cold weather idle

[Geemacdee]

I have a V6 GT and in below zero Celsius weather the idle doesn't drop down below 1000-1200 rpm at startup. I hate having to put it into drive with the revs that high but I have no idea how long I would have to wait before the rpms drop below 1000 rpm. Anyone have any ideas? Is this normal in really cold weather? Just doesn't seem right to me. Thanks, Gary.

 

[JSolo]

On the 2.5T it drops slightly, but not below 1K either. On that first drive out, the throttle feels very sluggish. I suspect boost is being bypassed at this time to keep power weak. Once at operating temps, same amount of throttle results in noticeable difference in acceleration.

 

[MerlintheMad]

All four seasons, I always wait to put it in "R" until the RPM pitch drops; usually takes half a minute or more. Can't say that I've bothered noticing what the actual RPMs are. I figure that the higher RPMs at startup are part of the engine check process, then it lowers the idle when conditions are met.

 

[killinghall]

Putting it into "D" at 1,100rpm or 1,200rpm isn't going hurt anything. Just warm it up a bit and off you go. Lots of cars get driven off even in the higher ranges with no issues.

http://www.kstinger.com/economical_operation-224.html

Remember, your vehicle does not require extended warm-up. After the engine has started, allow the engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to placing the vehicle in gear. In very cold weather, however, give your engine a slightly longer warmup period.

 

[D.J.]

I have a V6 GT and in below zero Celsius weather the idle doesn't drop down below 1000-1200 rpm at startup. I hate having to put it into drive with the revs that high but I have no idea how long I would have to wait before the rpms drop below 1000 rpm. Anyone have any ideas? Is this normal in really cold weather? Just doesn't seem right to me. Thanks, Gary.

If you are concerned, wait longer.

If you are not concerned, slap it into R or D like the owners manual says - after slightly longer than 20 seconds.

I let mine warm up for up to 10 minutes on remote exclusively for my comfort, cause I am a princess.

 

[Redleg94]

In my 22 GT1, the valves in the exhaust pipe stay open regardless of mode when first starting up. You can clearly heave them close and the exhaust note change after about 45 seconds or so. The RPM also drops at the same time.

 

[vipeboy2000]

seems pretty normal to me... all of our vehicles idle well above 1200rpm for a couple min when cold... our subaru idles at 1600+ for a while initially... when it's that cold and high, i generally wait at least a min when it drops to at least 1100 rpm before shifting out of park.

 

[777David]

Agreed with all comments above. That is very normal. Nothing wrong with your car and it won't hurt it to shift at that engine speed. Our nissan starts and revs to at least1700 rpms on start up and slowly comes down when cold.
I usually let the Stinger idle for 1 - 3 minutes before I take off in it.

 

[Johnny B]

I have this same intermittent problem on very cold days. The start up idle will not drop even when sitting for several minutes. If I turn the car off then restart the idle is back to normal.

 

[killinghall]

I let mine warm up for up to 10 minutes on remote exclusively for my comfort, cause I am a princess.

That is way too long and you could be doing more harm than good to the car. Modern car engines do not require such exceptionally long warm ups.

http://www.kstinger.com/economical_operation-224.html

Remember, your vehicle does not require extended warm-up. After the engine has started, allow the engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to placing the vehicle in gear. In very cold weather, however, give your engine a slightly longer warmup period.

 

[hayagix]

Normal. I let it run for a minute before taking off.

My Subaru had a very high idle when cold. I used to wince putting it in gear.

 

[Crisis]

I let mine warm up for up to 10 minutes on remote exclusively for my comfort, cause I am a princess.

That is way too long and you could be doing more harm than good to the car. Modern car engines do not require such exceptionally long warm ups.

Come up here to the Great White North when it's -30 with a -45 wind chill and tell us that 10 minutes is too long to let a car warm up. I'll let you in on a secret - It's not just the engine that's warming up.

Remote start is a Godsend. If only the heated seats would turn with the remote start. The heated steering wheel comes on, but not the seats - makes no sense.

 

[D.J.]

That is way too long and you could be doing more harm than good to the car. Modern car engines do not require such exceptionally long warm ups.

http://www.kstinger.com/economical_operation-224.html

Remember, your vehicle does not require extended warm-up. After the engine has started, allow the engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to placing the vehicle in gear. In very cold weather, however, give your engine a slightly longer warmup period.

Let me rephrase...

