Need help ASAP (warming up the engine)
 

I am not running my Mazda RX-8 much. I just started it to warmup the engine. After warm should I put it in neutral and rev up the engine? Or do that in park? Which is better?

I'm guessing you have an automatic. Just leave it in park and let it sit and idle for about 2 min., to let the oil warm sightly, before taking off. Even then don't accelerate hard for a couple of miles.

Yes I have an automatic. I was gonna let it warmup for 10-15 min. To avoid a flooded engine. Just paid the dealership for that. Been warming it up 10min everyday. I think I missed the last 1-2 days. I am warming it up now. If I left 2 min it would still be too cold. But park is ok to rev, better than neutral?

Just warmed it up for 10min. Rev the engine in park for a few min. Temp meter didnt go over the half way but just near it. Hopefully I handled it properly. Dont want to have to pay for the dealer to deflood it again.

sleep,

I'm really confused about what you are actually asking here. Are you just starting it each day and letting it sit, then turning it off? Or are you talking about warmup period before driving each day?

Yes, I noticed with this car one cannot leave it for a few days alone. So...I warm I have been warming it up for 10 min to avoid engine flooding and taking it out when I can or have too, not taking off or ESP shutting down cold.

My answer was for driving the car. Cars need to be driven too.

That didn't really answer my question. :)

Is your question just about warming it up when you AREN'T driving it?

Or is your question about warming it up before you go driving?

Well not driving much now. Had a falling out with my job.
Sorry. I mean for both. Mainly most important if I am not driving(for now).

If I drive I know to not start cold or shut off cold.

Ah, ok.


You can let the car sit for a few weeks without starting, just like any other car. You don't have to start it every day. You should still make sure your battery is kept on a charge, so disconnecting it and putting it on a battery tender is a good idea in these cases.

Letting it idle for 10-15 minutes a day every day without driving it is actually going to end up harming the engine, as it's going to be carbon choking your engine.


If you are going to be driving it, it is actually more healthy to let it warm up with light load load driving, not idling. In the winter there is a personal comfort factor of wanting a warm car of course, but 5 minutes usually is enough to get heat out of the vents. The rotary generates a lot of heat after all. In warmer weather, just give it 30 seconds or so and go driving, keeping to lower RPM and lower load (light throttle pedal usage) until the car is up to temp. It will warm up faster and in a healthier way.

I'll do the best I can. I never had problems with it until recently where I left it alone for a few days. Usually I am a very busy person. Going to work and doing little tasks. Now not so much and it started giving me all these issues.

If you only have flooding problems when the car sits for a few days, it sounds like your battery isn't holding a charge very well.

Remember, flooding doesn't happen unless something on the car has failed. Battery, starter, coils, wires, plugs, or electrical grounds.

Gotcha thanks. Mazda put in a new battery. so even better.

One more thing you mentioned unplugging the battery if the car isnt being used and charging the battery. Why must this be done if the battery isnt being used?

self-discharge.

All batteries experience it.

Little parasitic drains, car alarm monitoring, will drain the battery as well. I drive once every two weeks, that is why I have a battery disconnect device on top of the battery terminals. Otherwise I'd have to charge it before every drive.

Also every few months I use a ctek 3300 to make sure the battery is desulfated and conditioned, and at full charge.