View Poll Results: How long do you warm up you engine
None, start it and go!
305
36.40%
About 20 sec., until rpm drops to 1200.
321
38.31%
About 2 min., until rpm drops to 1000.
176
21.00%
However long it takes to get water temp up. (post what temp)
36
4.30%
Voters: 838. You may not vote on this poll
How long do you warm up your engine?
11-22-06, 10:27 AM
#61
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I've followed the following scheme with all my cars:
- If it's a cold start below freezing, let the car (and seats!) warm up for at least 2 minutes.
- For above-freezing cold starts and all warm starts, start the engine then put on my seat belt, adjust whatever needs adjusting, turn on the radio. This gives the oil pressure 20-30 seconds to get up to normal.
- Keep RPMs under 3,000 until temp gauge gets past the "C" mark; this includes keeping the trans out of PWR mode to avoid revving.
- Then keep the RPMs under 4,000 until normal water temp is achieved (just under middle mark on the gauge)
- Then drive normally; hit redline at least once to burn off any carbon deposits.
11-22-06, 10:31 AM
#62
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11-22-06, 10:33 AM
#63
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However warm up times over say, 2 minutes, waste gas and pollute more.
11-22-06, 10:37 AM
#65
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One of the things not good for cars is a lot of start ups and a short drive.
Let me ask a question. How many guys here have driven a car until it starts burning oil and needs a rebuild? Thought so. However, I guess putting stress on parts when cold could result in what happened to me as set forth below.
I rebuilt my M5 at 161,000 due to a broken valve spring. When they had the head off there was some detonation damage so I decided what the heck it is only $13k.
It was not using an unusual amount of oil and there were hash marks still on the cylinder walls.
Let me ask a question. How many guys here have driven a car until it starts burning oil and needs a rebuild? Thought so. However, I guess putting stress on parts when cold could result in what happened to me as set forth below.
I rebuilt my M5 at 161,000 due to a broken valve spring. When they had the head off there was some detonation damage so I decided what the heck it is only $13k.
It was not using an unusual amount of oil and there were hash marks still on the cylinder walls.- Use synthetic oil;
- Let oil pressure climb for a few seconds before driving away.
- Do a short warm up on cold mornings.
- If sub-zero temps are an issue, get an engine block heater installed - and use it.
- Use isopropanol dry-gas in the winter.
- Use good quality gas at the recommended octane.
11-22-06, 10:39 AM
#66
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I think. Then again you may have better insight, I'm no expert.
11-22-06, 10:41 AM
#67
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My old M5 manual states that the oil temp should be 140 degrees or above before exceeding 4000 rpms or putting the engine under heavy load. As it has an oil temperature gauge I can tell you it takes much, much longer to see any increase in oil temperature as compared to water temp. Depending on the terrain (hills vs. flat) it can take 5-10 miles of driving. I can also say from experience that it takes forever to get it there if it is just idling. I can't count how many times I have passed up a challenge because my engine is not to operating temperature yet.
11-22-06, 10:56 AM
#68
The thing is that it will take X Joules of heat to achieve Y degrees in Z minutes. If the engine is generating half the quantity of Joules, it will take twice as long to reach Y degrees (without dissipation). However, once the engine's temp rises above ambient temp, it will start dissipating heat as well, which means that it will take more than twice as long to reach Y degrees. That extra time results in extra combustion cycles, which will result in even more wear. Then you also need to remember that idling contaminates oil due to blow-by gases...
11-22-06, 05:13 PM
#69
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So do all IS have same low humming sound when the engine is cold? Don't want to sound dumb since i'm more of a computer guy and not a car guy, what are port injectors, what do they do?
11-22-06, 11:04 PM
#70
Super Moderator
Port injectors are the type of fuel injection you'll find on most late model cars and trucks. They spray fuel just upstream of the intake ports on the head. They also make a clicking noise, although since they operate at much lower pressure than those used with direct injection, the clicking is faint -- technicians use a 'mechanics stethoscope' to hear them.
11-23-06, 12:56 PM
#71
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Anyone else have the low humming sound? I just want to make sure that it isn't just my car. And I know it has something to do with the temp since it only lasts for a couple blocks and then goes down until it blends in with the other sounds of the engine.
11-23-06, 07:55 PM
#73
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Wait about 15 seconds after start before placing tranny in gear. If its a cold start situation, drive it very gently keeping rpms under 2000 with throttle less than a third of its travel until water temp is normal, then under 3500 rpm for a minimum of 5 miles to completely bring oil temp up. This has always worked for me. The IS tends to warm up faster than the Evo where I always wait until the oil temp gauge shows 60 Centigrade before taking it over 3000 RPM. This can take as much as ten minutes of easy driving in town.
11-25-06, 03:37 PM
#74
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Now that were on this subject I got a question: I've noticed that my car makes a small humming noise when I drive the car in the morning. This sound gets lower and lower and goes away after driving for about 2-3 minutes. After parking my car at work and turning it on 8 hours later it does it for a little while, but if I just leave it parked for a couple of hours it doesn't do it. I don't know how else to explain this sound, just a faint humming sound.
Anyone else noticed this or have an answer ???
Anyone else noticed this or have an answer ???
I think it is just the engine is operating in the cold engine mode where it idles faster.
11-26-06, 12:43 PM
#75
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Thanks MJB_LEX.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't only my car that was doing this. I agree with you, it only happens for a few minutes while it is a little cold and then it goes away. I wonder what causes this? I'm guessing it some sort of mechanism that's on when the engine is still cold.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't only my car that was doing this. I agree with you, it only happens for a few minutes while it is a little cold and then it goes away. I wonder what causes this? I'm guessing it some sort of mechanism that's on when the engine is still cold.