Let 'er warm up before driving?
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 158
From: New Jersey
Car Info: 2003 WRX
Let 'er warm up before driving?
What do you guys think about letting your car warm up before driving?
I've always have since I've had it (about a year-and-a-half), always waited till my little RPM guage read 1,000. Just today (1/18/04) I've heard that it isn't good because it only warms up your engine, not your transmission, which can be bad when you start driving. Just wanted to know so that I'm not hurting my car, ya know?
Thanks guys...
I've always have since I've had it (about a year-and-a-half), always waited till my little RPM guage read 1,000. Just today (1/18/04) I've heard that it isn't good because it only warms up your engine, not your transmission, which can be bad when you start driving. Just wanted to know so that I'm not hurting my car, ya know?
Thanks guys...
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From: How do you swap an RSTi?
Car Info: 2001 Impreza 2.5RS(Ti)
There was a good tech article in the last road and track about this. Basically the response was, let it run for a ~ 30 seconds to a minute to get the oil running and then drive slowly till the car is up to temp.
yup, let it idle for a minute and drive slowly until the fluids come up to normal operating temp. i've always used the shifting/tranny as an indicator on whether it's warmed up or not...smoother shifts vs notchy shifts.
I ususally start up my car while I scrape the ice off all the glass (damn that not having a garage). That usually takes a minute or two, then I get in and take off. I do my best to not work the engine hard until the temperature gauge is up to operating temperatures. Usually takes a 1-2 minutes of driving to get to operating temperature.
I live in Reno, where the average temperatures right now are slightly higher then yours. We're at about mid-30's for the highs here.
My sister lives in Tahoe (where the temperature is probably closer to a mid-20's during the day) and I know she lets her car warm up for like 15-30 minutes. I think that is quite a bit of overkill, but she prefers to be safe rather then sorry.
I live in Reno, where the average temperatures right now are slightly higher then yours. We're at about mid-30's for the highs here.
My sister lives in Tahoe (where the temperature is probably closer to a mid-20's during the day) and I know she lets her car warm up for like 15-30 minutes. I think that is quite a bit of overkill, but she prefers to be safe rather then sorry.
Originally Posted by SBwrx5
Cool. Good feed back guys. I figure since I don't smoke in my car that a cigarettes time should be good enough. You guys f'n rock man!! Gotta luv the I-Club.
I do the same. Start, Smoke, Drive.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 414
From: Nether reach of CA delta
Car Info: 03 WRX Sedan MBP/17X7.5 SSR Comps/225 Kumho MX
I warm up the '03 WRX Sedan until the temp gauge reaches the top of the "C" (cold) on the scale. By that time the coolant temperature is rising pretty fast. Except at crank-up, I won't touch the gas pedal until this temp is reached. Then I'll drive off off to work, but not accellerating quickly or revving over 4K until the temp gauge is pretty close to normal operating temp. I usually don't get that first Camel & Diet Coke in the morning until I'm flat on the freeway and done with shifting for a while. My last driver, a '90 Eclipse GS Turbo, was running good with 260K miles on it when I sold it, and I warmed it up pretty much the same way.
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Here is what I've heard and know:
Heard: you should not rev a cold engine (especially a turbo) until the oil is at operating temperature. So I stay under 3,000 until the car heats up.
Know: When it is really cold out (-30f no whimpy windchill) the engine & tranny & etc. will break unless the lubricants are warmed up before they are stressed. A longer warm up and a slow drive are required. I have a very accurate oil guage and do not drive the car until the oil in the block is at least 5 degrees C (purely based on myth, not science). Interestingly, when the starting temperature is below 10C, about 30 seconds after starting the oil temperature in the block pretty consistently warms at about a .1 degree a second. The block oil temperature in my car ( extreme cold, no garage, but in the daytime) is usually about 10 C above the outside temperature.
Heard: you should not rev a cold engine (especially a turbo) until the oil is at operating temperature. So I stay under 3,000 until the car heats up.
Know: When it is really cold out (-30f no whimpy windchill) the engine & tranny & etc. will break unless the lubricants are warmed up before they are stressed. A longer warm up and a slow drive are required. I have a very accurate oil guage and do not drive the car until the oil in the block is at least 5 degrees C (purely based on myth, not science). Interestingly, when the starting temperature is below 10C, about 30 seconds after starting the oil temperature in the block pretty consistently warms at about a .1 degree a second. The block oil temperature in my car ( extreme cold, no garage, but in the daytime) is usually about 10 C above the outside temperature.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 101
" (-30f no whimpy windchill)"
Wind chill matters. Driving at 55 mph at those temperatures means there is a 55 mph wind hitting your car. Drive slow at -30 and your clutch feels in liquid, drive fast and you can feel it turning to a gel.
I let my car warm up and take it real easy till its warmed up all the way. Also turn easy, steering pumps burst hoses very easily if you turn the wheel sharp when you just start it.
Wind chill matters. Driving at 55 mph at those temperatures means there is a 55 mph wind hitting your car. Drive slow at -30 and your clutch feels in liquid, drive fast and you can feel it turning to a gel.
I let my car warm up and take it real easy till its warmed up all the way. Also turn easy, steering pumps burst hoses very easily if you turn the wheel sharp when you just start it.
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