How detrimental is it to...
 

So my question is, how detrimental is it to drive your car hard when its not warmed up? The reason I ask this question is because I recently had an encounter on the street that made me think that its maybe isnt so bad. To make a long story short. I work in a restaurant at a highend life style center, and valet parking is directly in front. Great cars consistenly get to stay on display with out moving to the actual parking lot, which brings me to my situation.

There was a Lambo Superleggera parked out front for around four hours. It just so happened that when I was leaving work, so was the Lambo. It was reasonably cool out(maybe 50 degrees or so), and when I pulled out on to the street he pulled along side me at the first light just outside the center.

I really wanted to punch it to see how badly he would pull away(with out breaking the speed limit of course, and because I keep it off the streets), but I knew my engine was cold and so was his, so I figured neither of us would gun it. Well I was completely wrong, when the light turned green he bogged for fraction of a second and then ripped away at an astonishing velocity. The sound was amazing, for the brief time he was next to me. I dont know how fast he got up to, but I would say he was doing well over triple digits in just a matter of a few seconds. I did my usual acceleration with out surpassing 3500k, and up to the speed limit.

So back to my question, how bad is it to beat on your car when its not up to proper operating temperature? This guy has a quater million dollar car and didnt hesitate to rip on it when it was cold. Mine cost a fraction of that and I always wait until the engine is warm before stomping on it. Is it just because he has the money to replace broken or worn parts, or is it really not that bad to do so because of modern technology and synthetic oils? Opinions?

I snapped a quick pic with the droid while at the light...

I was reading something about this this morning. What I can remember about the article that I read was that the modern engines are not like the old ones that need it to warm up for a few minutes to get the oil circulating and up to specific temp.

The modern engines work diferently so in a few seconds all the engine components will be well lubricated and ready to go.

Besides, dudes got a Lamborghini he can afford to maintain it.

its fine as long as its not done every time.

The need to warm the engine up stems primarily from the desire to get the motor oil up to temp. If you wail on your car while it's cold, you are essentially running 5 weight oil in the engine...

lol ya for some of those cars the cost to maintain them for a year would buy our car!

I don't know about lambo's but I know I was reading bugatti veyron owners (I know it's $1.7-2.7 million car) but they are paying around $250,000 - $300,000 a year for yearly maintenance!!:shakes head: that would buy some pretty nice houses around my area (the $250k to $300K).

Think about this. The difference between the $250k and $300k is more than our Z.

Nissan prevents the engine from revving too high when the engine temp is too low. But the engine warms up very quickly. I usually wait until my oil temp reaches 180.

That will take me probably all day now in the Winter.

Not on my 370Z. I can rev to 7500rpm right when I start it cold.

Well our owner's manual says when first starting to let it idle for 30 secs.

This is what a friend of mine told me... he tracks his car and is very knowledgeable:

not quoting but the point was that to let a car idle to warm up is not necessarily good for the car. When you start it up and begin to drive it right away you are getting more oil up into the engine right off the bat. if you let it idle you are not getting as much oil up and this causes friction, friction in an engine is bad (duh).

As to gunning it right off when the engine is cold, I would not recommend it as the oil is heavy and will not lubricate properly at a time of high friction.

So my advice (and I am no mechanic and a novice to the mechanics of engines) do not go to either extreme... idling is bad, and gunning it cold is bad.

My two cents

Confusion...ugh...

Insert foot into mouth.

:-X

hey man, like i said I wasn't quoting him, I could have misinterpreted what he said... we are all here to help each other out, not to put one another down :tiphat:

Just letting you known that you should inform your friend. I am simply trying to stop the spread of misinformation about things like this.

No harm no foul, just want you to understand how it works.

By doing what you said, you could actually do more harm than good.

Sorry if it came out the wrong way.

:tiphat: