Warming your C4 up
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 0
From: lafayette co
Warming your C4 up
Just curious to see how everyone warms up their C4's before they get on it.
Do you use time as a gauge? Engine Temp? Oil Temp?
I usually let mine run for a minute or so before driving at all (below 3500 RPM). Then I usually wait till the oil temp is above 180 before I really GET ON IT!!!
I'm interested to see what others do.
Do you use time as a gauge? Engine Temp? Oil Temp?
I usually let mine run for a minute or so before driving at all (below 3500 RPM). Then I usually wait till the oil temp is above 180 before I really GET ON IT!!!
I'm interested to see what others do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by boulderlt4
Just curious to see how everyone warms up their C4's before they get on it.
Do you use time as a gauge? Engine Temp? Oil Temp?
I usually let mine run for a minute or so before driving at all (below 3500 RPM). Then I usually wait till the oil temp is above 180 before I really GET ON IT!!!
I'm interested to see what others do.
Do you use time as a gauge? Engine Temp? Oil Temp?
I usually let mine run for a minute or so before driving at all (below 3500 RPM). Then I usually wait till the oil temp is above 180 before I really GET ON IT!!!
I'm interested to see what others do.
Any time I take it out in the winter I drive a few miles hard on the Interstate before I bring it home to shut it off.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I use no real warmup after starting up.
I usually just start it up, get personal items into the console and drop it into gear & go.
Driving style depends on how I feel at the time. I rarely go to WOT except at the strip, as I only burn off the tires at a traffic signal and don't like to force a down shift on the highway. However, I do use heavy throttle to get nice acceleration...love to watch the "slugs" fade away in the rear view.
I usually just start it up, get personal items into the console and drop it into gear & go.
Driving style depends on how I feel at the time. I rarely go to WOT except at the strip, as I only burn off the tires at a traffic signal and don't like to force a down shift on the highway. However, I do use heavy throttle to get nice acceleration...love to watch the "slugs" fade away in the rear view.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,079
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater FL
St. Jude Donor '06
I asked Dave McLellan this question at a NCRS show and he said it is safe to hammer it right away. I still dont feel safe doing this and usually wait until the oil temp is at 160 before really laying into the throttle. I'd think the metal parts in the motor expand as they heat up and by exposing the pistons to full throttle when cold the motor will not have had the chance to fully equalize and cause greater stress on the components. I'm not going to risk my LT4 just because the chief engineer for the C4 said it could do it. I can only imagine some of the stress tests those guys put on motors...
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It s just about always warm here. 
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Originally Posted by TankerVette
very, very gentle with the girl until we get up to 180 degrees...
I work with a bunch o' ship engineers, tell me its a real bad idea to stress any type of heat engine until its up to temp...
I work with a bunch o' ship engineers, tell me its a real bad idea to stress any type of heat engine until its up to temp...
jack
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
With Mobil 1 5W30 in temperatures above 65 degrees, I start and drive off but keep the revs below 3K until i hit at least 160. Below that temp, I let it idel till it warms to 160 before i drive off.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 0
From: Oceansaide CA
Start, put in gear, back out of garage.. Then usually I go back into the house while it's idling to get whataver i have to get (ie, cellphone, address book, apple, etc) come out, get in, drive off.. First 1/3 mile from my house is all slow streets and a couple of lights, so I couldn't beat on it even if I wanted to; by the time I reach an onramp, it's warm or very close to it. Doesn't take long in Southern Cali with a stock t-stat. As far as getting on it, I don't do it anyway unless something particularly exciting is going on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 935
Likes: 2
From: Beverly, NJ
Haha. Looks like I am the first to say this, but I don't drive it until I reach normal operating temp, which is around 180F for me. Then I drive. I never drive any of my vehicles until they are warmed up. Just me .02.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Oxnard CA
St. Jude Donor '05
I start her up and wait until the coolant temp reaches 100 before driving off however I NEVER hit WOT until the oil temp is at least 180. My wonderfully short drive to work is only 3.2 miles and on surface streets so there is nowhere to really get on it.
Bob
Bob
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 544
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I've heard aluminum heads don't run well until coollant hits 180. I'm sure the cold oil pulls some power away as well, and the cats need to heat up, etc etc..
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
Yeah I was about to say me car runs like crap until it is warm anyway. Anyone elses do this? 
