Originally posted by: AmigaMan
not really an engine oil question, but is it bad for your engine if I'm driving only 2 minutes to work each way every day? I can probably walk to work, but I just started this job and will be driving for the time being. The engine just gets to operating temperature before I pull into the parking lot at work.
yes its somewhat bad. your will get higher fuel dilution in your oil; this raises the flashpoint of the oil. Also, things like moisture, and extra carbon will not get burned off in the oil because the oil did not reach sustained operationg temp (which is about 15 minutes of freeway driving); coolant reaches op temp faster than oil does. Just take the car out at least once a week on the freeway.