Warm Engine Vs Cold Engine Oil and Spirited Driving

MagmaRed370z · 03-06-2016, 02:47 PM

Hey guys,

It looks like there is a misconception between when the engine is warmed up but the engine oil is still cold. I have seen many people say that as long as the engine is warmed up (see picture on the left) you can start with higher RPMs and spirited driving.

I always wait until the engine oil (see picture on the right) is warmed up to start with launches and spirited driving.

How many of you guys wait for the engine oil to start pushing the engine? I see many people start pushing the car as soon as they see 2-3 dots on the dash.

kenchan · 03-06-2016, 03:33 PM

the ecu will compensate if the engine is not warmed up enough but i usually wait till the oil is 180F range before i open her up.

SouthArk370Z · 03-06-2016, 04:07 PM

Search this site for "operating temperature", "oil temperature", &c. If the site's search doesn't come up with anything, try any of the major web search engines and add "site:the370z.com" to your search string.

ramoszx12r · 03-06-2016, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schellingr

Hey guys,

It looks like there is a misconception between when the engine is warmed up but the engine oil is still cold. I have seen many people say that as long as the engine is warmed up (see picture on the left) you can start with higher RPMs and spirited driving.

I always wait until the engine oil (see picture on the right) is warmed up to start with launches and spirited driving.

How many of you guys wait for the engine oil to start pushing the engine? I see many people start pushing the car as soon as they see 2-3 dots on the dash.

BGTV8 · 03-06-2016, 07:24 PM

I do not give the engine a hard time until I have 70 DegC registering oln the oil temp gauge.

BuckeyeZ · 03-06-2016, 08:02 PM

The dots you are referring to on the LH photo is the water temperature.....not the oil temperature.

As others have stated, I let my temp on the gauge (RH pic) get to 180 before I push it hard.

vtec to vvel · 03-06-2016, 08:10 PM

i usually wait until the oil is warmed up prior to doing any spirited driving, however, i only wait until the water temperature is warmed up before driving fast (i.e. getting up to 60 mph but in granny style).

BoneZ · 03-06-2016, 08:14 PM

I too don't give it hell until I'm in the range of 180°.

MagmaRed370z · 03-06-2016, 08:37 PM

Looks like reaching 180 takes about 8-10 minutes driving it grandpa style. (At least here in the northern US)

BGTV8 · 03-06-2016, 10:33 PM

Or run an oil temp thermostat bypass in the oil cooling line.

LA370z · 03-07-2016, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeZ

The dots you are referring to on the LH photo is the water temperature.....not the oil temperature.

As others have stated, I let my temp on the gauge (RH pic) get to 180 before I push it hard.

2011 Nismo#91 · 03-07-2016, 09:45 AM

The 7th dot has an enormous 64F range (~158-222F) compared to the others which only have ~6F range. You can be at the 3rd dot and still below 140.
Factory Coolant Gauge Readings

JARblue · 03-07-2016, 10:14 AM

I try to wait until the coolant temp dot has moved before I leave the garage. Then I wait for throttle over ~3K RPMs until the oil temp needle has at least moved off the 140F mark. Anything above 5K RPMs waits for 160F temp on the gauge which tells me the actual oil temp is at least 180F.

These are just ideal scenarios for me because I have a 60 mph state highway 1/4 mile from my house. It's hard for the Z to warm up in that distance, and when there's traffic, it's hard to merge into traffic safely without pushing 5K RPMs in at least 1st and 2nd gears. I try to let it sit in the garage longer if I know I'm going that direction.

mishuko · 03-07-2016, 12:12 PM

I find my car's oil warms up faster than the transmission... when the shifts smooth out (especially getting into 1st / 2nd) I know I can go hard.

generally about 5-10 minutes depending on varying factors.

