I've always done this...my father, who was a mechanic since the age of 16, has always told me to do this...I think its something a lot of us take for granted...you'd be surprised what that extra 5-15 min. warm up for your car can do on a daily basis. In the winter, I honestly dont let it move till I've had it running at least 15-20 min.

 

this is what I do also

 

it does benefit you to warm it up to about 100

the piston skirts are lean for emissions which is why you hear that tap sound when the engine is cold. GM says there is no problem as long as the engine dosnt have load on it while cold. There is benefits.

 

I notice by not letting the car war up to 100* the car shifts clunky and isn't too friendly when not giving gas and maintaining speed, it jerks back and fourth harder than my left hand!

 

if your dad has been a mechanic since 16, then he still has the thinking of cars back many years ago with carberators. back then you needed a motor to warm up before driving. with newer fuel injected engines, its not needed to warm them up that much. typical is 30 seconds at most and start driving them easy.

on a cold day i with frost out ill start my car and then scrape the windows. by that time its warmed up a couple minutes and good to drive. that or let the windows defog.

 

i think the two different sides also have to do with climate. where i live we can get anywhere from -45*C to +45*C. Some of these members dont even know what minus numbers in celcius would look like (ie...members from cali.)In the summer i hop in a find a good song just to let the old girl get circulating. if it is anywhere below -10-20*C i would be very surprised if my car would even move upon starting, and if it would...id be stupid to drive it. if it gets to this temperature in the climate where you live and you dont bother warming your engine up...have fun with the piston slap. your car will sound like a tin can by the end of one winter. i think one of the only ones that might understand this would be anomolous. although im not sure if it would hit the same lows there or not? i dont spend much time in alberta but there seems to be less snow and such. correct me if im wrong.

 

damn...my post went by virtually ignored....i thought it was quite informative and aswered the questions...

 

were i am it gets down around -10*c (around 15*f). i find by the time i scrape the windows and let them defrost, wich only takes a couple minutes, im good to go, no matter what im driving. at warmer temps, let it idle for 15 seconds and good to go.

 

I respect your opinion and knowledge, but with all due respect, my father does have knowledge on modern day vehicles...I just always warm my car up to at least 100degrees because as someone else has commented the car doesn't even perform right otherwise...and ****, it just makes me feel better to let it run for a lil

 

if my memory serves me right isnt -40* C the same as -40*F??? I would hate to have to even leave the house in those temps.... let alone in a cobalt lol