You should not let your vehicle warm up for more then a minute or two. If you are operating a vehicle regularly in temperatures below 20F you should have a block heater for the engine and synthetic lubricants fot the engine, tramsmission, and power steering. Idling wastes fuel and is only necessary for those in extreme cold temperatures like John Rodgers mentioned, where a vehicle will not start again with out a warm garage or the coming of spring. With that said, some, like Chris that have a very short route before they are on the highway may need to allow more warm up time as trying to get cold lubricants to do their job under pressure is asking for trouble. The rest of us should be fine, it is also better for the environment to not idle excessively.

Mark in AK for 34+ years and counting

----- Original Message -----
From: Rob <rob_b9@LYCOS.COM>
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:08 pm
Subject: Re: just how COLD is it where u are..   - 3 here...w/ -35 WCF

> At  1/15/2004 09:12 PM, you wrote:
> >make sure u let your van warm up a while before driving...  this
> kind of cold
> >can play hell with your transmission (and other mechanical parts)
> >
> >chris
> >se pa   where its -3 and a -35 Wind Chill Factor and windy,
> blowing snow..
>
>
> let it warm up, put the trans in neutral and let that warm up too.
> Go easy
> for the first mile or so, those CV boots are cold too.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Rob
>
> rob_b9@lycos.com
> Now in western Washington, USA
>