car chugs problems

I wanted to know if anyone had an idea what could be wrong with my car. It's a 92 camry old 4cylinder auto. When I start the car and it's cold it will chug all the time while I"m at idle, like stop lights or whatever. It's takes about 20 mins of driving and it runs fine and doenst chug anymore. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with the car

how well maintained is your car? last tune up? oil change? how many miles?

more info please

I don't know where in the US you are from your profile, but lately here in NH the temps been as low as -10 deg F. A car with a small block esp. one with aluminum parts get pretty cold overnight, the engine oil becomes like vasoline and doesn't easily flow when you start up the car.

Some suggestions:

1. Get a remote start - let the car run for 10 - 15 minutes to warm it up
2. Switch engine oil from the usual 10W30 or 10W40 to 5W30 or to a synthetic oil, these are less viscous at lower temps.
3. Get a engine block heater - use in place of oil dipstick, plugs into standard 120 VAC outlet.

Hope this helps!

I'm out in VA, outside DC and the weather isn't that cold like up in NH

I got a car tune up not that long ago, sometime last year. The car has 130thousand miles on it. I wish I kept it in better shape with maintenance. I do try to change the oil regular, but I'm not the best with that either, but I've gotten better past few years with that. I got my last oil change about 3000 miles ago, so it does need a new one. My transmission I changed last year for the very first time ever on my car, I know it was supposed to be red, but it was black like oil, didn't smell burnt or anything, but very black, So I did change my transmission and the new oil immediately went black again.

Quote:

Originally posted by joe_ski

1. Get a remote start - let the car run for 10 - 15 minutes to warm it up
2. Switch engine oil from the usual 10W30 or 10W40 to 5W30 or to a synthetic oil, these are less viscous at lower temps.
3. Get a engine block heater - use in place of oil dipstick, plugs into standard 120 VAC outlet.

it's a 92 with 130k miles on it! not worth that investment.

make sure your air cleaner is clean, wires are good. do a basic visual inspection of the basics,... fluids all that.
get your oil changed now, try not to go 500 miles over 3000 for oil change.

also are there any lights coming in the guage area?

.

Bachiotomy, I will try those things and see what happens. I did have a remote car start, i was going to install, but after finding out how hard it was and the cost, I changed my mind. I will try those tips you said and see what happens. No lights are coming on in the guage area at all. I wanted to also ask, is it worth buying those gas cleaners at the store to clean the fuel system? but I will get my oil changed ASAP and check that air cleaner too.

Basically 3 things you need to make sure are good...spark make sure plugs are firing right, fuel make sure engine is getting the right amount of fuel, and air flow engine needs good air flow. as far as additives go, I do not advise to use any except for maybe a little dry gas in case you have gotten bad gas that has too much water in it.