Warming Up Your Car

[richdave]

Withe the old VT it was start and go, no matter how cold or how much of a hurry I was in.

I just can't bear to jump in the new car and drive off especially in the mornings as it's starting to cool down here in VIC. I let it idle until the auto choke cuts out and the revs drop a little...usually not more than a minute or so but may be longer in the middle of winter.

Am I worrying too much. Is this a bad idea?

[Guest JESMAL]

Not a bad idea at all. I do that for my AUXR6turbo too. I let it run idle for 10-20 seconds and when the rev goes down around 800rpm, I then drive off, slowly...till the temp goes up a little before I give the b**ch a squirt...

[Guest nfhotston]

I'm with JESMAL, but I've always let all my cars run for 30 secs to a minute to let the oil get around and the chokes not needed anymore. Even the the Hilux work gives me for going to work & underground in the mine gets the same treatment.

So richdave, in my opioin your not worrying too much.

[Guest JESMAL]

And about cooling down, I know some guys disagree that a turbo timer is required for the XR6 Turbo. I think otherwise. It may sound ricey, but hey, no one's asking you to whack a turbo timer with blue illuminator lights straight onto the dash so that everyone including the people waiting at bus stops can see... Why do I disagree? I drive my car hard some times, and the turbo timer calculates the amount of boost and time it has been held at various levels to determine the amount of cooling time required...which makes sense. At default, the timer is set to 20 seconds, but when I hit it real hard, even driving sometimes for 10-15 minutes, the cooling down time can reach even 35 seconds. I fit a turbo timer for the purpose of taking good care of my turbo setup, and not for looks.

But again, the BA owners will say that "if the turbo overheats, Ford should fix it under warranty!" Well, then, to each his own

[Cro]

On my old pulsar I used to turn it on and then went up to have breakkie, gives about 10 mins of warm up time. I don't know if this is good or not I just did it.

[Guest JESMAL]

that's a little extreme (not everyone have the luxury of doing so without risking their car being stolen :D ), but hey, from what I can remember, the hotter the engine gets, the better its efficiency in burning fuel, which equates to better engine performance. also, it takes a while before the synthethic engine oil flows in all corners of the engine (dunno how true this is, heard from a mechanic)...so more lubrication for the parts equates to longer life and less wear-and-tear

[F6 RAPID]

A few minutes is good, but then start driving - keeping the revs down. It helps push the rings out.

If you let it idle for too long from cold, it will glaze the bores up - not good at all.

[Falchoon]

I let my car warm up for 30 secs or so and also when I stop even if I haven't been boosting.

[Turbo6man]

I don't drive any engine until the temp guage has begun to move off it's stop.

jesmal - I take it you have no trouble with your turbo timer interferring with the smartlock system. I was a bit unsure how you'd go locking the car with the engine still running ie. ignition still ON.

PS jesmal> I think that story about synthetic oil is just that - a story. Contrary to what you've been told I would expect the opposite, as synthetics are able to be used at much lower viscosities than mineral oils.

[Guest mbrown42]

I don't drive any engine until the temp guage has begun to move off it's stop.

jesmal - I take it you have no trouble with your turbo timer interferring with the smartlock system. I was a bit unsure how you'd go locking the car with the engine still running ie. ignition still ON.

PS jesmal> I think that story about synthetic oil is just that - a story. Contrary to what you've been told I would expect the opposite, as synthetics are able to be used at much lower viscosities than mineral oils.

Its against the law to leave you car running unattended. Been through all this BS in other threads re turbo timers. Waste of money and time on BA falcons fitted with Garrett Turbos

Synthetic oil is usually thinner viscosity (0W or 5W) therefore it will circulate quicker the thicker oil. Also tends to "hang on" better to engine components than mineral oil (better protection for cold starts)

I start the engine, put my seat belt on then drive.