I have similar problems JAR... but in Toronto I merge at like half the legal speed limit so it's usually not a problem

fzgood · 03-07-2016, 12:26 PM

I'm pretty sure this was originally posted here. If you don't already wait until oil temperature hits 180 to push it, then you should watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpa3oNJG3uU

03-06-2016, 02:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
MagmaRed370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: USA Posts: 1,468 Drives: 14' 370z Sport Magma Rep Power: 13	Warm Engine Vs Cold Engine Oil and Spirited Driving Hey guys, It looks like there is a misconception between when the engine is warmed up but the engine oil is still cold. I have seen many people say that as long as the engine is warmed up (see picture on the left) you can start with higher RPMs and spirited driving. I always wait until the engine oil (see picture on the right) is warmed up to start with launches and spirited driving. How many of you guys wait for the engine oil to start pushing the engine? I see many people start pushing the car as soon as they see 2-3 dots on the dash. __________________ Sold: 2014 Magnetic Black Base. Current: 2014 Magma Red 370z Sport \| ARK Grip Exhaust \| 25mm HR Spacers \| GTR Button \| DRL Mod

03-06-2016, 03:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	the ecu will compensate if the engine is not warmed up enough but i usually wait till the oil is 180F range before i open her up. gbrettin, ajm216, imjello and 1 others like this.

03-06-2016, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	Search this site for "operating temperature", "oil temperature", &c. If the site's search doesn't come up with anything, try any of the major web search engines and add "site:the370z.com" to your search string. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

03-06-2016, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
BuckeyeZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Music City Posts: 291 Drives: 370Z BMW M4 Rep Power: 65	The dots you are referring to on the LH photo is the water temperature.....not the oil temperature. As others have stated, I let my temp on the gauge (RH pic) get to 180 before I push it hard. ajm216 and MagmaRed370z like this. __________________ Stillen \| EVO-R \| HPS \| K&N \| Hotchkis \| Modshack Oil Cooler \| SPL

03-06-2016, 08:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
vtec to vvel A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: 813 Posts: 3,915 Drives: 13 Z Rep Power: 502909	i usually wait until the oil is warmed up prior to doing any spirited driving, however, i only wait until the water temperature is warmed up before driving fast (i.e. getting up to 60 mph but in granny style). MagmaRed370z likes this. __________________ Don't like what I post? Too bad. I really don't give a sh!t

03-06-2016, 07:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,514 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 39973	I do not give the engine a hard time until I have 70 DegC registering oln the oil temp gauge.

03-06-2016, 08:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
BoneZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2015 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 52 Posts: 9,299 Drives: 2012 Blue BallZ Rep Power: 2684382	I too don't give it hell until I'm in the range of 180°. ajm216 and MagmaRed370z like this. __________________ *“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”*-George Burns

03-06-2016, 08:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
MagmaRed370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: USA Posts: 1,468 Drives: 14' 370z Sport Magma Rep Power: 13	Looks like reaching 180 takes about 8-10 minutes driving it grandpa style. (At least here in the northern US) __________________ Sold: 2014 Magnetic Black Base. Current: 2014 Magma Red 370z Sport \| ARK Grip Exhaust \| 25mm HR Spacers \| GTR Button \| DRL Mod

03-06-2016, 10:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,514 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 39973	Or run an oil temp thermostat bypass in the oil cooling line. MagmaRed370z likes this.

03-07-2016, 09:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	The 7th dot has an enormous 64F range (~158-222F) compared to the others which only have ~6F range. You can be at the 3rd dot and still below 140. Factory Coolant Gauge Readings MagmaRed370z likes this.

03-07-2016, 10:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	I try to wait until the coolant temp dot has moved before I leave the garage. Then I wait for throttle over ~3K RPMs until the oil temp needle has at least moved off the 140F mark. Anything above 5K RPMs waits for 160F temp on the gauge which tells me the actual oil temp is at least 180F. These are just ideal scenarios for me because I have a 60 mph state highway 1/4 mile from my house. It's hard for the Z to warm up in that distance, and when there's traffic, it's hard to merge into traffic safely without pushing 5K RPMs in at least 1st and 2nd gears. I try to let it sit in the garage longer if I know I'm going that direction. MagmaRed370z likes this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

03-07-2016, 12:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
mishuko A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bouncin on tigga Posts: 8,062 Drives: '12 Z Rep Power: 9435	I find my car's oil warms up faster than the transmission... when the shifts smooth out (especially getting into 1st / 2nd) I know I can go hard. generally about 5-10 minutes depending on varying factors. I have similar problems JAR... but in Toronto I merge at like half the legal speed limit so it's usually not a problem

03-07-2016, 12:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
fzgood Base Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 136 Drives: '13 370z 6MT TS PW Rep Power: 25	I'm pretty sure this was originally posted here. If you don't already wait until oil temperature hits 180 to push it, then you should watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpa3oNJG3uU

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