yet ANOTHER NOOB question.

azn370z · 01-07-2010, 09:59 PM

The manual says let the engine warm up for 30 secs before driving.

Anyone notice that at start up the exhaust is somewhat loud for about 20 seconds then silence, The exhuast doesn't make a sound until the next time I start it up again.

m4a1mustang · 01-07-2010, 10:25 PM

Yes. The ecu bumps the idle up to help warm the car quicker and get fluids pumping. It's all common sense, really.

Red370 · 01-07-2010, 11:54 PM

Quoted from answerbag.com

"Modern vehicles are more intelligent than they were in the past. With massive computerization, sensors inside the car adjust the engine’s behavior based on the conditions. Engine warmup is almost a non-requirement, although most manufacturers will include instructions to do so.

In addition, idling a car for longer wastes fuel. As FuelEconomy.gov puts it, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines."

Couldnt put it better myself. And I end my input before another pissing match ensues.

speedee911 · 01-08-2010, 12:26 AM

It is "BAD" to let your car idle on a cold start.. 30 seconds should be more than enough.. It is also bad to rev it high when it is cold.. You should wait a few seconds, then set off, driving like a nanny and keeping the revs low until it warms up completely.. Because the oil temperature must reach its optimal level as QUICKLY as possible.. It takes A LOT longer to idle it all the way to warm then to drive it really nice and slow..

MightyBobo · 01-08-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red370

Quoted from answerbag.com

"Modern vehicles are more intelligent than they were in the past. With massive computerization, sensors inside the car adjust the engine’s behavior based on the conditions. Engine warmup is almost a non-requirement, although most manufacturers will include instructions to do so.

In addition, idling a car for longer wastes fuel. As FuelEconomy.gov puts it, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines."

Couldnt put it better myself. And I end my input before another pissing match ensues.

You're getting your research from...answerbag.com? Well hold the phone everyone, this debate is OVER! lol

Sensors wont do crap for the expansion and contraction of metals - all it can do is adjust timing and the base idle speed of the motor at certain temperatures (yeah, of course it can do a ton more like alter fuel and whatnot, none of which really matters in this case). It also cant control the fact that all your oil dripped to the bottom of the car, how viscous oil is when its cold and how metals tend to become more brittle in colder temperatures. That's chemistry by the way...not answerbag.com :-p

People are throwing their 2 cents around in here like they are physicists or chemists, and since THEY don't give their car time to warm up, EVERYONE shouldn't! I even use my trucks auto-starter as I'm walking up to it, just to give the valvetrain sufficient time to get nice and oily, along with giving it a small amount of time to get the internal components SOMEWHAT warm.

speedee911 · 01-08-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

You're getting your research from...answerbag.com? Well hold the phone everyone, this debate is OVER! lol

Sensors wont do crap for the expansion and contraction of metals - all it can do is adjust timing and the base idle speed of the motor at certain temperatures (yeah, of course it can do a ton more like alter fuel and whatnot, none of which really matters in this case). It also cant control the fact that all your oil dripped to the bottom of the car, how viscous oil is when its cold and how metals tend to become more brittle in colder temperatures. That's chemistry by the way...not answerbag.com :-p

People are throwing their 2 cents around in here like they are physicists or chemists, and since THEY don't give their car time to warm up, EVERYONE shouldn't! I even use my trucks auto-starter as I'm walking up to it, just to give the valvetrain sufficient time to get nice and oily, along with giving it a small amount of time to get the internal components SOMEWHAT warm.

Ok, I agree with you.. Running an engine in cold temperatures is bad because all the metal in the engine, and there is a lot of it, is cold.. and oil isn't sufficient everywhere.. But let's use common sense.. Whats worse, having an engine run 10 minutes while its cold (idling it to a warm temperature), OR having it run for about 2 minutes while its cold, while you drive it really nice and slow.. On my current car i start it and let the idle settle (not more than 30 seconds), then set off and shift at ~2,000 RPM.. This is with a slow turbo-charged engine which has NO power and torque at low revs.. But all this is just my opinion and everyone has their own.. and i seriously doubt this will affect the engine in any way, unless you daily start it when its really really cold and redline it right away.. other than that, i think we're all good..

KillerBee370 · 01-08-2010, 12:40 AM

I have always let my car warm up with AMPLE time. It's not uncommon for me to go out and start my car and come back into the house to grab a couple things or whatever before heading back out (I'm always forgetting Shiite anyway). Starting your car ahead of time (especially in cold weather) takes 2 seconds. What's 2 seconds and a couple minutes when you just took an hour getting ready?

