How bad are cold starts and small journeys?
Discussion
I drive about 2.5 miles each way to work and back (5 mile round trip). A cold start in the morning, and then again when I go home. After a few hours of siting on my driveway after coming home from work I then head out again for an equally small journey. Is this considered another cold start? The temperature needle is back to zero so I'm sure it is.
I am doing this daily and worried it will ruin my 2.5L high pressure turbo engine.
Should I just buy a smaller car or am I safe to continue in this manner?
I am doing this daily and worried it will ruin my 2.5L high pressure turbo engine.
Should I just buy a smaller car or am I safe to continue in this manner?
Edited by RevolveR on Wednesday 31st October 12:30
RevolveR said:
Should I just buy a smaller car or am I safe to continue in this manner?
You should probably buy a bicycle, in all honesty. Cold starts are the bit that does all of the damage - it takes a few minutes for the oil to warm enough to provide full protection, and you are probably not getting there, especially in winter. Long runs on the weekend won't help that.
I've been doing this for 8 years now. I only live 2 miles from work, so majority of small journeys.
Its not done any harm to my car at all, but then again, it is 15 years and 154,000 miles old! I'm sure its been put through a hell of a lot more in its past than some short journeys to work and back!
Everyone says short trips are bad, but my car doesn't appear to have suffered as a result.
The same is said for leaving a car ticking over on a cold morning. Again, always done this and never had any problems. Maybe i've just lucky but then again, I do the bangernomics thing!
Its not done any harm to my car at all, but then again, it is 15 years and 154,000 miles old! I'm sure its been put through a hell of a lot more in its past than some short journeys to work and back!
Everyone says short trips are bad, but my car doesn't appear to have suffered as a result.
The same is said for leaving a car ticking over on a cold morning. Again, always done this and never had any problems. Maybe i've just lucky but then again, I do the bangernomics thing!
Edited by James_N on Wednesday 31st October 05:08
Get a bicycle or, if you can't use one, make sure the next oil change uses the thinnest cold grade of oil you can find with a similar warm rating - that should help protect the engine a little from cold starts etc, but if you don't warm the oil often it'll start gunking up.
Take it for a good blast and get everything really hot every week.
Take it for a good blast and get everything really hot every week.
I'm in a similar situation, and have the same concerns about my car.
I've considered cycling but it would only take 5-10 mins door to door, and the hassle of changing into the suit at work is not worth it, it's quicker to walk when you factor in getting the bike out, locking it up at work, changing into my suit etc.
Your commute can be 'too short' to cycle.
Work is around 2 miles away, I tend to just walk it, but when it's raining I drive. My car seems to take the short runs in its stride, but it is a small N/A hatchback so it's no supprise.
I use a lower winter graded oil than is recommended, I should be using 10w40 semi synthetic as in the manual, but I use 5w40 fully synthetic. It's been 6 months and 5000miles since the last service and the oil is still golden on the dipstick.
I've considered cycling but it would only take 5-10 mins door to door, and the hassle of changing into the suit at work is not worth it, it's quicker to walk when you factor in getting the bike out, locking it up at work, changing into my suit etc.
Your commute can be 'too short' to cycle.
Work is around 2 miles away, I tend to just walk it, but when it's raining I drive. My car seems to take the short runs in its stride, but it is a small N/A hatchback so it's no supprise.
I use a lower winter graded oil than is recommended, I should be using 10w40 semi synthetic as in the manual, but I use 5w40 fully synthetic. It's been 6 months and 5000miles since the last service and the oil is still golden on the dipstick.
nosittap said:
I'm in a similar situation, and have the same concerns about my car.
I've considered cycling but it would only take 5-10 mins door to door, and the hassle of changing into the suit at work is not worth it, it's quicker to walk when you factor in getting the bike out, locking it up at work, changing into my suit etc.
Your commute can be 'too short' to cycle.
Work is around 2 miles away, I tend to just walk it, but when it's raining I drive. My car seems to take the short runs in its stride, but it is a small N/A hatchback so it's no supprise.
I use a lower winter graded oil than is recommended, I should be using 10w40 semi synthetic as in the manual, but I use 5w40 fully synthetic. It's been 6 months and 5000miles since the last service and the oil is still golden on the dipstick.
