So how long do you let them warm up???

[mikec4193]

Hi Samba folks

I don't drive my VW much but I remember reading in the idiot book that John Muir use to say you had to let them warm up before you drove them...

I had mine out the other day when the weather permitted just drove it maybe a 1/2 mile to get all the car "warmed" up....

So do you folks let them idle before you drive them??

Also when you store them...how much do you start them and let them run for??

MikeC
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Dad bought his first Beetle on Dec 17, 1953.

[pistolpetecowboy]

[cphipps79]

If you have the thermostat and flaps setup, I drive off almost immediately. Just don't race the engine right away. It warms up faster that way. Most engine wear happens during start up.

[Maddel]

[Frank Bassman]

Manual says drive off.

I warm them up a minute or so. I do this so oil will go where it has to before any real load is applied. I don't keep count of seconds, I just listen until I rev the motor and the fast idle cams on my dual carbs step down some from high idle. Then I drive somewhat gingerly for some miles. Works for me.

-Frank

[sjbartnik]

[wcfvw69]

My engines are all bone stock with all the fan shroud flaps, thermostat and warm air to the carb hooked up. I start it up and drive off. As the other poster mentioned, it warms up quicker as well.

Someone posted in another thread that the choke is "timed". The electric choke expects that the engine will reach the correct engine temperature to allow the engine to idle w/out it when it fully opens. So, if you simply start the engine and let it idle to warm up, the engine may not reach the correct operating temperature before the choke fully opens. The engine could then fail to idle as you drive off and it returns to idle due to the engine still being too cold for the choke to be fully open. Of course, you need to have the flaps/thermostat in place along with clear carb manifold preheat pipes, a stock muffler that flows enough exhaust gas through the manifold and warm air to the carb via the stove pipe and working flap in the oil bath.

What I've experienced as critical for wonderful cold engine driveability is having the thermostat and flaps in place. Second, insuring your carb manifold preheat pipes are clear. Third, you run a stock muffler that flows the correct amount of hot exhaust gas through the carb manifold. Aftermarket headers simply don't flow nearly enough.
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[pistolpetecowboy]

I remember reading this in the manual for my 1970 because it kind of went against what I had been taught, at least on domestic vehicles.
From Page 27:
"Do not try to warm the engine up by letting it idle with the vehicle stationary - drive off immediately.

Do not race the engine while it is cold."
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70 Beetle, 70 Beetle, 71 Beetle, 71 Super, 73 Super, 74 Beetle, 2000 Vintage Speedster, 2020 Jeep Renegade, 71 Squareback

[Cusser]

All vehicles are engineered and manufactured for optimum clearances at operating temperature, less wear there too.

So the goal is to get to operating temperature quickly, and keep it there. That means driving under load, not idling.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[vamram]

[mikec4193]

Hi Samba folks...

It is sorta odd with this car I have....I keep forgetting that it is carbureted car...the last time I drove it...it was stumbling very badly until it got "warmed-up"...In fact at one point I was trying to drive it very gingerly until it was up to temp and it cut out totally.....had to grab second gear and dump the clutch to keep it going...

All of a sudden it was 1979 again (the last time I owned one of these cars)...

Funny how we forget how it use to be....

Thanks for all the replies and insight...

MikeC
_________________
Dad bought his first Beetle on Dec 17, 1953.

[sjbartnik]