Warming up the engine
Discussion
After these topics on using the right gear and running the engine... what's the best way to warm up your engine?
I've been told that sitting stationary and reving is bad.
I've been told that reving over 3000rpm before the engine is up to temp is bad.
I've been told that labouring the engine is bad whatever temp the engine.
Are these myths?
Any tips for prolonging engine life?
I've been told that sitting stationary and reving is bad.
I've been told that reving over 3000rpm before the engine is up to temp is bad.
I've been told that labouring the engine is bad whatever temp the engine.
Are these myths?
Any tips for prolonging engine life?
Basically your engine will warm up quicker if its on the move. Standing still and revving doesn't warm the engine as much as actually putting it under load by using it. Revving the nuts off it when cold is not advised!
Had a neighbour that would start his engine and rev it from cold at 5000rpm until the temp needle moved. Not only did it annoy the fck out of most of my street, his engine (on the last model Ford Escorts, so not too old) sounded like a bag of spanners in a washing machine on spin cycle!
General rule that i have always adhered to and which i think is a good guide is.
1) Stay below 3000rpm until the water temp moves to normal, however your oil takes longer to warm, so
2) stay below 4500rpm until your oil is warm, then
3) floor it!!
In terms of oil warming up, most modern cars don't have an oil temp gauge. If you have an oil pressure gauge you will notice that, when warm, the oil pressure will receed at idle so this is your guide. When cold it will stay much higher.
I generally find it takes around 2-5 miles to warm my water up and around 5-10 miles to get the oil warm.
Had a neighbour that would start his engine and rev it from cold at 5000rpm until the temp needle moved. Not only did it annoy the fck out of most of my street, his engine (on the last model Ford Escorts, so not too old) sounded like a bag of spanners in a washing machine on spin cycle!
General rule that i have always adhered to and which i think is a good guide is.
1) Stay below 3000rpm until the water temp moves to normal, however your oil takes longer to warm, so
2) stay below 4500rpm until your oil is warm, then
3) floor it!!
In terms of oil warming up, most modern cars don't have an oil temp gauge. If you have an oil pressure gauge you will notice that, when warm, the oil pressure will receed at idle so this is your guide. When cold it will stay much higher.
I generally find it takes around 2-5 miles to warm my water up and around 5-10 miles to get the oil warm.
poptosis said:
Didnt someone on that thread say you should idle for 15 seconds before pulling away and then keep sub 3000 untill at operating temerature?
i've always been told to move off straight away, but with my car now garaged i start it up, reverse out garage then get out and lock up the garage leaving the engine running...
the other day i got in, found a tape to listen too, then drove off so the car was running for about 1 minute before driving i then kept the revs low and accelorated gently to the speeds i chose to drive at and this worked better than "just driving off"
the engine warmed up that little bit quicker, and whilst it wasn't up to temperature it pulled just that little bit better, which is nice 'cos at the mo my end is like a bag of nails when its really cold!
dannyboyo said:Me too, except that I usually let it idle (stationary) for a minute or two to allow the engine to "settle in". If I don't do this it is liable to rev up to 2000 while I'm reversing out of the garage which isn't good for my heart.
I always try and keep to under 3000rpm in the Chimaera until I see that the water temp is up and the oil pressure has dropped a little. I guess this is to ensure that the oil is getting everywhere in the engine.
Yep, I've always gone for allowing 20 seconds ish for oil to circulate (a little less if the car is regularly used, maybe a touch more if it's not been started for a couple of weeks or more), then drive keeping below 3000rpm until oil is up to temp. The advantage of driving off almost straight away and taking it easy is that you give the gearbox and diff oil a chance to warm up too.
Mike
Mike
Start engine, wait for the ABS light to go out (usually around 8-10s on first start up of the day).. drive between 2 and 3K (except in 1st!) until oil temp up to mid 80's minimum... no hard stuff until oil temp is in the 90's (my oil temp normally sits between 92 and 110)... then floor it !
Start engine (after having checked oil and water levels), run for approx 1.5 minutes, select first, move out of garage, leave engine idling while Lorraine puts Ka into garage and locks up. Wait while L gets into car and belts up(!). Select 1st and gently move forwards, wait for gap in traffic, move out, do not go higher than third gear until temperature goes past 80 deg, then start to drive normally, not giving anything like power until 90 degrees or fans cutting in.
I think it's pretty much been covered in the posts above but...to sum up...
1) Start Car - No reving. For the first 10/20 seconds, you'll not even have full oil pressure.
2) After about 1 Minute - Move away - Gently. As already said, this will help warm up the car, CAT, and other gear oils.
3) If you have oil Temp - Great, wait until it's up to "normal" before even thinking about givin it some.
If you have no oil temperature, wait about 10 miles after your water Temp has reached normal. Even though water shouw normal, it will take a lot longer for the oil to get up to temp.
4) Give it some!!!
It's all about your oil.
Warm oil works well - Cold oil doesn't.
As for reving on the start line - if it's already warmed up, fine if you really feel the need to....
However, knowing the car and getting the revs sorted just before the take off is just as effective... and looks a lot more professional.
Cheeers,
JC
1) Start Car - No reving. For the first 10/20 seconds, you'll not even have full oil pressure.
2) After about 1 Minute - Move away - Gently. As already said, this will help warm up the car, CAT, and other gear oils.
3) If you have oil Temp - Great, wait until it's up to "normal" before even thinking about givin it some.
If you have no oil temperature, wait about 10 miles after your water Temp has reached normal. Even though water shouw normal, it will take a lot longer for the oil to get up to temp.
4) Give it some!!!
It's all about your oil.
Warm oil works well - Cold oil doesn't.
As for reving on the start line - if it's already warmed up, fine if you really feel the need to....
However, knowing the car and getting the revs sorted just before the take off is just as effective... and looks a lot more professional.
Cheeers,
JC
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