Remote start question -- sort of

[Cinsue]

I imagine the main purpose of the remote start is to allow the car to either cool or heat the interior of the car before you get in, at least that is what my friends use it for.

BUT, my dad always told me starting the car and letting it sit while running was a big waste of gas and hard on the engine.

I'm 50 years old, so this information may have been true "back in the day", but is it still true of the newer cars?

 

[Sonic]

In the winter, hopping in a cold car and driving off right away would be FAR more harmful to the engine than letting it warm up.

 

[nikekid403]

In the winter, hopping in a cold car and driving off right away would be FAR more harmful to the engine than letting it warm up.

That's always been my take on it. A warmed up engine is a happy engine.

In terms of gas wastage, it would be nominal. I believe the Sonic has a 10 minute timer on it before it auto turns off. So really if you are warming for 10 minutes, the gas usage is not that much.

 

[Cinsue]

That makes sense, but my dad has always said by the time you get your seatbelt on and are situated and ready to go, the car's engine has warmed up enough. A few minutes tops. My cars have usually "idled down" by that time and I put it in gear and go. (please forgive my non-technical car talk )

What I'm thinking about are my friends who let their cars idle for 10 to 15 minutes before they even walk out to their cars.

 

[Sonic]

The car is NOT warmed up enough in the short time it takes to sit and put your belt on. It takes the oil and anti freeze/coolant different amounts of time to reach proper temperature. And neither is 30 seconds, which is about how long it takes to have a seat and buckle up.

 

[MGDavis]

I would have signed whatever waivers the General asked me to, if they would just have included remote start on my turbo. I mean, I'm a total parking brake whore, and never leave it in gear to park, unless I'm on a significant incline.

 

[Cinsue]

The car is NOT warmed up enough in the short time it takes to sit and put your belt on. It takes the oil and anti freeze/coolant different amounts of time to reach proper temperature. And neither is 30 seconds, which is about how long it takes to have a seat and buckle up.

Takes me longer than 30 seconds! Got to get my coat situated, seat belt on, adjust coat again to get comfy, dig in my purse for my sunglasses, take gloves off and continue looking in purse for sunglasses, put sunglasses on, put gloves back on, adjust coat one more time, THEN I'm ready to back out of the garage.

I take it slow for awhile and usually by the time I reach the highway, the car is warmed up and ready to go.

But when I'm at work and parked outside, the car does run longer.

So, is there an optimal time for warming a car? How do you know when it's ready to go?

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Remote Start question -- sort of

Hi Cinsue,

Depending on the amount of time spent idling, the benefit of having the remote start probably compensates for the cost fuel loss. Living in Michigan, I prefer the benefit of having a remote start. Today's vehicles are much more efficient.

Vanessa-Chevrolet Customer Service

 

[MPA]

I added remote start to my Focus when I got it - I'm going to miss it when I get a Sonic since I want a 6spd.

It really helps when it snows or is going to be frosty in the winter. I'll leave it set to turn on the front defroster in the event of snow and start it a few minutes before heading out to clean the car off.

 

[Cinsue]

I added remote start to my Focus when I got it - I'm going to miss it when I get a Sonic since I want a 6spd.

It really helps when it snows or is going to be frosty in the winter. I'll leave it set to turn on the front defroster in the event of snow and start it a few minutes before heading out to clean the car off.

This is probably what I'll use my remote start for -- my first remote start, I'm so excited!

It's the people I know that will let their cars idle for 10 minutes or more, all seasons, so the interior of their car is comfortable when they get in, that I think is over the top. One person I know will start her car (summer or winter -- doesn't matter) at least 30 minutes before she gets off work.

As I said in my original post, I've always been told it's hard on the engine to do that.

Can you add an aftermarket remote start? That's what my friend did.

 

[MPA]

I've used it a few times in the summer to cool the car down before i get in, but not many times.

There are aftermarket remote start units out there.

 

[JordanN]

I don't care so much about warming up the engine, so long as the windows are defrosted and it's safe to drive. That's why I do a remote start, which is useful as long as I remembered to preset the controls the previous night.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

When I was young, it was gospel that you needed to let the engine warm up before you ran it hard. I think that was valid advice because engines are designed to operate in their "warmed up" condition.
However, my understanding of modern motors (as reinforced by Click & Clack of "Car Talk") is the tolerances have gotten so much more precise and consistent that any normal routine (short of starting the car while holding the accelerator to the floor) will not cause any problem in modern cars - assuming you live below the arctic circle.

The factory remote start in my Malibu will "time-out" and shut off the engine after 2 minutes. I might restart it if there is heavy ice on the windshield, but usually 2 minutes is pretty good.

 

[Cinsue]

When I was young, it was gospel that you needed to let the engine warm up before you ran it hard. I think that was valid advice because engines are designed to operate in their "warmed up" condition.
However, my understanding of modern motors (as reinforced by Click & Clack of "Car Talk") is the tolerances have gotten so much more precise and consistent that any normal routine (short of starting the car while holding the accelerator to the floor) will not cause any problem in modern cars - assuming you live below the arctic circle.

The factory remote start in my Malibu will "time-out" and shut off the engine after 2 minutes. I might restart it if there is heavy ice on the windshield, but usually 2 minutes is pretty good.

This is what I've been taught too.

I've been reading and I think it said the Sonic shut's off after 10 minutes. Which should be more than enough time to get the windows scrapped.

Like JordanN said though, I have to remember to set the defrost!

 

[AndrewGS]

I love remote start, especially down here in the summer. When I'm driving one of my family's cars I usually start up about 5 minutes before I'm getting in. This gets the coolant warm enough to make heat in the winter and gets the stagnant 140° air circulated out of the car and replaced with cool air in the summer.

My grandparents' GMC Acadia is kinda retarded in how the temp sensor works, so sometimes if a front blows through overnight after being shut off on a warm day it will cool the interior on that cold morning, lol. I'm not sure if the Sonic's sensor is updated upon the remote start or not though.

I'd really like to have it on my Sonic, but I wanted the Turbo more than the remote start.

 

[svzuki]

Hi Cinsue,

Depending on the amount of time spent idling, the benefit of having the remote start probably compensates for the cost fuel loss. Living in Michigan, I prefer the benefit of having a remote start. Today's vehicles are much more efficient.

Vanessa-Chevrolet Customer Service

One of the smarter things GM did with the remote start was allowing the heated seats to be turned on when the remote start is active. Love it being in Michigan as well!

 

[omniman]

remote start thats the only reason i got automatic.

 

[Mr4thQuarter]

The remote start is awesome. it's a must have in new cars. once you have it once, you'll never buy a car without it. I've noticed although it DOES waste gas, it IS way better for the engine to allow it to wake up for a lil bit before asking it to drive you around town abruptly. When I drive it without starting, it maintains very high RPMs until it can relax. which sometimes takes a while.

 

[Wolfhound]

I can't wait to get my ac to come on with remote start again. Stopped working after the last repair at dealership. Now that it is above 110 here regularly I need to get over & have that fixed.

 

[Cinsue]

I can't wait to get my ac to come on with remote start again. Stopped working after the last repair at dealership. Now that it is above 110 here regularly I need to get over & have that fixed.

I don't think mine has ever worked right.