Oil and Engine size

[tackleberry625]

of course the more oil you can get in your sump the cooler it will be. But this mainly goes for high preformance applications. There are aftermarket oil coolers u can by to bolt on if u really want. I would just recommend a good quality synthetic oil after your car has been broken in properly. I currently use Royal Purple but there are other good oils out there. Good luck and make sure she gets a Honda or Yota

 

[427Z06]

quote:

---

Originally posted by martyi:
I take it then that a 4 cyl heats faster than a 6 and the 8 cylinder vehicles take the longest to heat up. If this is correct, oil should take less time to come to operating temps in a 4 cyl. than a larger motor.

---

Way to many variables to make a generality like that valid. Best to measure the data directly and compare between vehicles in their particular environment and operating conditions.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Heating and cooling issues aside...it sounds like you might also want to concentrate on what her real needs are. It doesn't sound like she requires anything more than a small, efficient 4-cylinder 'commuter' car rather than saddling her with a V6 or V8 highway cruiser like a LeSabre or Lucerne. With her short trips, it sounds like she'll rarely get up to operating temps no matter what she's driving, so buy her something inexpensive, yet reliable and save the leftover for a muffler fund....she'll likely be going thru quite a few of those if her exaust temps never reach optimum. I recommend something with a timing chain versus timing belt if she plans to keep it long term. My neighbor's Acura TL is experiencing climate control problems, so I recommend shying away from those as well..she's getting ready to drop >$1000 to get that replaced. Keep it simple for Granny...efficient, cheap maintenance and easy to get in / out of parking spaces. Oil changes won't be happening very often, so IMO it's not worth worrying about that small expense.

 

[Clyde65]

It sounds to me like your Grandmother could benefit from a 4cyl Toyota Camry, but you need to find out if she has any arthritis in her hands because the floor shifter automatic has that button on the left side, where she would have to push it in with her thumb.

 

[tackleberry625]

I agree. Im a toyota person myself. As long as u somewhat take care of them they will last forever.

 

[martyi]

Thanks guys. I may try to talk her into a four cyl Camry or Altima. She likes the Altima's looks and since I will be washing it and taking care of the maintenance I think she will consider my suggestions strongly.

 

[tackleberry625]

Your welcome, thats what we are here for

 

[Fred Littlefield]

Engine size should not be a big factor in engine heat up time. The bigger the engine the more BTUs it will put out.

I think that a bigger factor is what it is made out of. An aluminum block should heat faster since it conducts heat faster and has a lower mass. Many small cars, especially those with 4 cylinders have aluminum engines, not all, some just have aluminum heads.

Theoretically a V8 could come to operating temperature faster than a 4 Cylinder. It is all how it was made, and how it was designed. For example a Diesel engine is not designed to heat fast because of expansion and contraction. Diesel engines are generally made to last and run longer times between heating and cooling cycles. Gas engines are made for shorter run times and need to come to operating temp quicker, for emission reasons.

I don't think that I would base my selection of a car or truck on the time it takes to heat the engine, there are way too many other factors. Pick a car you like and one that has a reputation for reliability. That's all.

 

[martyi]

I read the posts to my recent "Car for Granny" thread and there seems to be a notion that engine size has something to do with heating oil faster.

In the "Granny" thread, I mentioned she does only very short trips and the recommendations pretty much centered around smaller cars with smaller engines so that the engine works harder and heats the oil faster. I know short trips and cold starts are tough on oil and I guess it makes sense that the smaller the engine the quicker it will heat the oil. I take it then that a 4 cyl heats faster than a 6 and the 8 cylinder vehicles take the longest to heat up. If this is correct, oil should take less time to come to operating temps in a 4 cyl. than a larger motor.

She is going to get a car in the next few months and I'm trying to get her as much good info as possible as it may very well be the last vehicle she ever owns. Are there any other factors besides engine size that impact on good lubrication for short trip drivers - very short trips? Engine material perhaps or the actual number of quarts of oil the stump holds?