I warm it up by remote for as long as I think it will take on that given day, for me to be comfortable, with no concern for any harm I may be doing to my engine. I am not burning gas for the sake of burning gas. I am burning gas for the sake of my own warmth. If my car was electric, I would enable the HVAC system before I walk to my car, just the same.

I do not warm it up for the car. I warm it up for my personal comfort.

 

[Geemacdee]

If you are concerned, wait longer.

If you are not concerned, slap it into R or D like the owners manual says - after slightly longer than 20 seconds.

I let mine warm up for up to 10 minutes on remote exclusively for my comfort, cause I am a princess.

Thanks, Princess D.J. has a nice ring to it.

 

[byebyeSTI]

maybe just wait until its warmed up , it will prob drop when that happens ?

 

[DonD]

Come up here to the Great White North when it's -30 with a -45 wind chill and tell us that 10 minutes is too long to let a car warm up. I'll let you in on a secret - It's not just the engine that's warming up.

Remote start is a Godsend. If only the heated seats would turn with the remote start. The heated steering wheel comes on, but not the seats - makes no sense.

If it's that cold and you don't have an enclosed garage, think you really need an electric block heater. That will solve your problem.

I went to Minot AFB in the dead of winter to deal with one of their missile systems. Block heaters were very prevalent and parking lots had electrical outlets to allow you to plug in.

One of my shop compatriots had returned from Minot one time. I asked him how it went? He said he had snow on his rental's front seat. I said "Did you leave the window partially down?" No, he said the wind was so strong that it blew the window off of it's seals. ICK. Don

 

[D.J.]

This morning was fairly cold - nothing extreme, just regular cold.
Just over 8 minutes of remote start before I got to the car - with coffee in hand. Heated seats and steering wheel fortunately warm up quickly (they really should be linked to the remote start).


Back to the original subject of this thread - @Geemacdee - it's perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about. Use your remote starter to shorten then time to a warm idle. (I believe all Canadian Stingers are equipped)

 

[DonD]

This morning was fairly cold - nothing extreme, just regular cold.
Just over 8 minutes of remote start before I got to the car - with coffee in hand. Heated seats and steering wheel fortunately warm up quickly (they really should be linked to the remote start).


Back to the original subject of this thread - @Geemacdee - it's perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about. Use your remote starter to shorten then time to a warm idle. (I believe all Canadian Stingers are equipped)

Sorry but I think 8 minutes of idling is very excessive, it results in oil being diluted by a richer air/fuel ratio than would be the case if you drove it.

Car engineers recommend driving as soon as the idle has settled down, don't hammer it until you get to full ooperating temperatures. Don

 

[D.J.]

Sorry but I think 8 minutes of idling is very excessive, it results in oil being diluted by a richer air/fuel ratio than would be the case if you drove it.

Car engineers recommend driving as soon as the idle has settled down, don't hammer it until you get to full ooperating temperatures. Don

Well, I set the remote start timeout to max (10 minutes), I just happened to reach my car before the timeout limit.
Passenger cabin was just beginning to get comfortable.

Last year (last winter season) when I sent my oil for analysis at Blackstone labs - there were no findings related to oil dilution in their comments.
I plan to do another oil analysis this winter - I suspect there will be no abnormal fuel dilution in my oil, but the data will speak to that.

My concern level is about 1 out of 10

 

[Crisis]

If it's that cold and you don't have an enclosed garage, think you really need an electric block heater. That will solve your problem.

I went to Minot AFB in the dead of winter to deal with one of their missile systems. Block heaters were very prevalent and parking lots had electrical outlets to allow you to plug in.

One of my shop compatriots had returned from Minot one time. I asked him how it went? He said he had snow on his rental's front seat. I said "Did you leave the window partially down?" No, he said the wind was so strong that it blew the window off of it's seals. ICK. Don

Sorry for the continued derailing of this thread but, as someone who lives in the world of cold weather motoring, this type of discussion is fun.

I particularly like this part: "...you really need an electric block heater. That will solve your problem." Cold weather is not a problem - it's merely a fact of life. I live about 6 hours north of Minot, on the Canadian prairies, so we're very familiar with block heaters. I've been driving for over 40 years and have only owned one car that didn't have a block heater. It was an early 2000s Chevy Cavalier that we bought used for the kids to drive. Never even thought to ask if it had a block heater (but it did come with 5 sets of keys), as all cars here have them, but somehow that thing always started, even on the coldest winter day.

As for extended periods of idling, as recounted by D.J. and me, I think we'll just continue to live with. Hell, my car can be idling for 10 minutes courtesy of the remote start and the coolant temperature needle is still pegged on the "C" when I get it.