How long do you let your car warm up?

Hotrodz · 02-19-2013, 11:21 PM

[QUOTE=Illmatic370z;2174806]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

Depends on the temperature when I start it. Really cold...a few minutes. Really hot...not so much.

Clear as mud.[/QUOTE

Me too!

DEpointfive0 · 02-19-2013, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

Idle until water temp gets to ~110F and RPMs drop to ~1050. Keep RPMs below 2500-3000 until oil temp moves off the peg. Keep RPMs below 3500-4000 until oil at 160F. WOT when oil temp gets to 175-180F.

I'm not sure how that fits into your poll.

Either wait for water to move off the bottom or let the juices flow then drive like a granny

SouthArk370Z · 02-19-2013, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Either wait for water to move off the bottom

I ignore the dash water temp gauge (it's even more worthless than the fuel gauge). I use my ScanGuageII to monitor water temp.
The main thing I'm looking for is RPMs to drop before moving. After that, oil temp is what I'm looking at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

or let the juices flow then drive like a granny

What exactly does "let the juices flow" mean?
I do drive like a granny until the oil temp comes up.

DEpointfive0 · 02-19-2013, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I ignore the dash water temp gauge (it's even more worthless than the fuel gauge). I use my ScanGuageII to monitor water temp.
The main thing I'm looking for is RPMs to drop before moving. After that, oil temp is what I'm looking at.

What exactly does "let the juices flow" mean?
I do drive like a granny until the oil temp comes up.

Welllll... What I mean is you just let the oil lube up the top half of the engine

CDepp · 02-19-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I ignore the dash water temp gauge (it's even more worthless than the fuel gauge). I use my ScanGuageII to monitor water temp.
The main thing I'm looking for is RPMs to drop before moving. After that, oil temp is what I'm looking at.

What exactly does "let the juices flow" mean?
I do drive like a granny until the oil temp comes up.

Exactly. Once the choke comes off, we're just about good to go. I trust the engine mgmt system. Not that I could fight a case of cracked rings or hairline cracks in the cylinder walls with the dealership, but manufacturers 'generally' test the engines and program the CPU to act accordingly.

CDepp · 02-19-2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Welllll... What I mean is you just let the oil lube up the top half of the engine

She hasn't let me do that in months....

we're still talking about cars, right?

DEpointfive0 · 02-19-2013, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDepp

Exactly. Once the choke comes off, we're just about good to go. I trust the engine mgmt system. Not that I could fight a case of cracked rings or hairline cracks in the cylinder walls with the dealership, but manufacturers 'generally' test the engines and program the CPU to act accordingly.

The choke in my car is only engaged for... 30-45 seconds, then the RPMs drop
And the garage is... 60-ish degrees

nogoodname · 02-19-2013, 11:56 PM

During the summer I let the juices flow a bit and then drive like a granny. When it's colder like beginning of spring or end of fall. I let it warm up for 5-10 mins. I have a starter installed.

CDepp · 02-20-2013, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

The choke in my car is only engaged for... 30-45 seconds, then the RPMs drop
And the garage is... 60-ish degrees

Nice!
At my townhouse, there's no garage. So, the choke runs for a good long time and is already adjusted to the ambient outside temps by the time the RPMS calm down. I walk back in the house if it's cold enough anyways, and the engine is good and warm while I feed the dogs and kiss the fiance.

I expect that the block sitting at ~60 would be ideal for me. I miss my garage. Probably getting another property in a year or two and a work garage in the year after where I'll rest the Z.

cv129 · 02-20-2013, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

Idle until water temp gets to ~110F and RPMs drop to ~1050. Keep RPMs below 2500-3000 until oil temp moves off the peg. Keep RPMs below 3500-4000 until oil at 160F. WOT when oil temp gets to 175-180F.

I'm not sure how that fits into your poll.

I do somewhat the same, oil temp dictates when I can be naughtier with the throttle. Plus I don't want the cold oil to cause excessive oil pressure (read somewhere our engine oil bump max at 100 psi or something?)

Keep Your Engine Alive: The Importance of Oil Temperature | Tuner University

Tribalpinoy91 · 02-20-2013, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esfourteen

i typically let the car idle until the rpms fall to normal idle speed, then drive and keep rpms under 4k until the oil temps start to rise

Same here

3.7 ZPA · 02-20-2013, 04:13 AM

During the winter, I smoke a cigarette (outside the car) while the car warms up. Does anyone else's clutch move slower when it's below freezing? I've never experienced that in any of my other MT cars. During the summer, I give it about 30 seconds, then I go.

/Angelo350Z/ · 02-20-2013, 04:50 AM

^^ I also smoke a cigarette while waiting for the water temp to go up to, or close to operating temperature.

Nailzs · 02-20-2013, 06:28 AM

I wait until Torque Pro says the engine has reached full operating temperature.

SouthArk370Z · 02-20-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDepp

Exactly. Once the choke comes off, we're just about good to go. I trust the engine mgmt system. Not that I could fight a case of cracked rings or hairline cracks in the cylinder walls with the dealership, but manufacturers 'generally' test the engines and program the CPU to act accordingly.

I'm pretty sure that my procedure is overkill for most cars built in the last decade or two. Modern engines are a lot tougher and have a much stronger sense of self-preservation than the "classics" I'm used to driving and working on. I wouldn't want to cold start and then immediately do a WOT 1/4-mile, but merging onto the freeway when cold (I live in S AR so my "cold" is pretty warm compared to what some of you see in Winter, plus I have a 1 mile cruise through the neighborhood before getting to a freeway) shouldn't be all that hard on a modern engine.

View Poll Results: How long do you let your car warm up?
I let the juices flow then drive (30 seconds)	75	23.96%
I wait for the water temp to move off the bottom	37	11.82%
I wait for the water temp get to operating temp	13	4.15%
I wait for the oil temp to move off the bottom	16	5.11%
I wait for the oil temp to get to operating temperature (man that must take a while)	7	2.24%
I let the juices flow then drive like a granny until everything warms up	73	23.32%
I don't wait for it to warm up but I drive like a granny until everything gets to temp	39	12.46%
Warm up?!?!?! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU WARM IT UP? THIS AIN'T NO 1920'S CAR, modern technology FTW!!!	53	16.93%
Voters: 313. You may not vote on this poll

02-20-2013, 04:13 AM	#42 (permalink)
3.7 ZPA Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 352 Drives: '09 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 13	During the winter, I smoke a cigarette (outside the car) while the car warms up. Does anyone else's clutch move slower when it's below freezing? I've never experienced that in any of my other MT cars. During the summer, I give it about 30 seconds, then I go. CDepp likes this.

02-20-2013, 04:50 AM	#43 (permalink)
/Angelo350Z/ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 2,230 Drives: Z34 \| MK7 \| F82 Rep Power: 3660	^^ I also smoke a cigarette while waiting for the water temp to go up to, or close to operating temperature. DEpointfive0 and CDepp like this.

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02-19-2013, 11:56 PM	#38 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	During the summer I let the juices flow a bit and then drive like a granny. When it's colder like beginning of spring or end of fall. I let it warm up for 5-10 mins. I have a starter installed.

02-20-2013, 06:28 AM	#44 (permalink)
Nailzs Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 395 Drives: 13 370Z 7at Sp Tour Rep Power: 13	I wait until Torque Pro says the engine has reached full operating temperature.