Turn on the car and let it run for about 1 minute. Then drive slowly for several minutes to get the tranny and everything else up to temperature.
Using high quality fluids is crucial, as well as proper selction of viscosities.After tearing down 2 high mileage VQ's that were treated differently, the difference is obvious.

 

I'd like to, but im usually too pressed for time to sit int he car and wait...She dosent sound happy on 10 degree mornings when I takeoff

 

Sorry if someone else already mentioned this, but I didn't want to wade through all 5 pages. Doesn't the owner's manual specifically state to let the engine idle for about 30 seconds before driving? This is what I do regardless of the temperature outside. I'll let it warm up more in cold weather, but mostly just for my comfort. Other than that I agree with everyone to take it easy on the throttle until the engine is up to normal operating temperature. Also, BMW has rev limiters on some models that won't let you get the rpms up past a certain level until the car is at a predetermined temperature (I'm sure other cars do this as well, I was just using BMW as an example).

Tony

 

hey guys--warming up ur car in the morning is the best thing u can do for it--ive seen cars start to burn oil b/c of not warming up there car b4 drivin---i havent got around to it yet but im getting a turbo timer-even though my car is not turbo--just cuz u can time it for like 5-10mins take the key out of the ignition and lock the car--well any way that is my opinion

 

Keep doing what you're doing and keep in mind engine loading. You'd defeat the purpose of keeping the revs low if you short-shift at WOT with the cold engine/oil.

Years ago, a friend had a 911 RS and the manual said to only open it up when the transmission and engine oils were at operating temperature (yes, it had a tranny oil temp gauge).

 

Being an old mechanic, I believe there is something that has not been explained here.

Engines are engineered to have a LOAD on them. The bearings and specifications all take into account that the engine has a load.

2nd, your engines settings measurements are set at the factory at operating temperature. Metal shrinks and expands at different temperatures. So the longer the engine takes to come up to operating temperature, the longer the engine is running out of "spec"

30 seconds and im gone.

 

Have you ever seen an engine fail because a main bearing that rotated, covering the oil feed hole?

 

At least 2 min always..call me over protective. The other item that I was told was not to rev the engine as you are starting the car. Turn the key and let the engine turn over without giving gas. Not sure if it makes a difference....was just told that by a friend who is an engine remanufacturer that gets 215K out of his GMC jimmy engines.

 

Summer time - about 30-60 seconds to build up some oil pressure
Winter- About 2-5 minutes(depending on where you live)

 

Not personally, But it does happen.
I have seen 1 case where parents bought a car for their 16 year old and had a brand new engine put in.
Kid went out and started it up every morning (can't drive until 17 here)
After a week he seized it up tight.
I'm sure he was revving it, but, it is an example of no load destroying an engine.
A lot of people have it right on, keep the rpms low until operating temperature.
But do try and keep a load on it, These babies run a long time, but it might make the difference between 150K and 250K.

 

This explains it all. Forget the rest of the thread.

They DID put it in the car manual for a reason...

 

1 min is good cold weather 2-3 would be better

 

I like to warm it up like 5-10 mins in winter just so I don't freeze my ___ off. Seat heaters take to long.

 

Exactly, I try to stay below 2500rpm until it fully warms up. The Maxima's warm up very quickly compared to most cars. Most of the time though it ends up warming up for awhile as I take a smoke whiles its warming up.

Another benefit I hae is an insulated garage so 1 minute at home. A little bit more at work. When I'm out at a mll or something I always go for underground parking to.

 

Thank God I live in FL. Start it, let it run briefly for a few...let it roll in neutral or 1st, until my first light about .5 mile, then under 3K until normal temp.

 

Viper 791XV

 

Whether it’s winter or summer I usually wait till it gets to the lowest point of ‘normal’ temperature reading. Then start moving and keep it under 2.5k while it is reaching normal op temperature.

 

Sorry for out of topic question, but since engines are designed to have a load, does it mean that engine braking is harmful?

 

Thank you for actually getting us a bottom line.

this is going to keep my maxima running past the 172,000 it's at already.

 

I let it warm up about 30secs to a minute after getting off work, or about 2 minutes in the morning, depending on how cold it is. i try to keep it below 2500rpms until it's at normal operating temp.

People are saying they keep it below 3 grand until it's warm, but just crusing around, I don't often break 3500rpms. How high do you guys shift?? (or rather, how high does your auto shift?)

 

I've never onced intentionally warmed up any of my FI cars. The ones with a carburator, I had no choice.

My other car, a 95 Talon, has 155k on it. Original turbo, clutch, etc... Runs like a champ!!! Never once intentionally warmed it up. I just take it easy until the temp guage starts to climb up. Granted I'm not pulling away for 30 seconds or so while I buckle up, get the radar detector setup, cell phone plugged in....

 

I do especially in the winter, but in the summer I let it run a few seconds

 

i let my car warm up during the winter but in the summer i just let it run of a few seconds then i drive off. I don't like the idea of leaving my car running on the street unattented in the winter waiting for it to warm up so i plan to get a remote starter before winter hits.

 

I usually let it warm up for about 30 seconds - 1 minute and until I get out to the mainroad I drive slow.

 

I like to try and burn my tires out the second I turn my car on. The smoke from the tires is generally warm and will drift into the engine bay and warm the engine faster.

Seriously though, this thread is rediculus. Idling your engine is bad enough on your engine, but doing it for longer than 30 second while the engine is cold? That's stupid. Get driving (slowly) to warm up your engine.

 

Yup, I warm it up for 30-60 secs every morning. In winter a few minutes while I brush the snow off the car (yup, I'm from Canada)... I notice a difference in AT shifting when warm up or not... It shifts much harder if it isn't especially when outside temp is below zero...

 

i warm it up for at least 2-3 min.

 

yep. letting a cold engine ilde is pretty much

 

u gta let that shiznat warm up, stupid not to, how about when your sleeping, i go in your room, punch u in the face and tell you to start running a race.

 

you should.. for a few seconds so the oil moves around the engine

 

I got remote start on my car, so i just start from inside the house like 2 minutes before i leave, and then it is warmed up and ready to go

 

I let it run for about 1 min. then drive it very gentle keeping the revs down until fully warmed up then drive it like I stole it.

 

I warm it up for about 2-3 minutes and 5 minutes in the winter.

 

everyone who posted should go back to the first page and READ THE FIRST COUPLE OF POSTS!!

 

Why was this bumped...especially by someone who lives in FL?

 

Got remote starter, so i use that before i leave my house, by the time I get to the car its warmed up.

 

I wanna get a remote starter... I am in TX, but I leave my house early for the gym and it's chilly then... Plus, my students would think it was really cool...

 

no,......but i should considering that my car is 20 years old, but when i do it drives perfectly, but if i dont it sputters for like 2 mins or until i hit 3000 rpm

 

How Much Does A Remote Starter Cost???

 

Post count! No!