Guys,

I was just wondering what kind of warm-up you guys do when first starting up your car in the morning? Now, I don't just sit there and wait around, but I drive real easy (under 2500rpm) until the car reaches normal operating temp. Is this good?

I let mine idle between 30-45 seconds, then drive it relatively slow til it warms up to normal operating temperature.

I use the Jim Goose School of Engine Warmup technique.

Yep.

Idle for 3 minutes on cold starts, 1 minute if the car was driven within 4 hours. Not a single engine issue since 1976 on mostly high performance cars.

Whoa, is there anything particularly wrong with pushing the car hard a minute after starting it? (NOT running normal temps?)

I've never gone WOT but I certainly don't keep an eye on my guage. Is that bad? What can happen?

You should let your car warm up a little. You should also not drive it hard untill at operating temp. Can you hurt it? Not anything you will notice in the short term. Your engine has a better chance for lots of miles with a good warm up though. Let it idle till it is at or under 1000 rpm's or for a couple 3 minutes or so. Then, don't beat it till it is at normal operating temps. And no, I am not pulling this from out of my backside. I have done much research, talked to many engine builders(car, boat and motorcycle), and have torn down and re-built quite a few engines myself.

Also, remember that when the water temperature gauge first hits the "Normal" range, that the oil still hasn't reached that temperature quite yet. I have read that the oil warms up slower than the water. Is this true? I still take it very easy until the gauge has settled in the normal range for a couple more miles.

that's what I thought, guys. In my case, I can actually "feel" the difference in how the car drives cold and warm. The engine feels slightly sluggish when cold, but purrs like a kitten when at N.O.T. Also, like Terry said, I think the oil and engine components are designed to run optimally at certain temps..

This analogy may not work, but I think it's like an Olympic sprinter (or any athlete) taking off without doing a proper warmup. He's asking for trouble!

I start it up and instantly pull out of the garage. Then I let it idle until the RPMs calm down. Since I have no cats, I don't want the build up of fumes hanging in the garage.

Same here... just let her idle for about 20-30 seconds at start-up. You can hear the engine rev down a little after about that time, and then I drive. Also, I don't baby it at first... but I don't go slamming the accelerator either. Of course, colder mornings or Monday morning after she's sat dry all weekend, I let her idle for a litle while longer.

i keep the car idle until the normal operating temperature.

Geez! You spend alot of time just sitting in your car waiting. Been driving for 35 years and ain't hurt one yet. Let it return to idle above 32 degrees and drive off like you have a little sense. Under 32 degrees give her about 3 minutes to warm up. Than drive off at a normal pace. If us old guys were to take off running without warming up alittle something is going to get in a bind. :-D
Scott

:lol:

I let mine idle for about 30 secs or so in the garage or in the parking spot at work. I then run it at not much more than an idle all the way out my court and down the next street (this is at least 1/2 a mile total) before I really step on the gas much but then I still baby it until normal temp. At work I'm in an industrial park with speed bumps so I don't really press the gas much until I'm out which is again 1/2 a mile before I'm at a street.

Even though she ain't old I treat her the way I need to treat myself. Gotta get the fluids moving first thing before I get active. :jester:

I just start her up and drive normally (that means real slow in L.A.)

No waiting at all.

No major problems yet :)

The engine itself spikes past 2k rpm on startup so clearly it's okay to rev it to that when it's cold... Basically I just take it easy until it's nearing normal operating temp; shifting at 2 - 2.5k and not going full throttle. No modern car requires any static warm up period. If it did it wouldn't be legal for sale in North America due to the environmental impact of pointlessly idling cars.

Driving in LA. Doesn't that mean you sit there and let your car idle and warm up for a long time.

Car computer reports 20 MPH average - LOL.

hey, was reading the thread, i didnt read the whole thing, but i ran accross this post and thought i would chime in

it may have already been mentioned but. Yes when the car is started it takes a few extra minutes to warm the oil up. If you have ever been in a car that has a live oil pressure gauge (oil temp would work to) then you notice when the car runs the pressure is really high. In my 69 boss 302 the oil pressure id at 75lbs at start up. As the oil temp increases the pressure drops due to the reduction in viscocity in the oil. After full warm up the oil pressure drops to 25 or a little below at idle. when driving the pressure raises back up and at full song comes close to the 75lbs again.