Getting warm.

[robgt]

Learned something today. Being mechanically sympathetic everytime I start Purdey I go through the flat on the floor procedure plus clutch learn. Then I don't rev the engine until the temperature is up. It is the last point where I have learned something new. The temperature gauge is for the water not the oil. Apparently the oil can take up to 8 or 10 miles to reach temperature. I was told this by the manager of our VW garage who was explaining the running in procedure for Molly's car which has forced induction.

[yeti]

My TVR had a gauge for both!

This is why it's nice to have an oil pressure gauge as well as water temperature, you know your oil is up to temperature and you're ready to have fun when the pressure drops at idle as the oil is thinner and less viscous.

[v8woollie]

Very few cars have oil temp gauges. That said, when the water is up to temp is when I give her some stick. The oil is round the engine at that point so everything is well lubricated.

[Zod]

BMW M cars used to have oil temperature gauges. Disappointingly, they've dropped them now.

[Neil1300R]

robgt said:

The temperature gauge is for the water not the oil.

Quoted for posterity!

Rob didn't you used to sell cars for a living?

And to add to it, Aston Annie has just said "Even I knew that!"

[callevascm]

My 1936 Lagonda has oil temp, oil pressure and water temp and a lot of switches - nothing new I guess!

[paddy328]

Haha

[snuffy]

My first Esprit had a volt meter on the instrument panel.

Just in case I was running low on volts maybe ?

On the useful side, it did have oil pressure as well.

[MollyGTi]

Selling them and knowing about them, well the two are not even connected!!!!

[bentley01]

High powered piston engined aircraft have oil temperature gauges. Ignore them at your peril as the engines are so temperamental you can destroy one by just closing the throttles too quickly. Makes car engines look bullet proof

[Tony V12V]

MollyGTi said:

Selling them and knowing about them, well the two are not even connected!!!!

[George29]

Since you're on about the Polo GTI it has an oil temp gauge if you flick through the menus.

I'd be more concerned about the amount of oil it uses. If it's less than 1 litre per 1500 miles send it straight back to the dealer. It's the one flaw in the 1.4 TSI design, lots of people have had new engines fitted because of it. Some are fine though.

[yeti]

snuffy said:

My first Esprit had a volt meter on the instrument panel.

Mine does

Tells you whether the alternator is in good health or not, I also use mine to spot when the radiator fans kick in as there is a big current drain. In fact traffic on a dark night, driving an Esprit is all about power management or the battery drains itself

[cammy71]

Zod said:

BMW M cars used to have oil temperature gauges. Disappointingly, they've dropped them now.

My e92 m3 has a gauge on the outside edge of the rev counter. When cold it sits around 5500-600 I.e. do not exceed these revs. As engine warms up it reduces until it hits the 8500 limit. Unless they have dropped this since I got it in 2007?

[Lunablack]

George29 said:

Since you're on about the Polo GTI it has an oil temp gauge if you flick through the menus.

I'd be more concerned about the amount of oil it uses. If it's less than 1 litre per 1500 miles send it straight back to the dealer.

So if it uses more than 1ltr every 1500 miles ts ok then

[George29]

Lunablack said:

So if it uses more than 1ltr every 1500 miles ts ok then

Oops got that the wrong way round.

If it uses 1 litre in 1500 miles or less then send it back. If not it's supposedly within spec (still ridiculous consumption).

[toohuge]

One of the most annoying things about modern cars is the lack of oil temperature and pressure read outs.

Most have a low pressure warning but by that time it can already be too late.

Yes, oil takes about 8-10 miles to warm up properly.

Chris

Edited by toohuge on Tuesday 26th February 02:38

[burntout]

I have a superb starting from cold ritual... Start car, leave to stand for 15 mins ticking over... large coffe and a marlborough light... Done!! Engine is always well warm enough by then...

[v8woollie]

Now that is forward planning

I let it run for a minute before driving off and until the water is up to temp I don't go over 3000 rpm.

It would be interesting to hear what BR think on the matter of the optimum method for driving from cold.

[gibbon]

burntout said:

I have a superb starting from cold ritual... Start car, leave to stand for 15 mins ticking over... large coffe and a marlborough light... Done!! Engine is always well warm enough by then...

Leaving an idling engine to warm though I wouldnt class as harmful, its not considered the best way to warm up an engine, the engine needs light load and rev cycles, labouring and idling from cold for long periods is not best practice.