Warming up the engine.. and again.. and again..
Discussion
One month into Tuscan ownership and I'm still grinning like a little kid whenever I'm driving. One thing's been making me wonder though.
I've been religiously keeping the revs below 2500 until the oil temp comes up above 60. Thr trouble is that my commute consists of a short drive (which usually gets me to about 60-65 degrees) and then a 10 minute motorway cruise to the office.
With the air temperature being what it is at the moment, I'm finding that while sitting on the motorway in 5th at 70 or so, my oil temperature starts to fall again back down to 48-53.
Once I stop on the slip road it climbs pretty quickly back up to 60+, but I'm wondering about the accuracy of that oil temp reading now..
Is the oil really dropping to the lower temperature while I'm on the motorway or is the guage just being overly affected by windchill?
Basically I'm not sure whether I dare put my foot down now during that motorway trip in the morning/evening or I'm risking the engine.
Any thoughts?
Martin
I've been religiously keeping the revs below 2500 until the oil temp comes up above 60. Thr trouble is that my commute consists of a short drive (which usually gets me to about 60-65 degrees) and then a 10 minute motorway cruise to the office.
With the air temperature being what it is at the moment, I'm finding that while sitting on the motorway in 5th at 70 or so, my oil temperature starts to fall again back down to 48-53.
Once I stop on the slip road it climbs pretty quickly back up to 60+, but I'm wondering about the accuracy of that oil temp reading now..
Is the oil really dropping to the lower temperature while I'm on the motorway or is the guage just being overly affected by windchill?
Basically I'm not sure whether I dare put my foot down now during that motorway trip in the morning/evening or I'm risking the engine.
Any thoughts?
Martin
Hello,
I think most cars will run a bit colder over winter whilst cruising on the motorway. My Cerb runs at 80 - 90 degrees in the summer and 70 - 80 on colder winter days. This, like you say, is down to the air being colder. When sat in traffic or doing slower speeds it will of course rise to standard temperatures.
I don't think you should be concerned at all.
Tony
I think most cars will run a bit colder over winter whilst cruising on the motorway. My Cerb runs at 80 - 90 degrees in the summer and 70 - 80 on colder winter days. This, like you say, is down to the air being colder. When sat in traffic or doing slower speeds it will of course rise to standard temperatures.
I don't think you should be concerned at all.
Tony
I warm it up for ten mins or so before driving anywhere, then when I pull away I hold it below 3k revs until i hit the magic 50 degree oil mark - but I just keep it in fourth if i've got a dual-cariageway or motorway - burn some fuel, not some metal!!
I think it might be worse to let the engine labour in fifth at 2500, better to let it rev a bit more in a lower gear - an engine that will do 7k revs what's 3k when it's home !!
Be interesting to see what other Tuscaneers think (I know this one's come up before)
Take care McRimes!
I think it might be worse to let the engine labour in fifth at 2500, better to let it rev a bit more in a lower gear - an engine that will do 7k revs what's 3k when it's home !!
Be interesting to see what other Tuscaneers think (I know this one's come up before)
Take care McRimes!
apache said: sounds like your stat is stuck open
The lubrication system doesn't have a thermostat does it?
When driving my Tamora on the motorway in the very cold weather, I found that the oil temperature dropped at speed. I just put this down to the cooling effect of the icy air blowing over the metal oil tank at the front of the engine, which in turn cooled the oil as it passed through.
robertm said:
apache said: sounds like your stat is stuck open
The lubrication system doesn't have a thermostat does it?
When driving my Tamora on the motorway in the very cold weather, I found that the oil temperature dropped at speed. I just put this down to the cooling effect of the icy air blowing over the metal oil tank at the front of the engine, which in turn cooled the oil as it passed through.
ah, er missed the oil bit, does the engine temp vary with the oil temp?
This is the TVR Factorys recommendations on running in and warming up, as written by the engine designer himself.(oh great one!)
JOHN RAVENSCROFT¡¦S TIPS ON MECHANICAL SYMPATHY AND HIS ENGINES!
RUNNING IN
Most importantly, drive fairly normally. Being too gentle with an engine when running in can be as bad as being too rough.
Although it is important to avoid full throttle or over 4,000 rpm during the first 1,000 miles, occasional bursts (c.5 seconds) of 75% throttle up to 4,000 rpm, will help to bed the piston rings in.
FROM COLD
When starting, please be careful not to let it rev straight up so please make sure that you do not give it anything more than a tiny bit of throttle while cranking it over and then lift off as soon as it catches.
Then try to avoid more than 3,000 rpm until the oil (not water) temperature has exceeded 40„aC, 4,000 rpm until 60„aC and 7,000 rpm until 80„aC. If it climbs above 110„aC, please keep the revs below 5,000 rpm until the oil temperature returns to normal.
JOHN RAVENSCROFT¡¦S TIPS ON MECHANICAL SYMPATHY AND HIS ENGINES!
RUNNING IN
Most importantly, drive fairly normally. Being too gentle with an engine when running in can be as bad as being too rough.
Although it is important to avoid full throttle or over 4,000 rpm during the first 1,000 miles, occasional bursts (c.5 seconds) of 75% throttle up to 4,000 rpm, will help to bed the piston rings in.
FROM COLD
When starting, please be careful not to let it rev straight up so please make sure that you do not give it anything more than a tiny bit of throttle while cranking it over and then lift off as soon as it catches.
