OK, this is a pretty feeble question, technically speaking. Yet it's something I've always wondered about.
Back in the days of carbureted engines, you had to let a car warm up for a while or they would stall on you (especially if you were driving an older/poorly tuned car). The problem was magnified in cold temperatures. Now with the wonders of fuel injection the quirks of carbs are gone, and so is that specific reason for warm-ups. BUT there's that thing I've always heard about start-up being the toughest time for engine wear, letting the oil circulate properly, etc.
So- is it possible to offer any kind of general statement about how much time should pass between the engine starting to run and when it is OK to put it in gear? This question nags me more during cold snaps like the one we're having now where it is going down to as low as -20°F. Sometimes I hear creaks and groans from the car when it's this cold that make me feel 'sorry' for it!
What about hard acceleration with a cold engine?
Would advice for the MM be applicable to most recent makes/models of cars and light trucks, and would or should the time increase as the temp drops?