Do you wait for your car to warm up?

[Ives]

Start and go. But I dont thrash it before it reaches optimum temperature.

[xbgs351]

It all depends on the engine. A motor with cast pistons (hypereutectic pistons are cast) and a standard style of oil pump is a different beast to an engine with forged pistons and a drysump.

A lot can be learnt from watching the professionals who prepare race cars. They may use an oil warmer or they will block off one of the two radiators with a piece of plyboard and run an electric heater fan into the other. They begin by turning on the electric fuel pump and checking for leaks. They then fire the motor with minimum possible throttle while someone else checks all lines and joints for leaks. For a motor such as a Cosworth BDA they will sit it at 2000 rpm and they will do so by adjusting the idle speed screw. As the engine begins to warm they will slowly adjust the idle speed screw out to maintain the engine at 2000rpm. After a couple of minutes running or the water reaches 160 degrees fahrenheit, they will shut the engine down and let it heat soak for five or ten minutes. After that they will thoroughly warm the engine up, but even then the engine has only been thawed out and the oil is not hot enough for full throttle applications, the oil in the transmission is cold as are the tyres and brakes.

In summary, revving a stone cold race motor is a great way to spin a bearing, wipe off a cam lobe or brake the oil pump.

[mustang70]

drive slowly in an EFI engine after 10 secs or so, but having 2 carburettored (sp?) pigs,both with no working choke, in the driveway they both need warming up for a minute or two or will stall constantly. then drive slowly for a few mins

[mik]

start and run until oil presure is at its highest then gently drive off, no hard accelerating for 10/15 mins, then drive normally.

[Nostalgia]

Warm it up LOL. Turn the key and nail the son of a ******. Always have and never had a problem.

[andrewts]

Originally Posted by xbgs351

Race car engine warm-up

That was a pretty interesting read, cheers!

[Quasi]

Originally Posted by Fairmont99

so you light a fire under the engine to unfreeze the oil.

Almost needs it's own doona and a pillow

[stiddy]

Kick it over, wait for oil pressure to hit its max on the gauge, takes a little less than 10 seconds, and away I go.. I dont go over 3000rpm, well try not to lol until the temp is close to normal..
But there have been the very rare occasions when ive jumped in started it and pretty much hit the limiter before Ive even left sight of my driveway. Usually when im ****ed off or very late.

[Peuty]

My XR8 220 is a very cranky old thing to drive unless it has been warmed, so i usually let it warm for a minute or two, then drive gently till the engine loosens up a bit.

[Gilesie]

The Mazda I let the oil build up then go
The Ambo I let her warm up
the AU I dont drive it but the missus had it planted in her to let it warm up.

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by Peuty

My XR8 220 is a very cranky old thing to drive unless it has been warmed, so i usually let it warm for a minute or two, then drive gently till the engine loosens up a bit.

My BA XR8 is also very grumpy when cold.

[The Monty]

I turn the monty on, wait for oil pressure, choose a cd, and dont rev it above 3000 rpm till its at normal operating temps.

[HLC]

i give mine hell from the moment i turn the key hahahahahhahahahahaha :togo:

[boogernissan]

i just wait for the oil pressure to pick up then i drive off

[tex]

I lived with a bloke years ago that owned a Korean car. We get lots of HEAVY frosts, windscreen often freezes over etc. I am a warm her up for a few minutes bloke. But not my mate.

He used to start his car with his foot to the floor, it would hit 6000 rpm and he'd pop the clutch while the starter was still engaged on the fly wheel !!!!!!!!!
It used to make me cringe, but then I got used to it and used to just laugh.

We had a gravel driveway, so that must have saved the clutch / gearbox. But I was sure the motor would get lunched sooner or later......... but it never did ! We did heve to replace the starter motor pinion however.

He sold it after a couple of years of this abuse, it still ran well, used bugger all oil and blew no smoke. It was never serviced in the time he owned the car. Ever.

Damn, those Koreans can build an engine.

[MCXR8]

Normally I just start it up and head off, but don't really push it till the engine temp. increases.

I voted no, but I turn it on and leave it for about 30seconds ish, don't know if that can be called a "warm up" then drive it easy till every thing comes up to temp.

[mecka]

as soon as i turn my key, i dump the clutch 1st 2nd sometimes third outta my parking spot lol......... im being dead set serious, ive had my car for not even 2 weeks and i need new front tyres :'( and its only a fiesta haha, thats why i didnt get the xr6 muahahaa would of been broke/bankrupt by now lol.....

[V3RSAC3]

yes, smart ...

i always wait for my car to warm up, in the mornings i go outside, start her up, go back inside to put my shoes on, grab my bag and skool blazer, pack my bag into the car and take off easily ... she runs for a good 5 minutes b4 i leave, i dot know why i do it, i just always have, and always will!

[RIPGMH]

I let it hit 1/4 on the temp gauge before I move it, which takes a suprisingly long time

[flukey77]

The torana hasnt been giving me much of a choice these last few weeks, pretty cold for the old girl in the mornings, lol. Manual chokes FTW!! But i usually give it about a minute or so then just idle up the road, once again by choice, the carburettor flat spots if its cold, lol.

[rapom1]

Probably doesnt matter for modern cars with roller cams, but idling an older style engine with flat tappets for extended periods could actually be killing the thing with kindness I would of thought.

At idle its often the case that insufficient oil gets splashed onto the cam lobes, resulting in wiped lobes. Better to drive straight off, but at light throttle for 5 or so minutes,

[Nevermind]

I pretty much back it out of the garage about 10 seconds from starting, mu house is higher then the road so once i get the car moving, it pretty much rolls out, then by the time i get out and close the door, its all good.

[Mechan1k]

The ute runs better when warmed up ... i let it idle for a bit and drive off gently at first ... the auto hates it when it's dead cold.

The Territory ... I find it is warmed up within about 10-20 seconds of starting ... temp is at running temperature very quickly.

[[Tonko]]

To start the XD (no choke) it needs to crank for ~3-4 seconds at half throttle, and then ease off slowly, otherwise it will stall :(
I'm a pro at it now, but no one else can start it without flooding her...

[smiley]

every morning st 6:30, I start the engine and have a ciggi. By the time i've finished that, I hop in the car and drive like a granny till the engine temp hits about a quarter. During the day however, I rarely wait, just early in the mornings when its chilly.

[Falcon4L]

I just drive it at light throttle I rarely let it sit and idle as it takes too long to warm up that way

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Falcon4L

I just drive it at light throttle I rarely let it sit and idle as it takes too long to warm up that way

Mine doesn't get used durinmg teh week, but on weekends I let it idle for a couple of minutes until the temp gauge starts to move off cold.

Don't know if others have this, but my engine rattles like theres no oil running through it for the first 5 seconds or so after staring it after a few days not using it., then its fine.

Also feels like my engine mounts are loose sometimes when starting, bit of a slight banging sound from underrneath...done it since it was fairly new.

[Walkinshaw]

I turn mine over for 5sec with no injectors firing. To prime the oil system, then fire it up. Drive straight away to aid in warming up.

[Venomous1]

Pulling off without warming is looking for the rings to wear and then over a couple of years the engine smokes. Those with pushrods valve stem seals also make the vehicle smoke when changing gears after doing this obviously many times over.