Then try to avoid more than 3,000 rpm until the oil (not water) temperature has exceeded 40„aC, 4,000 rpm until 60„aC and 7,000 rpm until 80„aC. If it climbs above 110„aC, please keep the revs below 5,000 rpm until the oil temperature returns to normal.
Rich... I am still running mine in and trying to find the balance of not driving too softly and not going too hard?!
IMHO the Tuscan is noisy, especially when in the garage as the sound bounces around the walls before being sent out the garage door twice as loud! I am sure my neighbours hate me! I leave it on the drive for a while until it can maintain 800rpm without stalling which doesn't take long and then drive carefully by not accelerating hard and not going over 2,500rpm until it is over 50 degrees. At 60 degress I push on to around 3,500rpm and try not idle the engine if at all possible.
I also have a query though... When going slowly I find that I often get into a situation where the car wants to be between gears. I.e second gear at 1,800rpm and it shudders a bit and is obviously not happy at this low rpm or 1st and it is up around 2,300rpm which seems to upset it also as it whines more than chugs along. What do you find is the best way to do this as I don't want to labour the engine or upset it in first gear? Sorry about the long winded nature of this message but still getting used to this monster and had an automatic (oh the shame!) for two years before so trying to remember how to do it properly! P.S. The rpm is only a rough guide so don't read them too literally!
Thanks for you patience with me!
- Pete -
>> Edited by Peter_Belcher on Thursday 13th March 16:07
IMHO the Tuscan is noisy, especially when in the garage as the sound bounces around the walls before being sent out the garage door twice as loud! I am sure my neighbours hate me! I leave it on the drive for a while until it can maintain 800rpm without stalling which doesn't take long and then drive carefully by not accelerating hard and not going over 2,500rpm until it is over 50 degrees. At 60 degress I push on to around 3,500rpm and try not idle the engine if at all possible.
I also have a query though... When going slowly I find that I often get into a situation where the car wants to be between gears. I.e second gear at 1,800rpm and it shudders a bit and is obviously not happy at this low rpm or 1st and it is up around 2,300rpm which seems to upset it also as it whines more than chugs along. What do you find is the best way to do this as I don't want to labour the engine or upset it in first gear? Sorry about the long winded nature of this message but still getting used to this monster and had an automatic (oh the shame!) for two years before so trying to remember how to do it properly! P.S. The rpm is only a rough guide so don't read them too literally!
Thanks for you patience with me!
- Pete -
>> Edited by Peter_Belcher on Thursday 13th March 16:07
21TVR said: I warm it up for ten mins or so before driving anywhere.
Be interesting to see what other Tuscaneers think (I know this one's come up before)
Take care McRimes!
On an earlier thread on this subject someone who seemed to know their onions said it was bad for it to let it stand around idling until it was warmed up.
Bloody worries the hell out of me all the different theories going around. End up convinced I must have knackered the engine by now. I am more restrained than some but less so than others. But surely you should just follow what it says in the manual? I try to.
Peter I reckon you slot it into first if you're worried, better to hold slightly more revs and maintain control than let it complain under low revs, all the different noises are just part of the race engine experience - and trying to keep it happy in slow traffic, well it reminds me of a thoroughbred not really happy unless it's away doing it's own thing
Don't worry about the noises, you know when it's not right, you put your foot down and and there's nothing there - ooops wrong gear! oh yeah i'm in town in fifth at 1700rpm - now you'd easily get away with that in the V8
So I agree with GreenV8S
sp
Don't worry about the noises, you know when it's not right, you put your foot down and and there's nothing there - ooops wrong gear! oh yeah i'm in town in fifth at 1700rpm - now you'd easily get away with that in the V8
So I agree with GreenV8S
sp
Re mcrimes original question, I think this is a common occurrance. I too notice the oil temp dropping cruising on the motorway in cold weather, then sharply rising when coming to a stand still. I suspect the temperature sensor and or oil is being cooled locally by the air - but I'm not sure as I don't know where the sensor is. 4000 rpm (max recommended at 50 degrees) is still pretty fast in 5th anyway so I don't find it much of an issue.
Cheers,
Andy.
Cheers,
Andy.
I maybe wrong (usually are), surely the basis of any engine is to warm it up before applying any pressure!.
My runaround Toyota get,s the same treatment as the Tuscan when it comes to warming up, however, the Tuscan has had two engine rebuilds!!!!Mmmmmmm, Toyota, TVR,Toyota,TVR,TVR,TVR,TVR. Have to be fair engine rebuilds sod all to with start up,just me going off on one again!!! G,night
My runaround Toyota get,s the same treatment as the Tuscan when it comes to warming up, however, the Tuscan has had two engine rebuilds!!!!Mmmmmmm, Toyota, TVR,Toyota,TVR,TVR,TVR,TVR. Have to be fair engine rebuilds sod all to with start up,just me going off on one again!!! G,night
Thr trouble is that my commute consists of a short drive (which usually gets me to about 60-65 degrees) and then a 10 minute motorway cruise to the office.
Surely the answer is to take the long way round to/from on your commute - I do. Even though my commute is only 6yds. and on a good day without too much traffic it takes me less than 2 secs. (bedroom to office), I still find that it can take me up to 30mins. as on a good weather day (especially like one today - brilliant sunshine in NW Surrey - roof off already - Woohooo!), I can't resist getting the car out and after warming it up (15 mins. of gentle driving), give the car a good airing and stretch its' legs. It means I usually start the day with a great big grin on my face
. It also means I finish the day with one as well - usually in the pub 
. And don't forget everybody, today is POETS day - YEAH!!! Andrew
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