yet ANOTHER NOOB question.
 

On a cold start, how long should I wait to drive the Z. On my RSXS it would rev to 2K rpms and I would wait until the revs went down to about 1.2k rpms to drive it which is also when the oil temp gauge would register. On the Z it does not rev high at cold start nor does the oil temp register even after a few minutes. Sorry if this has been asked before but the site takes to long to search with the construction.

I let mine run for 2 min or so - at start the car revs over 1k rpm (1200 or so) the settles down to around 800. As soon as its died down, I'm on my way.

Its been really cold here in Florida for the past week or so, I've got the timing down almost to a science. Warm up the car, drive to the stop sign at the corner, and the heat clicks on.

no need to at all, start it up, and git er done.

This is what I do:
Start:
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC02731-1.jpg

Warmed up (my way)
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...1warmed-up.jpg


I start the car. Wait for the water temp DOT to move from first to 2nd and then all hell breaks loose :driving:. I try to warm up a little before driving away because I live 30 seconds from highway and temps drop below freezing for 4 -5 months (like now ). Don't feel too comfortable flooring the car when the engine is cold. But if I'm driving to the city and forced to drive cold (unable to wait), I just shift rapidly and keep the rpm less than 2000 until the engine warms up.

But I will say this, these newer Engines are designed to drive cold without a issue/problem. I was told, in old engines, most wear and tear happens during the first 15 minutes of driving a cold car. But with these new sophisticated engines, I think that's changed. As an old habit, I just feel comfortable driving a warmed up engine.

thanks guys! I think I should start a thread called "TARDCORE'S TARD QUESTIONS" maybe people are thinking the same thing but don't want to ask. haha like they say in school.

I usually wait for about 30 seconds or so, then go. But I don't do any real revving until the oil temp is at least at 150 or so.

I'm going to have to say no to engines that are designed to drive cold without an issue/problem. It is never good to drive a car especially a sports car from a cold start... ALWAYS warm up and go.

Don't look at the water temp "dots" as that means diddly squat as the water doesn't protect your engine, oil does.

You can drive it straight after starting, but gently until the oil temp gauge is at least off the bottom so the oil temp is rising. I wait till a solid 150-160f before punching it which is about a 4min drive.

I know but I use it as a timer. If the temps freezing below like now, it takes 3-5 minutes. In summertime, 2-3. By the time my oil gauge even moves, I have probably did a few 7K shifts already since I live 30 seconds from highway.

I drive g37 coupe but I let the rpms regulate to right under 1000 rpm. About 2 to 5 min depending...

I fire it up, sit for maybe 30 seconds, then get moving. I keep revs down and refrain from any aggressive driving until I see 180F on the oil.

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.

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

Thats pretty reckless - when the car sits for a while, a majority of the oil up in your valvetrain has slowely gone down to the pan. The potential to cause excessive wear will be at its highest on a cold start.

I'd always recommend waiting til the RPM's drop past 1K at the least.

I dont baby my cars. I HIGHLY doubt any damage can be done by not allowing your car to warm up for a specified amount of time, especially with modern day engines. Start the car, keep rpms below 4k until oil temp reaches around 180, then drive it how its meant to be driven. You didnt rev your engine above 4k for the first 3,000 miles did you?

What background are you using to make the claim that just because the motor is more modern, that no damage can happen?

Just because the motor is new doesn't mean its not based off of an old system, that is even more complex...its still metal that expands when warmed up, and oil still doesn't fully protect a motor until warmed up also.

And yes, I sure did rev it past 4K, but I did it after my first oil change when most of the gunk was removed from the oil.

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.:tup:

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..

You should rev it high and drive it HARD in the first 20 miles for the best break-in (in my opinion).. Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

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?

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.

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.

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..

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.

:hello: 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.

Oil pressure gauge would be amazing :(

:iagree:

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.