Mechanical Sympathy
Discussion
I think of myself as pretty sympathetic to my car's oily bits, but I'm always curious to see how other people treat theirs.
From cold start, I let the car idle for about 15 seconds before moving off. Revs below 3K and no more than half throttle until the thermostat has opened. Then a few more revs and a bit more throttle for about 10 more minutes, then, where appropriate, flat out
Cool down pretty much the reverse, low revs and throttle for the last couple of miles, then idle for about 30 seconds before switching off.
I never ram it into gear, snap on or off the throttle or bounce it off the limiter.
I think my car's appreciate me... But what do you do?
From cold start, I let the car idle for about 15 seconds before moving off. Revs below 3K and no more than half throttle until the thermostat has opened. Then a few more revs and a bit more throttle for about 10 more minutes, then, where appropriate, flat out
Cool down pretty much the reverse, low revs and throttle for the last couple of miles, then idle for about 30 seconds before switching off.
I never ram it into gear, snap on or off the throttle or bounce it off the limiter.
I think my car's appreciate me... But what do you do?
Redline it from cold, clutchless gear changes and switch the engine off at 4000RPM. Thats the works van.
In my car, I push it for the first mile in 5th to let oil circulate around the engine and gearbox, the start it up and don't go over 1500RPM. I open the door and stick my feet down to preserve the brakes.
To cool it down I park it in a thermostatically controlled garage with the temperature decreasing 1 degree every 5 minutes.
In my car, I push it for the first mile in 5th to let oil circulate around the engine and gearbox, the start it up and don't go over 1500RPM. I open the door and stick my feet down to preserve the brakes.
To cool it down I park it in a thermostatically controlled garage with the temperature decreasing 1 degree every 5 minutes.
I have far too much mechanical sympathy..
Any noise thats not familiar I think theres something wrong with it, I haven't ever hit the limiter in it, never force the changes or change down too many gears at once. Let all the lights go off on the dash before starting, as thats my cars way of letting me know its ok to start now, then let it idle for 10 seconds first then after 10 minutes its ok for proper driving.
Any noise thats not familiar I think theres something wrong with it, I haven't ever hit the limiter in it, never force the changes or change down too many gears at once. Let all the lights go off on the dash before starting, as thats my cars way of letting me know its ok to start now, then let it idle for 10 seconds first then after 10 minutes its ok for proper driving.
PetrolHeadSeb said:
I think of myself as pretty sympathetic to my car's oily bits, but I'm always curious to see how other people treat theirs.
From cold start, I let the car idle for about 15 seconds before moving off. Revs below 3K and no more than half throttle until the thermostat has opened. Then a few more revs and a bit more throttle for about 10 more minutes, then, where appropriate, flat out
Cool down pretty much the reverse, low revs and throttle for the last couple of miles, then idle for about 30 seconds before switching off.
I never ram it into gear, snap on or off the throttle or bounce it off the limiter.
I think my car's appreciate me... But what do you do?
Remember it is the oil temp that matters, which will be some way behind the water temp.From cold start, I let the car idle for about 15 seconds before moving off. Revs below 3K and no more than half throttle until the thermostat has opened. Then a few more revs and a bit more throttle for about 10 more minutes, then, where appropriate, flat out
Cool down pretty much the reverse, low revs and throttle for the last couple of miles, then idle for about 30 seconds before switching off.
I never ram it into gear, snap on or off the throttle or bounce it off the limiter.
I think my car's appreciate me... But what do you do?
Good on you though, having mechanical sympathy will have its benefits in the long term
Jonny671 said:
I have far too much mechanical sympathy..
Any noise thats not familiar I think theres something wrong with it, I haven't ever hit the limiter in it, never force the changes or change down too many gears at once. Let all the lights go off on the dash before starting, as thats my cars way of letting me know its ok to start now, then let it idle for 10 seconds first then after 10 minutes its ok for proper driving.
I do this also, especially with the noises, I drive myself mental listening out for them. GrrrrAny noise thats not familiar I think theres something wrong with it, I haven't ever hit the limiter in it, never force the changes or change down too many gears at once. Let all the lights go off on the dash before starting, as thats my cars way of letting me know its ok to start now, then let it idle for 10 seconds first then after 10 minutes its ok for proper driving.
irf said:
750turbo said:
Remember it is the oil temp that matters, which will be some way behind the water temp.
surprising how few people realise this!
irf said:
750turbo said:
Remember it is the oil temp that matters, which will be some way behind the water temp.
surprising how few people realise this!I'd always assumed this was true of all water cooled engines?
I await re-education.
pilchardthecat said:
irf said:
750turbo said:
Remember it is the oil temp that matters, which will be some way behind the water temp.
surprising how few people realise this!I'd always assumed this was true of all water cooled engines?
I await re-education.
As an aside, anyone care to have a guess at the what the little "Bubble Buster" is called in old style thermostats
Every car I've had start up after all lights gone off then idle for 15 odd seconds.
Don't rev over 25% of the rev range and don't labour the engine until it's up to temp.
Cool down on all turbo cars last few miles reall slow driving after a hard blast.
Tdis at least once a week when fully warmed up they have a full throttle clear out the cobwebs rev while in gear.
Car is garaged which helps heaps in winter. But when it's freezing and frosty outside I don't move until all the screens are clear from heater.
Weekly tyre pressure checks oil checked weekly (basically fiat coupe needed checking that often this 330d hasn't used a drop in 9 months.. Fiat would use 0.5ltrs every 1000miles).
I'm a bit anal I also weekly check the tread of all tyres and get out any chippings caught in ther.
Cleaned weekly
screen wash checked weekly and season dependant strength changed.
Tread depth checked every couple of months
anything not working or issues with aim to fix or replace asap.
Don't rev over 25% of the rev range and don't labour the engine until it's up to temp.
Cool down on all turbo cars last few miles reall slow driving after a hard blast.
Tdis at least once a week when fully warmed up they have a full throttle clear out the cobwebs rev while in gear.
Car is garaged which helps heaps in winter. But when it's freezing and frosty outside I don't move until all the screens are clear from heater.
Weekly tyre pressure checks oil checked weekly (basically fiat coupe needed checking that often this 330d hasn't used a drop in 9 months.. Fiat would use 0.5ltrs every 1000miles).
I'm a bit anal I also weekly check the tread of all tyres and get out any chippings caught in ther.
Cleaned weekly
screen wash checked weekly and season dependant strength changed.
Tread depth checked every couple of months
anything not working or issues with aim to fix or replace asap.
I borrowed a Scirocco R from Volkswagen for the weekend a few weeks back and was really staggered to see how they make the water temperature needle swing round to the middle position so quickly after starting up.. you literally can watch it moving if you stare at it, it moves so quickly. Problem is that makes you think the car is warmed up, but if you flick to the oil temperature it's barely hit 60 centigrade!!
On my Corrado's I always stick below 3k and use no more than 40% throttle until the oil has hit 80 centigrade. Normally about 10-15 minutes that takes...
On my Corrado's I always stick below 3k and use no more than 40% throttle until the oil has hit 80 centigrade. Normally about 10-15 minutes that takes...
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