driving ur c5 in winter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
driving ur c5 in winter
want to see how many people drive their Corvettes in the winter and how long they warm it up for before actually driving.. my car is NOT garaged parked I live in CA although it may not snow but temps can get pretty low where i live... today was 36 degrees this am so my question is on a slightly modded car how long should warm up be before taking off.. i usually dont gun in anyway till i get oil temps of at least 160.. but just out of curiousity for those who DD their cars..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 544
From: Appleton WI
You shouldn't need to treat it any different than any other car. As with any engine, you shouldn't jump on it until the engine and transmission have had time to get to operating temperature. Letting it "warm up" is just a waste of gas when driving it normally.
I drive mine until the salt hits the roads in Michigan. Some days it is in the high teens / low 20s when I head to work.
I drive mine until the salt hits the roads in Michigan. Some days it is in the high teens / low 20s when I head to work.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
You shouldn't need to treat it any different than any other car. As with any engine, you shouldn't jump on it until the engine and transmission have had time to get to operating temperature. Letting it "warm up" is just a waste of gas when driving it normally.
I drive mine until the salt hits the roads in Michigan. Some days it is in the high teens / low 20s when I head to work.
I drive mine until the salt hits the roads in Michigan. Some days it is in the high teens / low 20s when I head to work.
I always thought it needed a while for oils to circulate and warm up especially when using 10w?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
I let it warm up for 5 to 10 minutes in cold weather. It's more for me than the car. By that time the rear defroster has done it's work and the front one is coming along. I still have to double clutch it through 2nd gear the first time.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
I normally drive the vette all year long except when the snow hits the streets. I've never warmed it up. Typically I get the active handling warm up message because I live off a dirt access road and drive that slowly until I pass my gate and then it's onto the highway.
rr
rr
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 544
From: Appleton WI
I'm assuming you're using a 10W - 30 or 10W - 40 oil. The 10w indicates the oil will flow and protect as a 10 weight oil down to around -4 degrees F.
This is my opinion only. I don't have a cammed engine so others may chime in. I would think you'd be sufficiently protected without warming the engine in temps 20+ and just driving it "as a normal person." I also think this is being very conservative.
Driving your car as a "normal person" will actually get your engine to operating temp faster than just idling in the driveway. As far as me personally, I don't warm up any of my vehicles if the temps are above zero. If below zero, I listen to the engine to determine if warm up is needed. If the engine is turning freely then I put it in gear and go. If it is running a bit sluggish, I'll wait.
This is my opinion only. I don't have a cammed engine so others may chime in. I would think you'd be sufficiently protected without warming the engine in temps 20+ and just driving it "as a normal person." I also think this is being very conservative.
Driving your car as a "normal person" will actually get your engine to operating temp faster than just idling in the driveway. As far as me personally, I don't warm up any of my vehicles if the temps are above zero. If below zero, I listen to the engine to determine if warm up is needed. If the engine is turning freely then I put it in gear and go. If it is running a bit sluggish, I'll wait.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 96
Likes: 16
From: Somerville New Jersey
I usually have to double clutch the first few gears in the cold.. Once the trans fluid is warms up, about 5 minutes, the resistance into gears goes away. I get no resistance with the double clutch.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
I'm assuming you're using a 10W - 30 or 10W - 40 oil. The 10w indicates the oil will flow and protect as a 10 weight oil down to around -4 degrees F.
This is my opinion only. I don't have a cammed engine so others may chime in. I would think you'd be sufficiently protected without warming the engine in temps 20+ and just driving it "as a normal person." I also think this is being very conservative.
Driving your car as a "normal person" will actually get your engine to operating temp faster than just idling in the driveway. As far as me personally, I don't warm up any of my vehicles if the temps are above zero. If below zero, I listen to the engine to determine if warm up is needed. If the engine is turning freely then I put it in gear and go. If it is running a bit sluggish, I'll wait.
This is my opinion only. I don't have a cammed engine so others may chime in. I would think you'd be sufficiently protected without warming the engine in temps 20+ and just driving it "as a normal person." I also think this is being very conservative.
Driving your car as a "normal person" will actually get your engine to operating temp faster than just idling in the driveway. As far as me personally, I don't warm up any of my vehicles if the temps are above zero. If below zero, I listen to the engine to determine if warm up is needed. If the engine is turning freely then I put it in gear and go. If it is running a bit sluggish, I'll wait.
this is good info, i usually let the car hit 80deg before i pull out of the driveway and drive it very conservatively till i reach 140deg plus... i'd like to hear from the cam'd guys what their opinions are
Last edited by Kreeess; Dec 4, 2013 at 02:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
This whole discussion rides on the definition of "cold". I look at it this way: the car's normal operating temps (oil and water) are in the 190-200F range, so 80F is "cold" from the engine's point of view. Some restraint is necessary until the engine is all the way up to full operating temperature, but why treat it differently at 35F than at 80F?
Driveway warm-up is something I do when I want the inside of the car warm enough for me before I drive off. And thankfully, that is not an issue where I live.
Driveway warm-up is something I do when I want the inside of the car warm enough for me before I drive off. And thankfully, that is not an issue where I live.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: Hercules CA
This whole discussion rides on the definition of "cold". I look at it this way: the car's normal operating temps (oil and water) are in the 190-200F range, so 80F is "cold" from the engine's point of view. Some restraint is necessary until the engine is all the way up to full operating temperature, but why treat it differently at 35F than at 80F?
Driveway warm-up is something I do when I want the inside of the car warm enough for me before I drive off. And thankfully, that is not an issue where I live.
Driveway warm-up is something I do when I want the inside of the car warm enough for me before I drive off. And thankfully, that is not an issue where I live.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
You're in the Bay Area? You don't have winter in any meaningful sense of the word.
Drive it the same way all year: you're no more likely to blow it up between September and March than you are between March and September.
Drive it the same way all year: you're no more likely to blow it up between September and March than you are between March and September.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
drove mine today, 34deg on the screen outside. no problems with the clutch or shifting at all. do have redline in the trans and rear end though. that stuff flows wonderful even when it's below freezing
only thing i'm considering is putting my stock wheels back on. hate driving on the pss when it's freezing. isn't good for the rubber
only thing i'm considering is putting my stock wheels back on. hate driving on the pss when it's freezing. isn't good for the rubber
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Drove mine this frosty morning with the temp around 23 degrees. Forgot to put something over the windows last night so let it run with the front and rear special defrosters on.....not long and could scrape some and use the wipers. No problem. Roads were cold but dry.
