Warm up procedure
Discussion
You can use the oil pressure gauge as a temperature gauge, just wait until the the pressure is nearly down to your normal operating pressure (usually 40-50psi) and then you know the engine is up to temp. 
For me I keep revs below 3k rpm until the pressure is below 60psi, then open her up gently over the next couple of minutes.

For me I keep revs below 3k rpm until the pressure is below 60psi, then open her up gently over the next couple of minutes.
My oil pressure guage used to work on the principal of the pressure was higher when cold then drops down as the oil warms up, for some reason one day about a year ago it decided to work backwards so now the pressure starts at about 30psi when cold and goes up to 50psi when properly warmed up. No idea why and it hasnt caused any problems so I work on the principal that I can give it the beans once the pressure as risen to 50psi.
Living where we do there are no really fast roads, all 30/40mph, so nice and easy to start with, not over 3k revs etc. Once I've got to the top of the Island, the oil and water are nice and warm and the open road beckons.
Trouble is the gap to to car in front disappears so bloody quickly!
Trouble is the gap to to car in front disappears so bloody quickly!
Steve_T said:
Why such low revs?
Oil has a much different viscosity when it is not at working temp so if you rev it hard it's not working at 100% of it's lubricating property's until at working temp, harder you rev it from cold the sorer it will be on the engine as.Edited by Steve_T on Friday 17th June 16:58
I might be ok to rev it harder but i don't want to risk it on my engine.
WhyTwo said:
My oil pressure is always between 60 - 70. On start up and after driving it for 1/2 hour, it make no difference. Is this right? Could the dial be faulty?
I would certainly expect it to drop well below 60 at hot idle, thinks mines at about 30 hot idle 60 at higher revs. Dials are defo rubbish though. Worth getting it looked at, dodgy oil pressure makes me a bit half a crown sixpence!Just to add, my dials were far off so I had installed a oil temp gauge to better evaluate when to put my trotter down. What does amaze me I've never got the temp of the oil over 95 deg, despite having a thermostat in too.
Water on the other hand gets extremely hot, on those London traffic days
Water on the other hand gets extremely hot, on those London traffic days
Steve_T said:
Why such low revs?
You need to keep the revs low because it takes a while for all the engine's internals to reach their normal working tolerances which only happens when the engine has fully warmed up. For example..the crank will be loose in it's bearing..and the pistons will be loose in the bores Edited by Steve_T on Friday 17th June 16:58
The oil temperature indicates this best because the oil is circulating around the engines internal components. The water temperature is mostly effected by combustion heat in the head and warms up far quicker..
PipeNslippers said:
You need to keep the revs low because it takes a while for all the engine's internals to reach their normal working tolerances which only happens when the engine has fully warmed up. For example..the crank will be loose in it's bearing..and the pistons will be loose in the bores
The oil temperature indicates this best because the oil is circulating around the engines internal components. The water temperature is mostly effected by combustion heat in the head and warms up far quicker..
I understand those factors, my point was by sticking under 2k the engine is likely under very little load, hence the rate at which is warms up is slower and the wear resulting from the period of cold running is longer. I tend to stay between 2-3k my reasoning being that most engine builders I've read up on do not let the engine idle on first start because it's hard on the cam, since it's running at half engine speed. On the other hand you don't want to rev the engine much for the reasons you've already listed. The oil temperature indicates this best because the oil is circulating around the engines internal components. The water temperature is mostly effected by combustion heat in the head and warms up far quicker..
Demondad said:
I would certainly expect it to drop well below 60 at hot idle, thinks mines at about 30 hot idle 60 at higher revs. Dials are defo rubbish though. Worth getting it looked at, dodgy oil pressure makes me a bit half a crown sixpence!
Hmmm. It definitely never moves below 60 or above 70 - start up, hot idle or full throttle. It is however on zero when switched off so it's not stuck at 60
I may well get it checked out. I think I'm likely to be taking a run up to St8six in the next few weeks so I'll get them to take a lookSteve_T said:
I understand those factors, my point was by sticking under 2k the engine is likely under very little load, hence the rate at which is warms up is slower and the wear resulting from the period of cold running is longer. I tend to stay between 2-3k my reasoning being that most engine builders I've read up on do not let the engine idle on first start because it's hard on the cam, since it's running at half engine speed. On the other hand you don't want to rev the engine much for the reasons you've already listed.
I think the key is to drive the engine gently when cold..driving below 2K could put additional load on the engine in certain circumstances (i.e. driving up a hill in 5th)..hence the 3K limit..Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


