Cold Start Redline
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Pit Crew
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 182
Likes: 77
From: OH
Cold Start Redline
I wish all cars had this feature. This feature is extra crucial during winter, where the coolant and oil temps are in the low double digits.
As a general rule of thumb for cars without this feature, what is the maximum permitted throttle percentage and RPM during a cold start, that doesn't harm the engine? At what minimum oil temperature is WOT acceptable?
Rule of thumb is never exceed 4k rpm until you have at least 2 bars on the oil temp gauge. This can take a long time in temperatures below 40F. With 2 bars, 5500. Redline when you see 3 bars. This could take 25 minutes if it's really cold outside.
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 667
Likes: 158
From: IL
That is a cool feature for sure, I'd not seen that before. I think the above rule of thumb is perfect & I've followed within it since I was a kid, and mos def with the F since I've owned it. I work from home in a windowed front office and wince in pain every morning when I see my neighbor get into his work truck, turn the key, hammer the transmission (CLUNK) into reverse before the cold start idle even kicks in, and toil off down the street.
I'm also fanatical about not engaging sport mode until the second bar is lit. Our transmissions are so tempermental in the cold, even without sport mode engaged. A left turn on a cold engine/tranny may hold gear past 3-4k RPM. Different oils & additives help (or hinder) cold starts. I notice Royal Purple seems to bring the engine to two bars about 30% faster than say Valvoline or Mobil 1. Not crazy about this so I stopped rotating Royal Purple in. I do do 3 step BG treatments on all the cars in my life however, every 30-50K or so, and am a fan of its perceived impact. I've done 4 of them (F, Pilot, RDX, Tacoma) over the last two months ahead of this Illinois winter.
I'm also fanatical about not engaging sport mode until the second bar is lit. Our transmissions are so tempermental in the cold, even without sport mode engaged. A left turn on a cold engine/tranny may hold gear past 3-4k RPM. Different oils & additives help (or hinder) cold starts. I notice Royal Purple seems to bring the engine to two bars about 30% faster than say Valvoline or Mobil 1. Not crazy about this so I stopped rotating Royal Purple in. I do do 3 step BG treatments on all the cars in my life however, every 30-50K or so, and am a fan of its perceived impact. I've done 4 of them (F, Pilot, RDX, Tacoma) over the last two months ahead of this Illinois winter.
Pit Crew
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 246
Likes: 101
From: KS
The 2011+ have a slightly different offset reading compared to the 08-10s.
But I do agree, I don't take it past 3k until it's at optimal.
More importantly, light load. Don't be giving it 75% throttle lol
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