question about the cold engine light - Toyota Yaris Forums

Yarus Maximus · 07-22-2010, 09:48 AM

Does the light mean I have to idle the engine until it disappears for optimal performance/longevity? Even on hot summer days it takes a good 30-45 seconds for it to turn off. That is quite a bit of fuel each morning.

BLH · 07-22-2010, 10:17 AM

No. If it is real cold I may wait 30 seconds before driving off.
I believe the manual indicates not to wait.
My Scanguage indicates the cold LED goes off at around 130 degrees water temperature.
Also if you have an Automatic. It will not shift into 4th until the LED goes out.

R2D2 · 07-22-2010, 10:43 AM

I agree with BLH-just drive easy until the engine is warm-no need to idle.

R2

UTVitz · 07-22-2010, 10:48 AM

It's just warning the engine is not up to operating temperature yet and to drive gently till it's off. I forget the exact number, but pretty much anything under 120 degrees is considered cold to and engine, so outside air temps. have little effect other than shorting the engines internal warm-up time.

ChilliwackGuy · 07-22-2010, 12:22 PM

Just drive away at a reasonable speed - mine has been starting off at "cold" for the past 2 months - an dit's only 2 months old! The "cold" warning fades within 30-180 seconds.

big lo · 07-22-2010, 12:39 PM

You should wait until your motor is warm or in this case the cold marker light disappears. Remember your oil needs to be warm as well as the motor to flow correctly. I dont see any problem with turning the engine on and putting the car in first gear or in drive, just let the light go away before punching the gas so you dont have problems in the future. Holla.

Stove · 07-22-2010, 02:07 PM

Go by what the manual says. Since Toyota doesn't want to cover a bunch of warranty claims, if it hurt the engine to drive the car before the engine was warm the manual would tell you to wait. Drive it normally. Unless your driveway is at the end of a short freeway on-ramp, the light should be out before you need to do any hard acceleration.

127.0.0.1 · 07-22-2010, 04:55 PM

drive normally, try not to wail on it

but do not expect an auto tranny to shift to OD until after the light is
out for 30 seconds. it will stay in 3rd

dimsum69 · 07-22-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big lo

You should wait until your motor is warm or in this case the cold marker light disappears. Remember your oil needs to be warm as well as the motor to flow correctly. I dont see any problem with turning the engine on and putting the car in first gear or in drive, just let the light go away before punching the gas so you dont have problems in the future. Holla.

Most engines get up to proper op temp faster by simply driving for obvious reasons. Idling your car and waiting will just cause you to use more gas during your warm up and add to pollution if you care.

You won't be harming the engine by just turning on and going on your way, like most ppl said, just don't bag on it. You're probably doing more good since your getting things up to proper operating temp so the car can run as intended sooner then later

RedRide · 07-22-2010, 07:37 PM

Are we all in that much of a hurry that we can't wait 30-45 second before we drive off? Many people seem to expect too much from an EC engine anymore and perhaps they wont be happy until they can get an all electric car and they can just insert a key and drive off.

BTW, I once had a (1976) MGB. The engine would not even idle properly until it warmed up for a couple of minutes. That was the way it was set up and it was completely normal. Now we can't wait a few seconds?

big lo · 07-22-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRide

Are we all in that much of a hurry that we can't wait 30-45 second before we drive off? Many people seem to expect too much from an EC engine anymore and perhaps they wont be happy until they can get an all electric car and they can just insert a key and drive off.

BTW, I once had a (1976) MGB. The engine would not even idle properly until it warmed up for a couple of minutes. That was the way it was set up and it was completely normal. Now we can't wait a few seconds?

I agree my dude, waiting a couple of mins is nothing, and better for your engines life.

fmicle · 07-22-2010, 07:54 PM

Here are a few articles on this subject:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-o...e-warm-up.aspx
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.374f73f.html

Stove · 07-22-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big lo

I agree my dude, waiting a couple of mins is nothing, and better for your engines life.

With modern engines, waiting a few minutes isn't saving your engine.

yarrr · 07-22-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRide

Are we all in that much of a hurry that we can't wait 30-45 second before we drive off? Many people seem to expect too much from an EC engine anymore and perhaps they wont be happy until they can get an all electric car and they can just insert a key and drive off.

BTW, I once had a (1976) MGB. The engine would not even idle properly until it warmed up for a couple of minutes. That was the way it was set up and it was completely normal. Now we can't wait a few seconds?

no, i just do what it says in the manual...

RedRide · 07-22-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stove

With modern engines, waiting a few minutes isn't saving your engine.

What is so special about a "modern engine" that it no longer needs any sort of warm up, even for a minute?
Some modern engine's parts are still designed to fit together properly only when the engine is at full operating temp,.
The only thing that is different with today's engines in they have modern electronic control for fuel injection , etc . This makes an engine run good even when very cold giving some a false sense of security when starting off.

