Warming up car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
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From: Merritt Island, FL
In any vehicle I own, I begin to drive (gently) as soon as the initial "flare" in engine rpm is reduced to an appropriate idle. Excessive idling while cold isn't doing any favors to the engine or the rest of the drivetrain.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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It will reach 90°F tomorrow. 
regarding cold take offs, it is recommended to take off easy and to await for the engine, tranny and axle to reach operating temperature before you would do WOT.
I mix it a lot, sometime I warm it up, sometimes I dont but, I wait at least I wait the oil to reach 165°F and 5 miles of driving before I do any WOT.
This thread will generate several responses like "who cares, I dont do it, I do 140°F, thats a myth, thats BS, who told you that?" etc etc
regarding cold take offs, it is recommended to take off easy and to await for the engine, tranny and axle to reach operating temperature before you would do WOT.
I mix it a lot, sometime I warm it up, sometimes I dont but, I wait at least I wait the oil to reach 165°F and 5 miles of driving before I do any WOT.
This thread will generate several responses like "who cares, I dont do it, I do 140°F, thats a myth, thats BS, who told you that?" etc etc
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
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Some of it depends on oil weight, but it's been shown that excessive warm-up only wastes gas. Studies say no warm-up is necessary anymore -- especially with thinner rings, modern machining, and 5W-30 engine oils.
OTOH, I do as commonly mentioned....
I let the engine settle down (from initial rev).
I wait another few seconds.
Then I drive lazily until the oil temp is above 160F.
After that, it's a strain to maintain!
OTOH, I do as commonly mentioned....
I let the engine settle down (from initial rev).
I wait another few seconds.
Then I drive lazily until the oil temp is above 160F.
After that, it's a strain to maintain!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
It's not that important to get the coolant up to a higher temperature right away. Try to get the oil temperature a bit warmer before you put your foot into the throttle too much. If it's too cold, say when it's below freezing outside, the oil is very thick. Warming it a bit will help thin it down to flow easier throughout the engine. Excessive idle warm up time just wastes your fuel.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: state of insanity
You have to understand that detroit engineers arn't stupid. they build cars for everyone. here's my wifes procedure. I'v paid attention and this is also the procedure for most women. They jump in the car,start it, fiddle around, buckle the seat belt. unbuckle the belt to take off there coat then re buckle. reach over grab there purse,dig through it pulls out her bottle of water put it in the cup holder. then digs through it again find the lipstick put it on. put the lipstick or lip gloss back in the purse. put the purse back on the floor, reach up re-adjust the rearview mirror,the one she moved to put on the lipstick. then she realize's she forgot here phone. sets the emergency brake. unbuckles the seatbelt,runs into the house ,gets here phone. jumps back in the car,buckles the seat belt,releases the emergency brake, finally puts the car in reverse and drives off. Detroit engineers are also married,and understand this procedure,and know that by the time this is done the engine and transmission are up to temp. and its ok to drive off.
and we the men drivers start the car put on our sunglasses look at the gauges (good enough).
Last edited by mtnmanut; Jan 26, 2012 at 11:46 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
You have to understand that detroit engineers arn't stupid. they build cars for everyone. here's my wifes procedure. I'v paid attention and this is also the procedure for most women. They jump in the car,start it, fiddle around, buckle the seat belt. unbuckle the belt to take off there coat then re buckle. reach over grab there purse,dig through it pulls out her bottle of water put it in the cup holder. then digs through it again find the lipstick put it on. put the lipstick or lip gloss back in the purse. put the purse back on the floor, reach up re-adjust the rearview mirror,the one she moved to put on the lipstick. then she realize's she forgot here phone. sets the emergency brake. unbuckles the seatbelt,runs into the house ,gets here phone. jumps back in the car,buckles the seat belt,releases the emergency brake, finally puts the car in reverse and drives off. Detroit engineers are also married,and understand this procedure,and know that by the time this is done the engine and transmission are up to temp. and its ok to drive off. and we the men drivers start the car put on our sunglasses look at the gauges (good enough). But my wife waits until she does everything else, THEN she starts the car!!!
But trying to tell a woman about efficient thinking is like trying to train a dog how to talk.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 312
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From: state of insanity
rufus says thankyou
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
You have to understand that detroit engineers arn't stupid. they build cars for everyone. here's my wifes procedure. I'v paid attention and this is also the procedure for most women. They jump in the car,start it, fiddle around, buckle the seat belt. unbuckle the belt to take off there coat then re buckle. reach over grab there purse,dig through it pulls out her bottle of water put it in the cup holder. then digs through it again find the lipstick put it on. put the lipstick or lip gloss back in the purse. put the purse back on the floor, reach up re-adjust the rearview mirror,the one she moved to put on the lipstick. then she realize's she forgot here phone. sets the emergency brake. unbuckles the seatbelt,runs into the house ,gets here phone. jumps back in the car,buckles the seat belt,releases the emergency brake, finally puts the car in reverse and drives off. Detroit engineers are also married,and understand this procedure,and know that by the time this is done the engine and transmission are up to temp. and its ok to drive off. and we the men drivers start the car put on our sunglasses look at the gauges (good enough).
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 15
From: Richmond Virginia
I usually don't let it idle, I get out and go. But I drive like a grandpa anyways, so it really doesn't matter too much in the first place. Speaking of which, my 67 year old grandfather drives more like a teenager than I do! 
I don't go WOT until the engine is about 185 or higher. Just so I know that all the fluids or nice. I don't let the engine idle, I let it get there from driving around so I know the tires are warming up as well. Though I don't go WOT very often...
I don't go WOT until the engine is about 185 or higher. Just so I know that all the fluids or nice. I don't let the engine idle, I let it get there from driving around so I know the tires are warming up as well. Though I don't go WOT very often...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
I am in the minority, I guess. I wait until my coolant temp reads 100 before I drive off, which is about a minute. And I take it easy until I have driven a few miles (truthfully I almost always take it easy).
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 4
From: Shrub Oak NY
I was reading an article in Circle Track magazine where it said, on a race car, to look at the oil temp not the water temp to see if the engine is ready for WOT. It said that when the oil is not hot it is thicker which raises the oil pressure at the pump and on the gauge but reduces the oil flow so that the bearings at the end of the run have less oil pressure than when the oil is hot and the pressure is lower. I think they recommended 185 oil temp. That being said I'm sure a stock engine has more latitude in it but after reading that article I have waited longer before really getting on it. It was sort of counter-intuitive.