Top Gear Web Article
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 10,445
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From: Northern VA
"Ask Tadge" Producer
Read The Heart of the Beast, which is the story of the birthing of the LT5 engine in the C4 ZR-1s. This is precisely a problem they had to deal with in Bowling Green during the cooler months. The car would be started for the first time and revved before it had a chance to warm up. Several (very expensive!) LT5s were ruined that way until they figured out what was happening and put something into the PCM to stop it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Christiansburg VA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,534
Likes: 118
From: Columbia, SC
That might have changed with the 2008 E92 M3.
"When the engine is cold, the M3's engine computer automatically lowers the redline (and the rev limiter) to 6500 RPM"
http://cars.about.com/od/bmw/ig/2008...ow-redline.htm
"When the engine is cold, the M3's engine computer automatically lowers the redline (and the rev limiter) to 6500 RPM"
http://cars.about.com/od/bmw/ig/2008...ow-redline.htm
Be great if the C7 gen does this too.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 3
Read The Heart of the Beast, which is the story of the birthing of the LT5 engine in the C4 ZR-1s. This is precisely a problem they had to deal with in Bowling Green during the cooler months. The car would be started for the first time and revved before it had a chance to warm up. Several (very expensive!) LT5s were ruined that way until they figured out what was happening and put something into the PCM to stop it.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 558
Likes: 1
There are a lot of them. These are the same type of people who put a lot of stock in Fox News.
Like it or not... These people will parrot whatever Clarkson will say. I still hear crap about leaf springs!
I only hope Clarkson can find other jokes about the Corvette instead of poor build quality. He loved the Ford GT, but made fun of its poor fuel economy and a few other things....but not about quality.
Like it or not... These people will parrot whatever Clarkson will say. I still hear crap about leaf springs!
I only hope Clarkson can find other jokes about the Corvette instead of poor build quality. He loved the Ford GT, but made fun of its poor fuel economy and a few other things....but not about quality.
Last edited by Blancpain; Aug 20, 2013 at 08:41 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 182
Likes: 6
Looking forward to what Clarkson will have to say about the C7. Everything he didn't like about the old one has been changed for the better. The interior and exterior quality. The way it drives now is less 'out of control'. Other than expected gripes like the steering wheel on the wrong side, subjective looks, and the idea of a corvette in britain, I think he will have a positive review of the C7.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Allowing the engine to rev to 4600 RPM when the coolant is -40 deg F doesn't sound like much engine protection to me. 
Oil temps lack coolant temps on a cold start-up by a LONG way. If the oil and coolant was indeed -40 def F on a cold start, the oil is probably still below room temperature by the time the coolant hits 190 deg F.
Oil temps lack coolant temps on a cold start-up by a LONG way. If the oil and coolant was indeed -40 def F on a cold start, the oil is probably still below room temperature by the time the coolant hits 190 deg F.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Looking forward to what Clarkson will have to say about the C7. Everything he didn't like about the old one has been changed for the better. The interior and exterior quality. The way it drives now is less 'out of control'. Other than expected gripes like the steering wheel on the wrong side, subjective looks, and the idea of a corvette in britain, I think he will have a positive review of the C7.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 654
Likes: 18
From: Linthicum MD
The vette being too wide was another gripe of Clarkson's. The C7 didn't help itself there. I'm also sure he will bring up the fact that it weighs more than it's predecessor.
With the type of cars TG come across, I'm guessing they will find something wrong with the f&f.
With the type of cars TG come across, I'm guessing they will find something wrong with the f&f.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
I've got to read the book again but what chapter was that in about the lady on the assembly line doing the first starts and revving it right off the start to 6,000rpm? I remember cringing just thinking about a scene like that. I believe it was Dave and another plant plant manager almost went into orbit when they found out first hand someone was doing that.