With a regular piston engine (summer or winter), i usualy warm the car up till the engine reaches normal operating temps before i start to drive. Since i got the car about a week ago, I have been doing the same.... Wait for the temp guage needle to reach near center and then drive off.
Is this the correct method or is it fine to start it and go? Whats ur warm up proceedure (if any)?

i usually let it warm up to the point of the needle moving past the C, drive under 4K until at normal temps, then drive it like i stole it.

Start, wait for the RPMs to drop to about 1200 and go. Driving is the best way to warm a cold engine. Just don't drive hard or rev above 4-5K until about 5min after the temp gauge settles in the middle. Don't shut the car off cold.

Start, wait for the RPMs to drop to about 1200 and go. Driving is the best way to warm a cold engine. Just don't drive hard or rev above 4-5K until about 5min after the temp gauge settles in the middle. Don't shut the car off cold.

Agreed. This is exactly what I do and have had no problems.

Discussed before. Okay to drive before totally warmed up. I don't rev above 4K.

With a regular piston engine (summer or winter), i usualy warm the car up till the engine reaches normal operating temps before i start to drive. Since i got the car about a week ago, I have been doing the same.... Wait for the temp guage needle to reach near center and then drive off.
Is this the correct method or is it fine to start it and go? Whats ur warm up proceedure (if any)?

Your engine will be warm, but your tires, brakes, tranny, etc will still be cold. Best to warm everything together gradually.

With a regular piston engine (summer or winter), i usualy warm the car up till the engine reaches normal operating temps before i start to drive. Since i got the car about a week ago, I have been doing the same.... Wait for the temp guage needle to reach near center and then drive off.
Is this the correct method or is it fine to start it and go? Whats ur warm up proceedure (if any)?

That's not right. Probably worse for a piston engine than for a rotary - an idling piston engine is pretty much sitting there shaking itself to death. You should warm an engine by driving it gently, not revving it high. You should almost lug a cold piston engine.

Just let it run long enough for oil pressure to come up and for any cold start fuel mix irregularities to smooth out. Then drive. In general, the time it takes to buckle up and check the mirrors is enough.

Ken

With a regular piston engine (summer or winter), i usualy warm the car up till the engine reaches normal operating temps before i start to drive. Since i got the car about a week ago, I have been doing the same.... Wait for the temp guage needle to reach near center and then drive off.
Is this the correct method or is it fine to start it and go? Whats ur warm up proceedure (if any)?

Sorry to say, but your warm-up procedures are contributing to decreased engine life, bad gas mileage, and other problems. Here's some good pointers on the subject:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061228103011AA5w3LZ

Basically, most modern cars (both piston and rotary engines included) have good enough oil lubrication systems that they're ready to drive withinin 10-60 seconds of starting, maybe slightly longer in the winter if it's really cold out. You'll notice that the engine will rev much higher when it's cold, up to 2000 RPM sometimes right after starting, before warming up quickly and settling down to 800-1200 RPM, meaning its' time to drive.

Idling for 5-10 minutes just wastes gas. In addition, your engine will reach normal operating temperature much faster if you just go out and drive at a reasonable 2000-4500 RPM instead of letting it idle at 850 RPM. Plus, your fuel mileage is 0 MPG whenever you're sitting still. If you have a 10 minute commute to work and you let it idle for 5 minutes before leaving, you've suddenly dropped your gas mileage by at least 33%.

Less time spent idling at a cold temperature = less wear on the engine and a longer engine life. The only reason you should let a car idle for more than 2-3 minutes before driving is if it's really damn cold outside and you weren't smart enough to wear gloves.

But yes, once it's reached the middle of the temp gauge, then you can go ahead and drive the hell out of it all the way to 9000 RPM.

I used to let my engine warm up nearly all the way but that is just a huge waste of gas. What I usually do now is let it settle below 1500 for about 15 seconds or so then drive easily(under 4k) until it has warmed up for 5-10 minutes. Then it's safe to let is loose. Basically, get in the car, turn it on, buckle up, check mirrors, find a good song on ipod/cd, and by that time you are ready to roll.

What I usually do now is let it settle below 1500 for about 15 seconds or so then drive easily(under 4k) until it has warmed up for 5-10 minutes. Then it's safe to let is loose. Basically, get in the car, turn it on, buckle up, check mirrors, find a good song on ipod/cd, and by that time you are ready to roll.

+1

+2

+3?

+4

+5

+6

who's next?

+7

Lucky number 8,

+8

Ideal solution: park car in nice, warm garage. Open garage door, start engine, drive away. This is what I do, everyday.

1.3L


With a regular piston engine (summer or winter), i usualy warm the car up till the engine reaches normal operating temps before i start to drive. Since i got the car about a week ago, I have been doing the same.... Wait for the temp guage needle to reach near center and then drive off.
Is this the correct method or is it fine to start it and go? Whats ur warm up proceedure (if any)?

haha. wow, I feel really smart.

How long does it take to get the coo;ant to themostst operning temp while at idle?

+7 best way to warm it up and still not waste gas.

oops I guess I'm+9 didn't see page 2. Just let it warm a coulple minutes if really cold if its above 60 I start, buckle, pick song and drive away keeping the rpm's under 4000.

+10. I think we are all in agreement.

+10. I think we are all in agreement.

Is this still rx8club? :)

Is this still rx8club? :)

+1

+2

+3

Yay! Prime numbers!

+4

+11

anyone would think we were all a bunch of nutters ....

anyone would think we were all a bunch of nutters ....

And the problem with that would be...?

And the problem with that would be...?
I have no problem with that.

+1

One year ago, if the same question was asked, the bulk of opinion replied:

-let it warm up slowly at idle, your engine will thank you

-dissimilar metals in the engine, different thermal expansion rates

Now the bulk of opinion is exactly the opposite. I don't know what side to believe.

+1







oops I mean - I think I know the thread of which you speak & opinion was fairly evenly divided at the time . Now we all know better .......

Why do people have such a hard time with this?

+2

+12

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=97212&stc=1

Why do people have such a hard time with this?

+2

Its a hangover from the 'old days' when carburettors ruled the earth .