Cold temperature engine warmup question

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: kaminski54
I find myself babying the car because I feel it is not properly warmed up. Is driving the car at highway speeds (2.25k RPMs) with little to no warm-up in these temperatures detrimental to the engine or transmission? Am I being overly paranoid?

I know WOT with a cold engine is terrible and would never do it... but what about 2,3, or 4k RPM acceleration when cold?


You're totally fine with this, VQ cold at 4K no big deal, though wouldn't want to push too much past that on a stone cold engine. After a 36hr shift, the last thing I'd want to do is sit in the parking lot warming up, maybe look into a 0w if you felt you absolutely had to something

 

[CELICA_XX]

Originally Posted By: gofast182
I can't imagine there's so much traffic at 2AM you're having to blast down the ramp at WOT?

Exactly what I was thinking...

You're probably the only person on the road. No need to blast up the entrance ramp at 4000+ RPM. Just take it easy and drive 25 below the speed limit until you feel comfortable.

 

[nleksan]

I would just add that I would leave the heater off, as in no warm air out of the vents, for at least 5 minutes. I know it sucks, but if you have a decent coat you will be fine.
Also, a 0w oil would be ideal, and synthetic is a must, especially for the VQ motors (friend w/ a 370Z NISMO and before that a 350Z Track, both of which I have a lot of seat time in, and wrench time on).

 

[rationull]

It sounds like you're treating the car fine to me. Personally I'd turn the car on, put on the seatbelt, get the radio set up, etc. whatever you need to do to get comfortable to start driving, and then go.

I live on a 55 MPH road, and also have a huge grade a few miles from where I work (far enough that the coolant temp has been normal for a few mins by the time I get to it, but probably not far enough for oil temp to be all the way up). I just get comfortable and try to drive as easy as convenient.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of 4 cylinder engines out there that have to rev significantly higher than your VQ (and also put out a higher proportion of their rated power) to drive the same way. I wouldn't worry at all about cruising at just over 2k RPM in the Maxima. That's still low RPM and cruising at speed doesn't take that much power anyway.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
In the aviation world, it's never permitted to takeoff until the oil temperature is "in the green". That means, a temperature of about 130-140 degrees F.

While modern car engines use thinner oil than aviation engines, the results of high power operation when cold are the same.

In your case, with the nearby on ramp, I'd let the car warm up for enough time to allow the oil to warm some. Clearly, it will perform better.



So does those oil temps apply to car engines too?
I've never gotten a straight answer in reference to what oil temps are required to activate the oils add pack and when an engine has thermally expanded enough for full blast on the loud pedal.
I've been aiming for 180f oil temps before I'll rev past 3000-3500rpm because by that temp the engines moving parts are close to full expansion and the oil is near operating temp however I'm curious as to what the minimum temp is
If 140f is hot enough for an aviation engine does that also apply to an automotive motor.
Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[whip]

Cars are designed to be driven. I start my car, and go after a few seconds. If the windows need cleared, it will idle until I do that, then I drive away like I normally do.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
In the aviation world, it's never permitted to takeoff until the oil temperature is "in the green". That means, a temperature of about 130-140 degrees F.

While modern car engines use thinner oil than aviation engines, the results of high power operation when cold are the same.

In your case, with the nearby on ramp, I'd let the car warm up for enough time to allow the oil to warm some. Clearly, it will perform better.


In aviation world you need 100% power output on take off, in automotive world one can stay below 3.5k RPM in normal driving conditions to keep up with traffic. Two totally different missions that should not be compared.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Jeffs2006EvoIX
Some auto transmissions have their oil circulate through the bottom portion of the radiator. Some think this is to cool the fluid but it also acts as a warmer too. The warm radiator fluid helps warm the transmission fluid. So warming the car up at idle for a few moments should help warm that fluid. That is why some say wait till the coolant Guage moves. coolant then is getting warm enough to warm the transmission oil. There is a check valve for the atf to flow through the radiator though. If this opens at start up to warm the fluid though I'm not sure. You would think it would??


This is a good thought, but unless I'm thinking about this wrong, the coolant in the radiator will be stone cold until the engine's thermostat begins to open and the radiator "loop" of the cooling system begins to move. So unless you let the car idle for 10 minutes to open the thermostat up (coolant needle near the middle), I don't think you're getting any benefit there.

I'm in the camp of "just drive it". Don't bang on it, just drive it.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd

I'm in the camp of "just drive it". Don't bang on it, just drive it.


Agreed. A lot of people are trying to overthink something that is just that simple.

 

[MetalSlug]

1 min for summer, 2 min for winter.. been doing for years.

 

[demarpaint]

I let the tach tell me when to take off. I start it up, when the tach drops to about 1,000 rpms I take off. I typically drive easy, this method has worked for me for decades. Opinions vary.

 

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Jeffs2006EvoIX
Some auto transmissions have their oil circulate through the bottom portion of the radiator. Some think this is to cool the fluid but it also acts as a warmer too. The warm radiator fluid helps warm the transmission fluid. So warming the car up at idle for a few moments should help warm that fluid. That is why some say wait till the coolant Guage moves. coolant then is getting warm enough to warm the transmission oil. There is a check valve for the atf to flow through the radiator though. If this opens at start up to warm the fluid though I'm not sure. You would think it would??


This is a good thought, but unless I'm thinking about this wrong, the coolant in the radiator will be stone cold until the engine's thermostat begins to open and the radiator "loop" of the cooling system begins to move. So unless you let the car idle for 10 minutes to open the thermostat up (coolant needle near the middle), I don't think you're getting any benefit there.

I'm in the camp of "just drive it". Don't bang on it, just drive it.


You're correct. If anything, having that massive heatsink of cold coolant means that if there's no thermostat in the trans cooler system, the trans won't warm up much at all until the engine warms up and the t-stat opens.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: CELICA_XX
Originally Posted By: gofast182
I can't imagine there's so much traffic at 2AM you're having to blast down the ramp at WOT?

Exactly what I was thinking...

You're probably the only person on the road. No need to blast up the entrance ramp at 4000+ RPM. Just take it easy and drive 25 below the speed limit until you feel comfortable.


Yeah this! There are other lanes they can use if someone comes up behind you.

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: CELICA_XX
Originally Posted By: gofast182
I can't imagine there's so much traffic at 2AM you're having to blast down the ramp at WOT?

Exactly what I was thinking...

You're probably the only person on the road. No need to blast up the entrance ramp at 4000+ RPM. Just take it easy and drive 25 below the speed limit until you feel comfortable.

Slowly accelerating up to the speed limit isn't going to hurt anything. Driving 25mph below the speed limit is illegal in some states, and dangerous in all of them. Cars are meant to be driven.