A question about how long to drive before parking.
 

I've always wondered how long should you drive the car before parking it. Normally this is a problem I roll it out of the garage to wash it then i need to fire it up to get it back in.

What i've been doing is taking it for a spin for at least 5 minutes or until the engine temp is sitting at about half way.

Do I need to drive it for 5 minutes or should just going by the engine temp be fine? Or do i need to drive it even longer. I haven't had any problems with flooding yet but i thought maybe someone would know what a reccommended driving time is.

I too am interested in some opinions on this matter. I had my first flood a month and a half ago. I pulled the car out of the garage, let it idle maybe, 2 minutes, and turned it off.

It refused to start the next day:(

But why?

Was it the lack of a warm engine when I turned it off? Was it unburnt fuel in the combustion chamber? And if so, why does a warmed up engine not burn this fuel?

Ed

i always let the car get up to operating temp before i shut it off and have never had it flood. operating temp is when the water temp gets to the middle of the gauge. usually light reving helps it get there quicker. i usually start let it sit a little until the gauge starts moving then i hold it at about 3k for a few seconds and then let it idle and basically repeat that. just make sure it gets to operating temp before you shut it down.

I just turn it on and shut it off, no flooding yet.

The best protection is to get the latest flash from Mazda.

read the owners manual. it says to rev and hold it at 3k for ten seconds, then shut the car off, while its at 3k, and let it wind down naturally. ive been doing that when just moving it short distances and no problems.

With the price of gas, driving it or running it till the engine warms up is expensive. I just turn it on and off -- no problems yet.

Much discussed topic. I only turn off when the temp needle is near the middle, the usual spot.

i drive it like any other car... 70 k miles have not managed to flood it yet.. btw.. old starter... no problem...

beers :beer:

Hmm its interesting to see how many different things people do, some with success some without any. I guess i will just stick to what im doing or i'll abide by the manual as deadphoenix suggested.

Why does the car have to be revved to 3000 for 10 seconds? I have heard multiple things like this. Also why does it have to be revved like that?

One of my friends was redlining it in neutral before turning it off every time.