Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 10/24/2005

Question
Hi. I have a 1981 Chevy Citation 2.8L V-6, in great shape (38,000 original miles, good compression, and a newly-rebuilt stock Rochester 2bbl carburetor with an automatic choke.)  

My mechanic told me I should warm up the car for 5-7 minutes before driving.

That seems like a long time to me. I don't  remember my parents or our neighbors doing that to their American cars, way back then. Even the ones with aluminum blocks. I think he's being over-cautious.

How long do you recommend to warm up the car, if the engine is at ambient air temperature? (I live in Los Angeles, so it never gets real cold. Maybe low 40's on winter nights, and low 50's in the mornings, at the worst. Altitude is around 300 feet, if that's a factor.)

Thanks!

Mike

Answer
HI Mike;

    Well your mech. is right it is a good idea to warm up a engine prior to driving it but in that type of weather I say a good 2 or 3 min.s is enough, as here in n.y. winters  it gets  cold and I will warm up my car for at least 5 mins. so I get some heat but you do not have that cold right so a 2 or 3 min time frame is plenty  ok.
Roger