Re: Why do you let 'em idle?

On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:26:58 GMT, Turby <turbosurfer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


I guess I should clarify something. I live in SoCal. Cold weather
starting is almost never a problem for me. I don't need to use the
choke when starting. I've also been doing mechanical engineering for
the last 18 years, so yeah, I do know what thermal expansion is.

Living up here in the north where it is bitter cold for the better
part of six months we are fairly well experienced in the art of
warming a vehicle up. On the really cold days it might be thirty
minutes before the heater actually starts working. I am thinking you
rarely ever have to use the heater in sunny California. <g>

During the winter it is not unusual to hear public service
announcements advising us of how long a vehicle needs to be warmed up
before getting it rolling. For a variety of reasons, not the least of
which is reducing wear on the engine, the recommendations are usually
in the range of once the oil is circulating and the engines runs
without stumbling you are ok to drive it. Then take it easy until it
reaches normal operating temperature, precisely as RGD as suggested.

Not being a mechanic I can't tell you why it is not good to idle a gas
engine for extended periods of time, but I can tell you I have never
met a mechanic who disagreed with the premise.

During moderate weather when driving my car it is start the car,
buckle up and drive. With the bike it is start the bike, back it out
of the shed, gear up and ride. The car is FI so I don't have to be
playing with anything. With the bike I might run a block or two with
partial choke. The Venture tends to backfire on decel if the choke is
left on so that is a good reminder for me to shut the damn thing off.

How big of an issue is this? Well if you are talking minutes as
opposed to tens of minutes, probably not much. But there is no doubt
in my mind motorcycle engines are designed to run at higher RPM's than
idle speed and to reduce wear, time spent idling should be kept to a
minimum.
--


Don
RCOS# 7
Riding Again!

2000 - Yamaha Venture Millenium Edition
.

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