All the aticles about not warming up your enging has to do with wasting a bit of gas, not wether or not it can potentially harm it if you don't

It is still prudent to warm it up a bit, how long should be determined by ambient temp. Would you turn the key and imediatly take off if the car was sitting outside in 10 degree temp?
Often, a bit of common sense can go a very long ways.

RedRide · 07-22-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yarrr

no, i just do what it says in the manual...

The manual was witten by marketing for the masses who can barely pump their own gas.

yarrr · 07-22-2010, 11:27 PM

Ahhh you're right. I apologize. I forgot about the whole "toyota manuals conspiracy." I stopped putting oil in my car once I figured out they were just trying to get money out of me.

Quaifer · 07-23-2010, 12:16 AM

The majority of engine damage occures when you start your engine. Waiting a few minutes before you drive won't make a difference.

07-22-2010, 09:48 AM	#1
Yarus Maximus Drives: 2010 Yaris 5-dr auto Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 11	question about the cold engine light Does the light mean I have to idle the engine until it disappears for optimal performance/longevity? Even on hot summer days it takes a good 30-45 seconds for it to turn off. That is quite a bit of fuel each morning.

07-22-2010, 10:43 AM	#3
R2D2 Crazy Oil Sniffer Drives: MM 09 Yaris 5 Dr LB "Click" Join Date: May 2009 Location: ME Posts: 498	I agree with BLH-just drive easy until the engine is warm-no need to idle. R2 __________________ "The howl was the sound of God’s casting pot, the morphing of my cells into shape, the forming of oceans out of molten premordial plasma. And I could feel it. I could cry for it. I could cry with it." -The Fitful One

07-22-2010, 07:54 PM	#12
fmicle Drives: 2007 Yaris LB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 685	Here are a few articles on this subject: http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-o...e-warm-up.aspx http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.374f73f.html __________________ 5% Tint Rear \| Micro Image LED Ignition Light Kit

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07-22-2010, 10:17 AM	#2
BLH Drives: 2007 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT Posts: 272	No. If it is real cold I may wait 30 seconds before driving off. I believe the manual indicates not to wait. My Scanguage indicates the cold LED goes off at around 130 degrees water temperature. Also if you have an Automatic. It will not shift into 4th until the LED goes out.

07-22-2010, 10:48 AM	#4
UTVitz Drives: Black Vitz Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 238	It's just warning the engine is not up to operating temperature yet and to drive gently till it's off. I forget the exact number, but pretty much anything under 120 degrees is considered cold to and engine, so outside air temps. have little effect other than shorting the engines internal warm-up time.

07-22-2010, 12:22 PM	#5
ChilliwackGuy WCOAST CANADIAN DRIVER!!! Drives: 2010 Hatch 5DR - AUTO/AC Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada Posts: 109	Just drive away at a reasonable speed - mine has been starting off at "cold" for the past 2 months - an dit's only 2 months old! The "cold" warning fades within 30-180 seconds.

07-22-2010, 12:39 PM	#6
big lo View User's Garage Drives: 2007 VIOS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Loiza,Puerto Rico Posts: 1,121	You should wait until your motor is warm or in this case the cold marker light disappears. Remember your oil needs to be warm as well as the motor to flow correctly. I dont see any problem with turning the engine on and putting the car in first gear or in drive, just let the light go away before punching the gas so you dont have problems in the future. Holla.

07-22-2010, 02:07 PM	#7
Stove View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Yaris 5 Door Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tigard Oregon Posts: 314	Go by what the manual says. Since Toyota doesn't want to cover a bunch of warranty claims, if it hurt the engine to drive the car before the engine was warm the manual would tell you to wait. Drive it normally. Unless your driveway is at the end of a short freeway on-ramp, the light should be out before you need to do any hard acceleration.

07-22-2010, 04:55 PM	#8
127.0.0.1 Banned Drives: '10 Yaris5drHB+99 4runner LTD Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NE Posts: 672	drive normally, try not to wail on it but do not expect an auto tranny to shift to OD until after the light is out for 30 seconds. it will stay in 3rd

07-22-2010, 07:37 PM	#10
RedRide Drives: '09 Yaris carmine red 2d HB Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 1,501	Are we all in that much of a hurry that we can't wait 30-45 second before we drive off? Many people seem to expect too much from an EC engine anymore and perhaps they wont be happy until they can get an all electric car and they can just insert a key and drive off. BTW, I once had a (1976) MGB. The engine would not even idle properly until it warmed up for a couple of minutes. That was the way it was set up and it was completely normal. Now we can't wait a few seconds?

07-22-2010, 11:27 PM	#17
yarrr Banned Drives: 07 sedan Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: new mexico Posts: 292	Ahhh you're right. I apologize. I forgot about the whole "toyota manuals conspiracy." I stopped putting oil in my car once I figured out they were just trying to get money out of me.

07-23-2010, 12:16 AM	#18
Quaifer Drives: 2008 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Strathroy, ON Posts: 5	The majority of engine damage occures when you start your engine. Waiting a few minutes before you drive won't make a difference.