Black5.0Lincoln

Just a curious question I have on driving these 4.6L Mustangs. I have a 98 and my neighbor owns a Grand Marquis. He says I should let the car warm up in the mornings before I drive because we live 1 block from the entrance ramp to the highway and when I get on I open her up to about 65mph. I pretty much just give it gas until I reach 65 (she usually revs to about 4,000 rpms and then it shifts down - auto transmission) and then let off and off to work. Thats pretty much how it is driven, highway miles as my job is right off the highway. Neighbor says that is bad as the car is not "fully" ready to reach that speed until it is fully warm (temp range in normal). I have no problem letting it idle until normal temp range is reached but I was wondering if what he says has some merits.

vfast

about 1 min. then go..

harvey041

Yes it is better to let the car warm up first. If you run it hard while cold you can damage the engine. And plus your heat will make it nice and warm when you get in <IMG src=smileys/smiley14.gif border="0">. <edited><editID>harvey041</editID><editDate>37928.6938310185</editDate></edited>

Dan04COBRA

If you use conventional oil, you have to worry about it and frying your rings.</P>


Synthetic oil...romp on!!</P>


Either way, it's still 'smarter' to let her warm up a tad. Just start it up and sit in your driveway for a minute.</P>

GSXRIntensity

If you live in/near any place like the Windy City...it'd be better to let it warm up. Even if you run synthetic, it won't hurt you to go outside 5min early start up the car, and finish getting ready. When you go back outside u're car will be nice &amp; warm inside too<IMG src=smileys/smiley4.gif border="0">.

piston

I just warm till the high idle comes down, about 30 seconds. When its real cold I let it go longer to warm the trans fluid, I hate shifting a stiff trans!

hapaxtian

you can hear the engine working not as hard as it was working when it starts up. listen to it or use your tech. i wait 1-1:30 mins, but thats just me...

Monch

30 seconds is all you need, once the idle comes down the car is basically telling you that you're good to go. if its freezing outside then i guess you should go a bit longer, but no more than a minute otherwise your're wasting gas</P>

95Stealth302

yeah id say a couple minutes, then run back in and put some coffee into the travel mug and its off to the races.