Are you mechanically sympathetic?
Discussion
I noticed the other day how people seemingly don't care for their cars at all, but was wondering whether PHers were probably a bit better at this
For example, we have had some flooding around where I live and I avoid driving through any really deep water and if the road is covered in water deeper than the tyre side walls I sure as s
t don't drove through normally like other people seem to.
Another person pulling out of their driveway to beat some traffic booted it in 1st from a cold start. Again, I never use full throttle or max rpm until I've done a good 6-7 miles.
What about you?
For example, we have had some flooding around where I live and I avoid driving through any really deep water and if the road is covered in water deeper than the tyre side walls I sure as s
t don't drove through normally like other people seem to. Another person pulling out of their driveway to beat some traffic booted it in 1st from a cold start. Again, I never use full throttle or max rpm until I've done a good 6-7 miles.
What about you?
I'm fairly mechanically sympathetic, For example as I don't use my 4x4 every day, when I do use it, I will let the engine idle for a good 2 mins before I pull off then only gentle revs and not wide open throttle until the temp gauge has at least got of the bottom.
In my car I don't tend to wait before I pull off (other than while I'm closing the garage doors) but its always not full throttle until it at least warmed up a bit.
I guess it one of those things that I've always been taught / told about. I guess younger other people have not been taught this, or possibly its the lack of oil / engine temp gauges in car these days, eg my ex BMW 123D did not have an engine temp gauge which I though was really odd.
Newer cars do warm up a lot faster than older one as well- this could be one of the reason people dont bother.
In my car I don't tend to wait before I pull off (other than while I'm closing the garage doors) but its always not full throttle until it at least warmed up a bit.
I guess it one of those things that I've always been taught / told about. I guess younger other people have not been taught this, or possibly its the lack of oil / engine temp gauges in car these days, eg my ex BMW 123D did not have an engine temp gauge which I though was really odd.
Newer cars do warm up a lot faster than older one as well- this could be one of the reason people dont bother.
I can see your point here, the majority of my neighbours with company cars seem to have ticked the launch control option as I hear them fly up my cul-de-sac reaching the limiter in first.
I error on the side of caution and go through full warm up and down of both my NA & Turbo cars. Over the years I would like to think my cars spend a lot less time in the garage then theirs for component failures.
I error on the side of caution and go through full warm up and down of both my NA & Turbo cars. Over the years I would like to think my cars spend a lot less time in the garage then theirs for component failures.
E65Ross said:
For example, we have had some flooding around where I live and I avoid driving through any really deep water and if the road is covered in water deeper than the tyre side walls I sure as st don't drove through normally like other people seem to.
Another person pulling out of their driveway to beat some traffic booted it in 1st from a cold start. Again, I never use full throttle or max rpm until I've done a good 6-7 miles.
What about you?
I'm with you. I once stopped because I didn't want to drive through a small flood that was only getting deeper, pulled over safely (in nobodys way) and some woman got out and came over to me and asked if I was alright, and when I explained I didn't fancy risking it, she laughed and then proceeded to watch a young lad hydrolock his engine and get stuck. Needless to say she didn't go through either.t don't drove through normally like other people seem to. Another person pulling out of their driveway to beat some traffic booted it in 1st from a cold start. Again, I never use full throttle or max rpm until I've done a good 6-7 miles.
What about you?
Also, my neighbour drives off in the morning at break neck speed giving it full throttle, about 3 seconds after starting the car, I cringe every single time. I personally won't go above 2250 rpm (diesel) until at least the coolant has been fully up to temp for 5/10 min to let the oil catch up.
SmithyAG said:
I personally won't go above 2250 rpm (diesel)
That's bouncing off the limiter for a diesel 
On a more serious note, I'm very mechanically sympathetic. Never use full throttle (turbo car) or high revs until the oil is hot. Getting the oil up to temperature can take at least 15 minutes, especially at this time of year. I also minimise clutch slip, and never smash through the gears. Not really into heavy braking, either. All that does is wear them out and get my wheels dirty
I do like to knock cyclists off their bikes though, which doesn't do the paintwork a whole lot of good.
Edited by Kenny Powers on Wednesday 8th January 08:44
007 VXR said:
Mine gets treated like a member of the family
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_GreenglassI am very mechanically sympathetic, my dad taught me a fair bit about engines when i was young and i carried on with that knowledge.
A mate of mine at work is shocking to his cars, booting it from cold everyday, it makes me cringe, his attitude is that he wont have it for long so its not his problem, this really pisses me off!
He had an extended test drive of an X6 a while ago, took me out in it, he completely abused it, he let me drive and i treated it like i owned it, which he laughed about, made me rage a bit inside.
A mate of mine at work is shocking to his cars, booting it from cold everyday, it makes me cringe, his attitude is that he wont have it for long so its not his problem, this really pisses me off!
He had an extended test drive of an X6 a while ago, took me out in it, he completely abused it, he let me drive and i treated it like i owned it, which he laughed about, made me rage a bit inside.
Yes, I always allow my car To get up to temp before giving any beans.
I used to work with a guy who, every time he drove off from the office car park would always continually blip the throttle.
You could hear him leave and disappear off into the distance with brum brum brum brum brum brum bloody brum brum brum while we all stood by our cars cringing.
He told me its the best way to warm an engine up.
Poor little Fiesta.
I used to work with a guy who, every time he drove off from the office car park would always continually blip the throttle.
You could hear him leave and disappear off into the distance with brum brum brum brum brum brum bloody brum brum brum while we all stood by our cars cringing.
He told me its the best way to warm an engine up.
Poor little Fiesta.
Edited by so called on Wednesday 8th January 09:36
Krikkit said:
So many misunderstandings of modern oils... You don't need to baby it from cold at all, OK don't smash it off the limiter, but there's really no need to mollycoddle it until hot.
It's not just the engine that needs to get up to temp. Drive train etc all need to be there before you start pushing.yes - to the point where i get in a grump if i have to move to car a short distance etc
my views are probably ancient!
Always looking at levels, checking temps / pressures etc
Ive just purchased a car that is new enough to have diagnostics displayed via odb port to a reader / smart phone
I'm resiting doing so as i will probably turn into a mad old fool moaning about coolant temperature / oil pressure all the time
my views are probably ancient!
Always looking at levels, checking temps / pressures etc
Ive just purchased a car that is new enough to have diagnostics displayed via odb port to a reader / smart phone
I'm resiting doing so as i will probably turn into a mad old fool moaning about coolant temperature / oil pressure all the time
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