Thrash from cold

[UKbob]

Ive only ever once thrashed the car from cold (put my foot down) after only 4 minutes of driving rather than the usual 15++.

Who does what regarding warm up - I always try to warm the car right up to 85 (water temp, the V6's also have this dial, right?) as an indicator of engine temp.

Also, how does engine temp and water temp relate, whats a good warm up time (or dial reading) for a V8S, and who does what, exactly, re: warming up before giving it some welly.

Was speaking to someone the other day who was saying the cars were built to be booted, driven like you stole it etc, but I never feel comfortable reving higher than granny over in the slow lane till I know the car is warm. Maybe this is just a first car syndrome Im suffering from...?

[GreenV8S]

I think you're right to be carefull. I treat each cold start as a mini 'running in' exercise gradually using more revs and torque as it warms up. It will take ten minutes or so (depending on conditions, how you are driving and so on) for the water to come up to tenperature, and then I allow the same time again before using full noise. I would do this for any engine, but particularly for a big alloy engine like the RV8.

[niels]

IMO the water temp is not an indicator for engine/oil temp. The water warms up to 85 degrees pretty quickly, but this doesn't mean that the oil does so. My first car was a peugeot 205 gti. It had an oil pressure and oil temp gauge. My experience with this car is that it will take quite a while before the oil was at good temperature. I usually just drive for at least half an hour before I rev the S up. On short rides, I just don't rev it. The S has got an oil pressure gauge. I think when the oil warms up the pressure should drop, so maybe this can be an indication for oil temp.(???)

cheers

niels S1
Netherlands

[kentishS2]

If you use an oil that clings to everything such as Castrol GTX Magnatec you will ensure that you have engine protection from start up.

Still best not to drive hard tho until fully up to temp.

[nawarne]

I'd say common dog f**k has got to prevail!
10 - 15 minutes at sensible revs (not higher than 2500 ?)should be enough to warm up the oil.

Remember that the grp body will retain any heat generated, so you are getting an internal and, to some extent, an external heat input to the engine IMHO.

[ukbob]

I suppose my usual 15 minute wait was a good enough guess, but didnt realise that revs should be limited to 2500 - will bear this in mind

[WildfireS3]

I tend to keep the car under 3000 until the water has reached 90 or there abouts. But the drive to work each day is all slow until the last bit. By then the car will be sufficiantly warmed up.

[GreenV8S]

kentishS2 said:

an oil that clings to everything such as Castrol GTX Magnatec

Off topic slightly, is Magnatec actually any different from any other oil in this respect?