Daily Short Drives Hurting The Car?

penny · 07-31-2008, 06:47 PM

I was told today that daily short drives hurt the car more than long drives. I live less than a mile from work and hardly get out of 3rd gear each way. Because of this, would I need to change my oil more frequently? Warm up the car before driving?

Also, since my drive is usually short I don't turn on the A/C. When I do turn on A/C... I feel a hella noticeable lag. I know it's suppose to... but this is HELLA! It's only the first few gears that I feel the lag. On highway it's super as usual.

Had the car for 3 months. Less than 1800 miles.

larryn · 07-31-2008, 07:04 PM

My normal day is driving from my garage to a commuter rail station, 3.5 miles away from my house, and back again, at the end of the day. I guess you're similar to me.

It will cause you to need more frequent oil changes, and it's not great for the car, if that is all you do with it. You also shouldn't need to warm up the car, and if you drive it hard during those short distances, let the car run a little bit before you turn it off. However, I do not feel any of the noticeable lag you described, and I do use A/C.

Xin1120 · 07-31-2008, 07:05 PM

You don't use the third gear within driving a mile? I get on the third gear within 10 seconds from starting unless I'm going 15-20 mph.

I havn't really noticed too much lag with A/C on but thats just me.

penny · 07-31-2008, 07:13 PM

I hit traffic right when I get onto the street. So it's about 3rd gear max. I have to double check the A/C issue again tonight.

Xin1120 · 07-31-2008, 07:16 PM

That must be tough having all that power and only get to 3rd max

I would say take the car out for a drive after you get off. You can avoid short drives and more frequent oil changes.

bily · 07-31-2008, 07:32 PM

same here I work from home. On our X5 I was told told I need to open it up on the highway every so often.

amdmaxx · 07-31-2008, 07:54 PM

Most of us commute an hour or more..
U r saving tons of gas and time.. Not much damage is done to a car by turning it on and off that quickly.. Engine barely warms up.. you be fine..
cheer up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by penny

I was told today that daily short drives hurt the car more than long drives. I live less than a mile from work and hardly get out of 3rd gear each way. Because of this, would I need to change my oil more frequently? Warm up the car before driving?

Also, since my drive is usually short I don't turn on the A/C. When I do turn on A/C... I feel a hella noticeable lag. I know it's suppose to... but this is HELLA! It's only the first few gears that I feel the lag. On highway it's super as usual.

Had the car for 3 months. Less than 1800 miles.

subscience · 07-31-2008, 09:54 PM

The manual states to not "warm the car up" and to drive immediately after starting the car. I believe it also mentions not to rev it too hard until the oil temps go up a bit.

I have not noticed any lag whatsoever with the A/C running.

How come you don't just walk to work? A mile should take you only about 20 minutes.

Rearro · 08-01-2008, 01:18 AM

I live 1.2 miles from work and I use my 1'er as my daily driver. I used the a/c when hot and I don't notice any lag. I do drive very spirited or Possessed LOL!

( did I spell that right? )

on the way there and on the way home I do this twice a day as I come home for lunch!!

I would say just keep up on the maintenance!

Swift135 · 08-01-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penny

Also, since my drive is usually short I don't turn on the A/C. When I do turn on A/C... I feel a hella noticeable lag. I know it's suppose to... but this is HELLA! It's only the first few gears that I feel the lag. On highway it's super as usual.

.

We are in the middle of winter here in Australia and I have never turned the A/C off. Never. I will have to switch it off and see if it makes a difference.

Robert · 08-01-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rearro

I live 1.2 miles from work and I use my 1'er as my daily driver. I used the a/c when hot and I don't notice any lag. I do drive very spirited or Possessed LOL!

( did I spell that right? )

on the way there and on the way home I do this twice a day as I come home for lunch!!

I would say just keep up on the maintenance!

Hahaha what?!?! I would walk to work if not ride a bike. But I do find excuses to drive my car. Like tonight, drove 2 miles to return dvd and came back home.

esscolab · 08-01-2008, 04:43 AM

Man, get a bike, a mile to work! I walk nearly that to the train station each day. Help the environment

Oregon · 08-01-2008, 04:58 AM

Start the car, let the revs settle to just below 1K, drive conservatively until operating temperature, 240 degrees(?) has been achieved, only then do I consider operating the car 'spiritedly'.

