shift to drive?

Yes. That is my personal preference. I usually don't take off until my idle dies down to 1000. On start up my car usually hits 2500 RPM and dies off from there. I have had it idle at 3000 RPM in the winter; it dies off around 30 seconds after starting in this case.

[mazdas3sporte]

just let it sit for a min before u drive off, mine goes from 2500-2800 rpm to around 1000-1100 in a minuite or less.

[subliminally incorrect]

alright, ill take note of this.
its just too tempting to switch to drive immediately after ignition though :) hehe

thanks for the tips

[Gizzmo_jr]

The car goes into Open Loop Mode, the oxygen sensor isn't yet able to supply reliable data to the computer for controlling the air/fuel mix ratio because the engine isn't yet warmed up. So mix control is handled in a static state until the engine warms up. As the system is getting feed back, the rpm's drop until regular idle speed and the engine goes back into Closed Loop Mode, relying on all the sensors.

[sas]

I warming engine even in summer until 1000rpm.
At temperatures below 0C, better to drive easy and slow, first 500-1000m.
Lubricants in transmission box, bearings and tripods need to be slightly warmed.
Also have to be removed tensions inside springs and carrying metal parts.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

In the dead of winter I allow for a few minutes minimum myself.

Another note, drive it easy until you start getting a decent temperature reading on your gauge. I see a lot of guys from work get in after a day with the car sitting in -25, start the car, slap it in drive and give 'er down the highway.

Actually, from what I have read (I believe my old bmw manual stated this) you are only supposed to let the motor run for about a minute then drive the vehicle at low rpms to warm up the transmission with the motor. Instead of just letting the motor warm up on its own.

But ya, sitting all day at -25 then jumping on the highway isn't so great.

[sas]

after a day with the car sitting in -25It’s all our life. All time choice.
In this case – suffering engine or freezing ass.:)

[sas]

Have forgot one thing. In "Closed Loop Mode" engine is supplyed by overrich
mixture. It's not so good for engine. Another side oil and sensors have to be warmed.There is also fact, that engine warming better when you rising rpm.
As I said - all time choice.

[Wilson]

Here's a quick fix. Just leave the car running all day then the engine will never be cold :)

[MistaChin]

Here's a quick fix. Just leave the car running all day then the engine will never be cold :)

I second that. I hear doing this gives you great mileage in the longrun :chuckle