Q: I seem to recall being told many times that one should not rev the engine when first starting it because the oil has not yet reached all the components (or something like that). If that is true, why do engines idle so high when you first start the car? Taping the accelerator pedal doesn't seem to drop the idle speed. Bowing to your wisdom.
A.A., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
A: During cold soak (the industry term for sitting for a while), a little bit of oil slips away from components, but not enough to result in damage when starting. A cold engine needs extra fuel because the gasoline doesn’t vaporize easily. In olden days, the choke limited the air, resulting in a richer fuel mixture, and you could tap the gas pedal to release the choke and the high idle. Fuel injection maintains the proper amount of gas and engine speed. You may now kiss the ring.