A/C lag has not been detected. Daily drive to work is 6.9 miles with a 2-mile stretch@55mph, the relatively short drive does not achieve operating temp even during summer.

mad chemist · 08-01-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penny

I was told today that daily short drives hurt the car more than long drives. I live less than a mile from work and hardly get out of 3rd gear each way. Because of this, would I need to change my oil more frequently? Warm up the car before driving?

Also, since my drive is usually short I don't turn on the A/C. When I do turn on A/C... I feel a hella noticeable lag. I know it's suppose to... but this is HELLA! It's only the first few gears that I feel the lag. On highway it's super as usual.

Had the car for 3 months. Less than 1800 miles.

penny,

WRT the AC and turbo lag, I don't feel any lag with AC ON in my 135i. I read also that the engine map changes with the AC on which should go someway to reduce the perception of any change. Anyway, compared to my 03 STi, where the dip in pick-up was very noticeable, the 135i is light-years better.

Mad.

Brandon26pdx · 08-01-2008, 02:40 PM

It's hard on the engine oil to be subject to repeated short milage trips. It gets contaminated with water and fuel, which doesn't burn off unless you take a longer trips where the oil gets hot for an extended period of time. Keep the oil change intervals shorter if you do alot of this type of driving.

dimeesq · 08-01-2008, 06:44 PM

Right now I'm about a mile from work too. Yet for some reason it takes me about a half hour to get home every night and there are always more miles on my car than that 1. I just can't figure it out

x97Melbourne · 08-01-2008, 07:26 PM

i wouldn't worry too much about hurting the car, its under warranty for 4 years.
do yourself a favor on the weekends and stretch the car's legs......remember 3rd gear is good for 100MPH.....i love 3rd gear.

Call · 08-01-2008, 08:05 PM

Find the time to take your ONE on a spirited trip like on weekends or as often as you can. If you know of a nice twistie section...I know, I know, Texas and those long straights:eyebulge: But surely you know somewhere. She needs to be ripped a little every now and then.

