Is it bad to drive for short distances? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

slowbrz · 05-23-2013, 06:35 PM

I live very close to work and the driving commute will be under 1 mile. I plan to walk most of the time but want to drive on rainy or very hot days. Is this bad? Should I drive a couple miles around before going to work?

sho220 · 05-23-2013, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowbrz

I live very close to work and the driving commute will be under 1 mile. I plan to walk most of the time but want to drive on rainy or very hot days. Is this bad? Should I drive a couple miles around before going to work?

No, and no.

chickdigger802 · 05-23-2013, 07:16 PM

I think you are underestimating modern cars a bit :/

supramkivtt2jz · 05-23-2013, 07:17 PM

potato

Celica00 · 05-23-2013, 07:20 PM

what is this thread..

reeves · 05-23-2013, 07:28 PM

It's not necessarily bad, as long you change your oil more frequently. Engine wear occurs most when you're driving on a cold startup, so just don't drive too hard during that 1 mile stretch. Driving short distances like that doesn't give your engine enough time to warm up to proper operating temperatures either.. *the temperature gauge isn't a good indicator of "proper operating" btw.

boredom.is.me · 05-23-2013, 07:38 PM

Also from what I've learned, unburned stuff from the fuel builds up when operating under temp.

frslee · 05-23-2013, 07:43 PM

What is wrong with people

boredom.is.me · 05-23-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frslee

What is wrong with people

Well your contribution isn't exactly helpful.

slowbrz · 05-23-2013, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeves

It's not necessarily bad, as long you change your oil more frequently. Engine wear occurs most when you're driving on a cold startup, so just don't drive too hard during that 1 mile stretch. Driving short distances like that doesn't give your engine enough time to warm up to proper operating temperatures either.. *the temperature gauge isn't a good indicator of "proper operating" btw.

I dont drive my car hard during the first couple minutes anyway. But from what Ive read, it's just bad to drive for short distances and turning off the engine.

I would have to change the oil more frequently because more stress is put on the engine, right? By this logic, wouldnt it cause more wear to the engine?

taimysho0 · 05-23-2013, 08:06 PM

you might see a drop in your mpg

autogyro · 05-23-2013, 08:11 PM

Yeah if your car is never getting up to operating temperature due to all the short drives I think it's a valid concern. I don't see why people are being snarky about it. It's a valid question.

I would personally walk all the same though if the work commute is less than a mile, even if it's raining or if it's hot.

Mikem53 · 05-23-2013, 08:25 PM

As mentioned ... U want to bring the engine up to operating temps so it burns off moisture in the oil.. Because you start to get the oil hot on a cold engine... The temp diff cause condensation and other nasty chemical reactions happen.
What you need to do is drive it every now and then to operating temps .. And change ur oil more frequently.. You will be fine.. It can take it.. Just not ideal..

whaap · 05-23-2013, 08:28 PM

Maybe every few days take a little bit of a longer drive coming home after work. Do that and I wouldn't worry about it at all.

05-23-2013, 06:35 PM	#1
slowbrz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: '13 black BRZ MT Location: Cali Posts: 153 Thanks: 60 Thanked 17 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is it bad to drive for short distances? I live very close to work and the driving commute will be under 1 mile. I plan to walk most of the time but want to drive on rainy or very hot days. Is this bad? Should I drive a couple miles around before going to work?

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05-23-2013, 07:16 PM	#3
chickdigger802 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 1997 Geo Prizm Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 135 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I think you are underestimating modern cars a bit :/

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05-23-2013, 07:28 PM	#6
reeves Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: ATL, GA Posts: 1,021 Thanks: 289 Thanked 397 Times in 265 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It's not necessarily bad, as long you change your oil more frequently. Engine wear occurs most when you're driving on a cold startup, so just don't drive too hard during that 1 mile stretch. Driving short distances like that doesn't give your engine enough time to warm up to proper operating temperatures either.. *the temperature gauge isn't a good indicator of "proper operating" btw.

05-23-2013, 07:43 PM	#8
frslee Just drive it Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 13' FR-S Location: Maryland Posts: 1,122 Thanks: 97 Thanked 321 Times in 218 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	What is wrong with people

05-23-2013, 08:06 PM	#11
taimysho0 Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: frs Location: bay area Posts: 174 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	you might see a drop in your mpg

05-23-2013, 08:25 PM	#13
Mikem53 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: FR-S 6MT Location: Somewhere in Space Posts: 1,565 Thanks: 500 Thanked 882 Times in 433 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	As mentioned ... U want to bring the engine up to operating temps so it burns off moisture in the oil.. Because you start to get the oil hot on a cold engine... The temp diff cause condensation and other nasty chemical reactions happen. What you need to do is drive it every now and then to operating temps .. And change ur oil more frequently.. You will be fine.. It can take it.. Just not ideal..

05-23-2013, 08:28 PM	#14
whaap Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: '13 FR-S firestorm, 6 mt - '11 CR-V Location: Tucson Posts: 2,133 Thanks: 243 Thanked 1,387 Times in 657 Posts Mentioned: 36 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Maybe every few days take a little bit of a longer drive coming home after work. Do that and I wouldn't worry about it at all.

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