I don't roll out of bed, wait 30 seconds and then head out the door. Why would I treat my car that way?

armensti · 01-08-2010, 04:38 AM

i let my car warm up until the 2nd light on the water gauge lights up and then i drive off but i dont floor the car until the oil temperature starts to go up.

IDZRVIT · 01-08-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

On a cold start, how long should I wait to drive the Z.

The correct answer is in your owner's manual. Try reading it. Some folks provided the correct answer - they read the manual. Other's posted what they like to do out of personal preference. The engine will perform as designed when all the engine temperatures have stabilized, oil, coolant and components including transmission and differential. I personally wouldn't make gear changes above 5K rpm until all components reached their normal operating tempreatures. This may take 15 minutes or longer depending on where you live.

MightyBobo · 01-08-2010, 08:15 PM

I totally agree, that waiting 30 seconds to 1 minute is, for the most part, sufficient. But, simply starting the car and driving off before the damn RPM needle comes down is NOT, IMHO. Getting the valvetrain lubed up is my biggest concern.

ZYUL8R · 01-08-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

I totally agree, that waiting 30 seconds to 1 minute is, for the most part, sufficient. But, simply starting the car and driving off before the damn RPM needle comes down is NOT, IMHO. Getting the valvetrain lubed up is my biggest concern.

Thats me, but then again i don't really baby my car...it sees redline almost everytime i drive it.

lol...but i drive very very calmly until the oil temp goes up.....i USED to use the oil pressure gauge to know when its okay to drive hard but nissan took that away from me.

MightyBobo · 01-08-2010, 08:38 PM

Oil pressure gauge would be amazing

KillerBee370 · 01-08-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Oil pressure gauge would be amazing

01-08-2010, 09:18 PM

DIdnt read the thread but cars now are built so well that there is no need to warm them up. Today, you are better off just driving they warm up faster that way.

01-07-2010, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	The manual says let the engine warm up for 30 secs before driving. Anyone notice that at start up the exhaust is somewhat loud for about 20 seconds then silence, The exhuast doesn't make a sound until the next time I start it up again. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

01-07-2010, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Yes. The ecu bumps the idle up to help warm the car quicker and get fluids pumping. It's all common sense, really. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

01-07-2010, 11:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	Quoted from answerbag.com "Modern vehicles are more intelligent than they were in the past. With massive computerization, sensors inside the car adjust the engine’s behavior based on the conditions. Engine warmup is almost a non-requirement, although most manufacturers will include instructions to do so. In addition, idling a car for longer wastes fuel. As FuelEconomy.gov puts it, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines." Couldnt put it better myself. And I end my input before another pissing match ensues. __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

01-08-2010, 12:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
speedee911 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 22 Drives: Dacia 1310, 370Z Rep Power: 16	It is "BAD" to let your car idle on a cold start.. 30 seconds should be more than enough.. It is also bad to rev it high when it is cold.. You should wait a few seconds, then set off, driving like a nanny and keeping the revs low until it warms up completely.. Because the oil temperature must reach its optimal level as QUICKLY as possible.. It takes A LOT longer to idle it all the way to warm then to drive it really nice and slow.. Last edited by speedee911; 01-08-2010 at 12:32 AM.

01-08-2010, 08:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 53	I totally agree, that waiting 30 seconds to 1 minute is, for the most part, sufficient. But, simply starting the car and driving off before the damn RPM needle comes down is NOT, IMHO. Getting the valvetrain lubed up is my biggest concern. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

01-08-2010, 12:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 52 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 322	I have always let my car warm up with AMPLE time. It's not uncommon for me to go out and start my car and come back into the house to grab a couple things or whatever before heading back out (I'm always forgetting Shiite anyway). Starting your car ahead of time (especially in cold weather) takes 2 seconds. What's 2 seconds and a couple minutes when you just took an hour getting ready? I don't roll out of bed, wait 30 seconds and then head out the door. Why would I treat my car that way?

01-08-2010, 04:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
armensti Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 447 Drives: 370Z/Tring/Spt/6MT Rep Power: 17	i let my car warm up until the 2nd light on the water gauge lights up and then i drive off but i dont floor the car until the oil temperature starts to go up.

01-08-2010, 08:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 53	Oil pressure gauge would be amazing __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

01-08-2010, 09:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
blue660r01 Guest Posts: n/a	DIdnt read the thread but cars now are built so well that there is no need to warm them up. Today, you are better off just driving they warm up faster that way.