On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 wrote:

> Is it a good thing to idle cars for a few minutes for the 1st start ?
> Read somewhere the company recommends against it.....

There's a lot of seemingly conflicted info on this. What's definitely not
recommended is the practice of "warming up the car" by letting it run and
run and run before you drive off. But the other extreme (hop in, turn the
key and drive off even if it's below zero out) is also not good for the
car.

It's best to start the car first thing, then let it idle as you scrape the
ice, brush the snow (don't forget the headlights and taillights!), stash
the snow brush, get settled in, fasten your seatbelt, turn on the radio
and defogger. By that time oil will be flowing nicely in the engine and
you can drive off gently so the rest of the mechanicals can warm up. This
rule is nicely self regulating: The colder it is outside, the more stuff
you have to do before you're ready to drive off (more ice to scrape, more
snow to brush, more coats and gloves to mess with as you get in your
seat). Conversely, the less severe it is outside, the less stuff you have
to do before you're ready to drive off. It correlates acceptably well with
the amount of time it takes for oil to reliably reach all parts of the
engine.

Of course, if it is severely cold outside, an additional delay may be
needed while the defogger clears the windows sufficiently for you to see
safely.

> Also how do you guys handle it when the windows freeze and wont roll
> down ?

Prevent this by spraying aerosol silicone lubricant on the window
weatherstrips (and the door weatherstrips while you're at it).

DS