Keep suit jacket and trousers at work. I've considered cycling but it would only take 5-10 mins door to door, and the hassle of changing into the suit at work is not worth it, it's quicker to walk when you factor in getting the bike out, locking it up at work, changing into my suit etc.
Your commute can be 'too short' to cycle.
Work is around 2 miles away, I tend to just walk it, but when it's raining I drive. My car seems to take the short runs in its stride, but it is a small N/A hatchback so it's no supprise.
I use a lower winter graded oil than is recommended, I should be using 10w40 semi synthetic as in the manual, but I use 5w40 fully synthetic. It's been 6 months and 5000miles since the last service and the oil is still golden on the dipstick.
I used to cycle 14 miles round trip to work, but I used to drive to work and leave all my clothes for the week there. It worked very well
Krikkit said:
Nosittap have you considered a Brompton? Very capable and practical bikes for a short commute, the riding position is perfect for keeping a suit on and they fold/stow very nicely.
I've not actually, may well consider this come spring. The current walk to work is only 25 mins but I will hopefully be moving in around 6 months a bit further away, so may look into it as opposed to getting a road bike.bakerstreet said:
Keep suit jacket and trousers at work.
I used to cycle 14 miles round trip to work, but I used to drive to work and leave all my clothes for the week there. It worked very well
I kind of do this already, I keep my jacket and shoes at work, and walk in in my trousers shirt and trainers. But if it's raining I always drive, I hate getting there wet, far easier and warmer to take the car.I used to cycle 14 miles round trip to work, but I used to drive to work and leave all my clothes for the week there. It worked very well
k, get a bike.I drive 40 miles each way to work but my car will go through the same damaging cold start period as yours so it makes no difference whether you do 2 miles or a 100 miles each way in my mind. Doing the miles after the cold start period whilst the oil is nice and warm and thin isn't going to repair any damage caused during warm up, its simply won't create as much wear.
I have had my car from new and can catagorically state that in the 62,000 miles I have done in her, it has never been over 2500 rpm until the oil guage reads at least 80 degrees.
I have had my car from new and can catagorically state that in the 62,000 miles I have done in her, it has never been over 2500 rpm until the oil guage reads at least 80 degrees.
Echo the bicycle comments...
I did the same, roughly 4mile round trip to work, but mine included coming home for lunch, so four sub two mile trips a day... for shame...
I did the same, roughly 4mile round trip to work, but mine included coming home for lunch, so four sub two mile trips a day... for shame...
- Your car will feel and sound healthier, even if some of it is in your head it's still nice to think you're not damaging your car
- You'll feel vastly better, both when you arrive at work and also your general heath will be much better
- You'll save more fuel than you think, within a year, or maybe less, you'll have paid for the bike (is the cycle to work scheme still active?)
Has no one picked up on the fact that the OP stated he has a 2.5 HIGH PRESSURE TURBO engine?
Surely with a small amount of common sense involved, you should be running the engine in the morning for a good few minutes to let the engine and oil warm before driving, and particularly when arriving to let it idle to ensure no damage to the turbo.
I'd concentrate on that to minimise any harm you do on your very small commute. (Personally I'd just walk and get the exercise)
Surely with a small amount of common sense involved, you should be running the engine in the morning for a good few minutes to let the engine and oil warm before driving, and particularly when arriving to let it idle to ensure no damage to the turbo.
I'd concentrate on that to minimise any harm you do on your very small commute. (Personally I'd just walk and get the exercise)
CypherP said:
Has no one picked up on the fact that the OP stated he has a 2.5 HIGH PRESSURE TURBO engine?
Surely with a small amount of common sense involved, you should be running the engine in the morning for a good few minutes to let the engine and oil warm before driving, and particularly when arriving to let it idle to ensure no damage to the turbo.
I'd concentrate on that to minimise any harm you do on your very small commute. (Personally I'd just walk and get the exercise)
But running an engine at idle will give you high viscocity oil AND low oil pressure. Not exactly good for the engine or turbo, is it?Surely with a small amount of common sense involved, you should be running the engine in the morning for a good few minutes to let the engine and oil warm before driving, and particularly when arriving to let it idle to ensure no damage to the turbo.
I'd concentrate on that to minimise any harm you do on your very small commute. (Personally I'd just walk and get the exercise)
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