depends on how long you warm it up...
I think it's pretty obvious that leaving you vehicle idle for a half hour is
not good for the engine, nor the environment...

personally, if I warm mine up it is for 10 or 15 minutes...
but most of the time I don't bother since I live on a hill..
takes barely more than idle to get me down the hill...
by the time I am at the bottom, the temp needle is up...

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence Johnson" <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: winter vanagon complaint #2

> John, it was my understanding that it is better for the engine and vehicle
to
> warm up by driving off at conservative speeds keeping the engine rpm in
the
> lower half of the torque band. Its one of those things which I just never
> doubted and never thought about. I'd like to hear the wisdom of the List
on the
> pros and cons of either procedure.
> -Larry
> PS its not a matter of rushing
>
> John Rodgers wrote:
>
> > Wrong way to go...ice and frost scraping...IMHO!
> >
> > If it is cold, a proper warm up is ALWAYS in order. Don't jump in the
van,
> > start up and drive away a cold or partway warmed engine. Everyone is in
such
> > a blasted hurry these days when it isn't really necessary 99.9% of the
time.
> > Save your engine, Give it some warmup time to get to proper operating
> > temperature.
> >
> > Give yourself enough time to go out and start the engine, turn on the
> > heaters and defrosters, and go back in the house for a cup of coffee.
Let
> > the engine warm up good, at the idle speed. <snip>
>