In the past I have run the engine at idle for about ONE minute every morning. However, some claim that warming the engine results in a rich fuel mixture that contaminates the oil. Does anyone know if it's necessary to warm-up a cold engine?

:roll: Ed

I have heard that the faster you get the engine up to operating tempature the less stress on your engine. I may be wrong though. A quick check over at cartalk.com I found this...

http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Archive/1996/January/01.html

But now that I live in Georgia, I don't think it's quite as neccesary! The oil isn't "hard" in the crankcase down here, I noticed. But being a bit of a gear head, I understand how most of your engine wear is due to starting your car, as the oil is all in the bottom of the pan, and not all through the engine. Consequently, if you start to drive as soon as you start your car, you are putting even more load on a not so well oiled machine. So I don't let my car warm up for 15 - 20 minutes anymore...More like 15 - 20 seconds. Regardless of outside ambient temperature. Plus it gives me time to play with stuff in my Element, like the radio, the power windows, the little kids in the back...Etc.

Now that the car are fuel injected there really is no need to warmup your vehicle. But I still warm it up a lil bit....... And also if you noticed the temperature goes up pretty fast in the morning.....