Let the engine idle before departure?

First off, we’d like to apologize for posting a video featuring the “TikTok song.” You’ll hear it at the beginning of the video, and we understand if you never want to see us again after this. An annoying choice by the filmmaker, because his video is quite interesting to watch. In the short cutscene, one Karl tries to prove that it is nonsense to let the engine idle for a while before setting off.

His proof is an engine without a valve cover, so you can see the camshafts well. He starts the engine to show how quickly the oil reaches the very tip of the engine. According to him, this is the ultimate proof that warming up an engine is nonsense. We don’t quite agree with that, but it’s proof that you don’t have to let the engine idle for a while ‘so the oil gets everywhere’. So you can leave almost immediately.

Let the engine idle before departure?

The fact that the oil ends up right at the top of the engine says nothing about the temperature of the oil. Cold oil has a different thickness than warm oil and other parts in the engine are also designed to function at temperature. Putting a heavy load on a cold engine or making a lot of revs is still a very bad idea. Actually, you have to drive slowly for at least fifteen minutes so that the oil can warm up.

We sometimes hear from car enthusiasts that they wait for the engine speed to drop before setting off. Especially when it’s cold outside, most fuel engines idle a little higher at the start. Think of it as a kind of modern choke. Modern motorcycles are designed to just drive away right away, as long as you take it easy. It also heats up faster than when it is idling. Sitting in a parked car for a few minutes every day is also a waste of time.

Let the engine run for a while before driving off?