How important is it to first warm up the car?

 

What year is your car?

 

2003 e320

 

It's actually more important that you DO NOT warm up the car. Let it idle for 20-30 seconds so the oil can get to the top of the engine and then drive easy for 5 miles or so and try to keep the speed below 50 mph. Any longer idling wastes gas and high loads will prematurely wear your engine. There should be info in your owner's manual on this.

 

coz i feel the car run more smoothly when i idle the car for ~3 mins. THX for ur info, i will double check that on my user manual.

 

Technically, I was wrong. You do warm up the car--and it's very important that you do. You just do it while driving easy for the first few miles.

 

I usually wait for the idle to kick back down to 1000 rpms when I start it up. When it's cold this takes about 15 seconds, when it's warm it may take 2 seconds. Go easy until you start seeing the temp guage move a bit.

Drive safely.

 

What about during the winter? I live in upstate NY and winters get extremly cold. How long should I warm it up for then?

 

Me...I start my car and go... THESE ARE BENZ's LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! They last FOREVER!!! I have FOUR and just drive and go... But it's always good to let the car idle for atleast 1 minute so the oil can go through the oil galleries andpassages so it can lubricate all of the moving mechanical parts in the engine. MOBIL 1 5W-30 FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL!!!

take care,
-mar-

 

Depends on ext temp. In winter let the car iddle for a half a min. In summer start and go ... easyly for a mile or so.