experts, I got a new defender and in the mornings when i start it seems to run at high rpm as soon as engine starts and when i start driving its normal. and subsequently during the day i dont see this. Is this normal for defender? I live in north east and not sure if temperature has anything to do with this?

 

How high? I've had a few cars over the years do this. There's a more technical explanation out there but i believe it's part of the warming up process and getting the engine to temperature.

 

Mine does that as do all my cars. it's primary purpose as I understand it is to warm the cats quickly for emissions.

 

Whenever I start a cold engine, I run at about 1500+ rpm for about 30 seconds. Then it drops to normal idle and stays that way.

 

Mine does the same thing until I put her in gear. Normal for the reasons given above.

 

Thank you all. Looks like a normal primer. I had many vehicles and none did this. So I got curious…

 

Far as I know every ICE car has done something like this forever. I just let it idle until it drops and then go. haven't timed it but I don't think it's always 30 seconds unless it's really cold overnight

 

With the turbos in the P400, it sounds like she's about to head for low earth orbit when fired up.

I flipping love it.

 

That is the emissions system working. Engine idle speed is increased for the first 30-60 seconds of a cold start to heat up the catalytic converters to operating temperature and reduce emissions.

It goes back down after you start driving because driving puts load on the engine which heats up the cats, so higher idle and secondary air pump are no longer necessary. And you don't see it on subsequent trips because the cats don't have time to cool all the way down to ambiant temps between trips.