WarmUp Method

[T_Terror]

Whats the best way to warm up your car?

I used to idle my car for a bit while i got ready before taking off.

Then i read somewhere that it was bad, and that it was better to load your engine up and drive normally for cold starts (no redlining!) similar to running in a new engine.



What do you think?

[8pAc]

I start let it idle a bit then drive off in a bit less than normal manor till things get going, then normal, wont considor hard bursts till things are at least 2/3 3/4 temp.

edit probably a bit anal but to me 15,000 km services is a death warrant to an engine in time, so, hey whatever.

same as above, if you load a cold engine too early with cold oil Ive found it damages the conrod bearings and gudgons in an older engine :evilsasmo

[smciner1]

The XR6 I let warm up most times before taking it out. The GT I have to let warm up, it usually takes about 3 - 5 minutes before it decides it wants to idle by itself. Neither get driven hard when cold.

[Kryton]

to me it depends really if its a newer or an older car. older cars get warmed up more compared to newer cars.
doesnt mean that i always warm up the XF before i go to work either.

[needturbo6]

"warm up needs to be done as quickly as possible as thats when the most damage occurs, and driving it under load will warm a car up much quicker.
Also if you read most manufacturers handbooks, the warm up procedure for almost any given car consists of light driving rather than sitting there idling it on the spot until the temperature gauge slowly begins to climb."

that is an excert from a ZOOM article written by Martin Donnan aka Street tuna

makes sense.

my understanding is also that oil also takes a lot longer to warm up than coolant, and a car shouldnt be driven hard until oil has warmed up for many reasons - engine parts are not up to temp., oil is still fairly thin (eg. 15w) until it gets warm (eg. 50)

[4.0i_SiX]

i agree that light driving is ok, I usually let it idle for about a minute then creep along until shes up to operating temp. The engine should not be put under load as has been stated. The pistons actually expand faster than any other metal surrounding them which can cause scoring of the bore if they expand too rapidly without decent lubrication. This is what I have been told by a few engine builders and it makes sense to me.

[Mike Gayner]

My EA doesn't really get warmed up at all, I just jump in and go. The XA is very difficult to drive when it's cold, needs a 2 - 3 minute warmup.

[FordFan86]

Let it idle maybe while i throw the garage door up or get ready to drove then take it easy till it gets up to temperature

[LTDHO]

You should not let your car warm up from idle as it causes the bores and the ring service to glase. A car should always we slowly driven. Driving it cold doesn't cause any damage. Unless you turn key and take it to red line, that will hurt!

[outback_ute]

I let it idle for a bit to allow oil to circulate & build up pressure thoughout the engine, then drive it & take it easy until temp gets up.

[SSbaby]

Definitely drive off soon after startup as the cats heat up quicker to allow the engine's PCM into closed loop operation sooner. But keep it under 2000rpm until all fluids are up to operating temps.

Better for the car and environment. But each to their own...

[dansedgli]

I drive mine off boost until the temp gets up to normal.

[LuvinmyEB]

The EB, jump in and go when it's cold (although a little slower than I'd drive it when it's warm).

The Mk I Escort, two minutes to start it if it's really cold, then let it idle (if it doesn't stall a couple of times) for about five mins or so before take off.

[RED_EL_XR8]

What gets me with this debate is that it only ever seems to consider the engine. What about the rest of your car?

I see guys who would never consider driving until the engine has idled for a few minutes but out of the driveway and give the thing 11/10s, what about the auto or gearbox, the diff, brakes, suspension components all these things can be affected by temperature.

Lubrication takes time to become fully effective, so common sense would be to allow a brief idle at least till the engine is sitting comfrotable at idle RPM, and then gentle driving as you bring the whole car up to operating temperatures. 1000's of moving parts and 1000's tiny expansions going on.

But I guess its all depends on how long you are going to own the car, modern cars will generally survive a DGAF treatment pretty well for several years, and are suprisingly good at bringing them self up to steady idle etc. If you want longevity however, I'd recommend developing at least a mildy "mechanically sympathetic" approach. :monkes:

[dogbreath_48]

Drive it. I don't get moving the split second after it starts, i wait long enough to get oil up to pressure etc (...and to put my seatbelt on...), then just drive gently...

-Stu

[Pilch]

I start the car and let it idle 5-10 seconds to allow oil pressure to get up to normal. Than drive normally, say 2200rpm absolute max until running temp is normal........than however I feel like driving :dr_Evil:

A contrast would be the way I warm up my 2-stroke RMX 250. Start it, put it in gear take off, flick off the choke, and cruise for a about a minute (up to 4000 rpm), than another minute with a few blasts (say 7000rpm, as there is no point flogging it right out). You should never let a 2-stroke moto idle on start as the piston warms up considerably quicker than the bore!!! Many people have let it idle/low revs to warm it up, and than revved it and seized the motor.........not uncommon at all.

[neb]

i let my car idle maybe for just 30 seconds and then drive fairly light on the throttle until its warm

[EA2BA]

Start it, oil pressure is up, engine sounding normal, into reverse and down the drive it goes, drive it nice till temp increases.

[BJ]

The NC Fairlaine. Start go :eclipsee_ .
The XC Start half a hour warm up with two or three mid size revs in between check oil press and temp, fuel press and water temp then off. :

[XplosiveR6]

oil pressure takes a whole 3 seconds to build up so that should not be a concern, i always just drive my car easy untill it gets to full operating temperature, the quicker it gets up to temperature the less wear on the engine.

[LTDHO]

If you start it as you get in
then put on your belt you will have enough oil pressure to back (drive) out of driveway. As you pull onto the road you will have full oil pressure.

[donno]

Wait for the lifters to stop making noise (about 20s) then baby it at light throttle and under 2000rpm until at normal operating temp.

[Sox]

Start and drive immediately.

Warming up on idle is bad, much better to warm engine up under load, plus this also warms up the rest of the drivetrain.

Rick.

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by dansedgli

I drive mine off boost until the temp gets up to normal.

same lol!

[sbutler]

Originally Posted by smciner1

The XR6 I let warm up most times before taking it out. The GT I have to let warm up, it usually takes about 3 - 5 minutes before it decides it wants to idle by itself. Neither get driven hard when cold.

I think thats the key to all this, never flog a cold engine..... :

[Psycho Chicken]

Jump in, start it, put the seat belt in, change into my shoes if I'm knocking off work then go. Keep it below 2000 RPM until it's into the normal part of the guage. Don't see the point in warming up the engine then taking off with cold tranny and diff oil.....

Although I don't really give a toss anymore, engine and trans are coming out soon anyway. Seems to go harder when cold anyway!

[galaxy xr8]

I just jump in a let them warm up for about a min or two and then take off, but the old wagon I warm up for 5-10 min's.

[brenx]

I always drive off lightly till I get engine temp in my XB. Usually less than 2-3 minutes. The EL and Hyundai I just drive as per normal, they are gutless anyway. No point thrashing them. Well there is a point. It's an excuse to buy another car

Brenden

[SileNceR]

jump in, seatbelt, switch on, wait for oil pressure guage to go up, reverse up driveway and drive to work no more than maybe 3000rpm (light throttle tho)
get almost to work and its into warm.... then its sideways or so the last 500 metres to work...

pity i dont live further away, driving to work could be great fun