Cold starts. Very cold starts

[SilentDeath]

100k miles and my Skoda still starts within the first Revolution of the crank... ahh, 1.9PD engine.. pure reliability!
Trying to get rid of the ice on the inside windscreen was a different matter tho

My fiesta alwyas started on the first or later on, the second..

But this saab doesnt want to... takes a good few seconds and drains the battery a bit... starting it in the cold might be a challenge but luckly I go to work at 5:40 pm

[Lowe]

I err, don't have a problem with ice on the mk1 eyeball. I just get on the bike and go

With the car - it depends how much you care about the car really. It's bad practice to let the car idle when it's cold because the oil pump is linked directly to the engine rpm - so at idle the oil pump isn't working hard, therefore not getting oil around the engine as well as it would at say 2,000rpm. Since the first 10 mins are the hardest on the engine when thinking about wear and tear, it's fairly obvious why when you look in 99% cars manuals, they say start the engine and drive. Since I try to look after the Clio as best I can, I always leave the engine off, remove the ice outside (and inside!) then get in and drive. Until the engine's warm (thank God for oil temp gauge) I stay under 3k rpm, which at the moment can take anywhere up to 15-20 mins!

[Jay]

I always thought it was best to have the car idle until warm.... learn somthing new every day!

[J4MES]

iirc fast idle is the best way to warm up a motor - it gets the oil pump going and engine temp up quickly, while not stressing/labouring the engine.. just my 2p

[SilentDeath]

wouldn't agree. at idle it gets plenty of oil.. cold oil... and much thicker than normal.

clearances for piston rings etc.. are also smaller when cold. Cylinders have a huge termpurature difference but with no pressure from the cooling system.

Takes 30 seconds for adequate oil to get into the cyl. head, about 2 mins for the thermostat to open and 5 mins for the sensors to even start working...


If you do drive it straight away just dont thrash it for a good 10 mins. I like to give it about 2 mins while I sort out mp3 player and close garage..

[arbitor]

Walk to car open car, pure antifreeze screenwash the ice off with the wipers

Key fob in press engine start button

Drive off.

[unrealrocks]

For some reason I've not had problem with ice yet this year and as I've only had my current Clio for a few months I'm glad to see its starting first time in the cold Left for London at 4am the other day and still started first time

For some reason my Clio is high idling at like 1500-2000rpm anyways so it warms up fairly quickly Then it settles down under 1k, esp if I have all my electrics on

[digit]

I just walk out to my car unlock it, put heaters on maximum and direct heat over front windows to demist the car. Quickclear then clears in seconds the front window and the heated rear window sorts out the back. No ice scrapping for me!

[schmunk]

For some reason my Clio is high idling at like 1500-2000rpm anyways so it warms up fairly quickly Then it settles down under 1k, esp if I have all my electrics on

My last-gen Civic does this all the time - it's apparently a 'feature'. On switch-on, it idles at about 1,500-1,600rpm, then when the engine's warmed up it'll settle down below 1k.

[Guy]

My last-gen Civic does this all the time - it's apparently a 'feature'. On switch-on, it idles at about 1,500-1,600rpm, then when the engine's warmed up it'll settle down below 1k.

My scoob does a similar thing, on a very cold morning, it will start up then idle usually about 1500-1600rpm, then once its warm it then drops down to about 900 ish.

[LWA]

100k miles and my Skoda still starts within the first Revolution of the crank... ahh, 1.9PD engine.. pure reliability!
Trying to get rid of the ice on the inside windscreen was a different matter tho

88K on my Skoda Fabia and she starts perfectly. I've been away for the week and the day I get back my car gets thoroughly snowed in. No problem starting this morning though

I don't get ice on the inside of the windscreen though? Sure your windows aren't left open?

[mycarsavw]

Ice inside could be condensation from a damp cabin - are your front footwells wet?

[Fox]

Although my car starts with first turn of the key even when cold, it isn't an issue for me becuase my earliest lecture is 11am