Call

07-31-2008, 06:47 PM	#1
penny Captain 43 Rep 829 Posts Drives: '08 135i (sold) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Las Colinas iTrader: (2)	Daily Short Drives Hurting The Car? I was told today that daily short drives hurt the car more than long drives. I live less than a mile from work and hardly get out of 3rd gear each way. Because of this, would I need to change my oil more frequently? Warm up the car before driving? Also, since my drive is usually short I don't turn on the A/C. When I do turn on A/C... I feel a hella noticeable lag. I know it's suppose to... but this is HELLA! It's only the first few gears that I feel the lag. On highway it's super as usual. Had the car for 3 months. Less than 1800 miles. __________________ '08 135i.
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07-31-2008, 07:04 PM	#2
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	My normal day is driving from my garage to a commuter rail station, 3.5 miles away from my house, and back again, at the end of the day. I guess you're similar to me. It will cause you to need more frequent oil changes, and it's not great for the car, if that is all you do with it. You also shouldn't need to warm up the car, and if you drive it hard during those short distances, let the car run a little bit before you turn it off. However, I do not feel any of the noticeable lag you described, and I do use A/C.
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07-31-2008, 07:05 PM	#3
Xin1120 Captain 41 Rep 667 Posts Drives: 135i Coupé Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 135i Coupé SOLD [0.00]	You don't use the third gear within driving a mile? I get on the third gear within 10 seconds from starting unless I'm going 15-20 mph. I havn't really noticed too much lag with A/C on but thats just me.
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07-31-2008, 07:13 PM	#4
penny Captain 43 Rep 829 Posts Drives: '08 135i (sold) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Las Colinas iTrader: (2)	I hit traffic right when I get onto the street. So it's about 3rd gear max. I have to double check the A/C issue again tonight. __________________ '08 135i.
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07-31-2008, 07:16 PM	#5
Xin1120 Captain 41 Rep 667 Posts Drives: 135i Coupé Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 135i Coupé SOLD [0.00]	That must be tough having all that power and only get to 3rd max I would say take the car out for a drive after you get off. You can avoid short drives and more frequent oil changes.
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07-31-2008, 07:32 PM	#6
bily Lieutenant 84 Rep 540 Posts Drives: 22 G05, 22 G26 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 i4 [0.00] 2022 BMW X5 [0.00] 2015 BMW 428 Cabriolet [0.00]	same here I work from home. On our X5 I was told told I need to open it up on the highway every so often.
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07-31-2008, 09:54 PM	#8
subscience Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	The manual states to not "warm the car up" and to drive immediately after starting the car. I believe it also mentions not to rev it too hard until the oil temps go up a bit. I have not noticed any lag whatsoever with the A/C running. How come you don't just walk to work? A mile should take you only about 20 minutes. __________________ 08 jet black 135i \| sport, 6-mt
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08-01-2008, 01:18 AM	#9
Rearro Lieutenant 24 Rep 507 Posts Drives: Bmw 135I Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Silverdale, Wa. iTrader: (0)	I live 1.2 miles from work and I use my 1'er as my daily driver. I used the a/c when hot and I don't notice any lag. I do drive very spirited or Possessed LOL! ( did I spell that right? ) on the way there and on the way home I do this twice a day as I come home for lunch!! I would say just keep up on the maintenance! __________________ 2008 135i,Dinan Stage 2,Dinan Free flow exhaust.
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08-01-2008, 04:43 AM	#12
esscolab Brigadeer 74 Rep 728 Posts Drives: Black 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colchester - UK iTrader: (0)	Man, get a bike, a mile to work! I walk nearly that to the train station each day. Help the environment __________________ Eibach Sports springs, Evole Remap, Quafe LSD, AR Downpipes, Forge FMIC, Hart'ge Quads, BMS Intake.
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08-01-2008, 04:58 AM	#13
Oregon NRA Life Member, BMW CCA 30 year member 181 Rep 2,614 Posts Drives: 04' M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1) Garage List 1971 2002 [0.00] 2004 M3 [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	Start the car, let the revs settle to just below 1K, drive conservatively until operating temperature, 240 degrees(?) has been achieved, only then do I consider operating the car 'spiritedly'. A/C lag has not been detected. Daily drive to work is 6.9 miles with a 2-mile stretch@55mph, the relatively short drive does not achieve operating temp even during summer. __________________ Resigned 1ADDICTS Moderator “To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them.” – George Mason
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08-01-2008, 02:40 PM	#15
Brandon26pdx Lieutenant Colonel 28 Rep 1,938 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (1)	It's hard on the engine oil to be subject to repeated short milage trips. It gets contaminated with water and fuel, which doesn't burn off unless you take a longer trips where the oil gets hot for an extended period of time. Keep the oil change intervals shorter if you do alot of this type of driving.
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08-01-2008, 06:44 PM	#16
dimeesq Private 0 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 135 Vert Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0)	Right now I'm about a mile from work too. Yet for some reason it takes me about a half hour to get home every night and there are always more miles on my car than that 1. I just can't figure it out __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 2008 BMW 135 Vert Montego Blue Coral Red HGB Trim Cold Weather Premium Sport Comfort Access IPOD and USB Satellite Radio
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08-01-2008, 07:26 PM	#17
x97Melbourne Molar World 47 Rep 916 Posts Drives: 2016 435i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	i wouldn't worry too much about hurting the car, its under warranty for 4 years. do yourself a favor on the weekends and stretch the car's legs......remember 3rd gear is good for 100MPH.....i love 3rd gear. __________________ Current: 2016 435i Coupe Previous: 2014 335i Sedan; 2013 328i Cv, 2011 335i Sedan Gone But Not Forgotten: 2008 135i Convertible (my favorite)
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08-01-2008, 08:05 PM	#18
Call Call 21 Rep 683 Posts Drives: 08 135i, 08 & 07 X5, 05 MCSC Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gainesville, GA iTrader: (0)	Find the time to take your ONE on a spirited trip like on weekends or as often as you can. If you know of a nice twistie section...I know, I know, Texas and those long straights:eyebulge: But surely you know somewhere. She needs to be ripped a little every now and then. Call __________________
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