Say I only have to drive ten minutes to work (which is true), and figure it is only 5 to 7 miles (which I don't happen to recall since I really don't pay attention to that detail).

Does this give the rx8 engine enough time (will get warm enough) to be ok to turn off? Figure answer is Yes though from a few post I read the mpg would drop like a rock on very short runs compared to longer drives. Also, if I moved my car from the parking garage to the building I work at, which is just across the street somewhat I take it I would need to pick the engine running a few minutes until the temp gauage reaches the magic 'warm' point so it is not dead cold.

Yes I know...
go use the search button. Will check the faq area first.

 

Where do you live? Ambient temperature makes a difference to the answer.
In general a ten minute drive will be enough time.

 

Should be long enough. Let it warm about +30 seconds everytime you start it, then don't go above 4k until it reaches operating temp. Try to redline at least once on the way to work and home. When moving from building to garage or vice-versa, wait that 30 seconds, and don't redline(ha ha), and don't shut off till normal operating temp is reached(which it should by that time).
I drive about 12 miles to work and no issues!

 

I don't move until the airpump kicks off, takes about 45 seconds.

Stalling while the engine is doing it's "cold engine/really rich mixture/added air" thing is a recipe for flooding.

S

 

I've driven the 10 miles round trip to work, Monday to Friday, 5 days a week, for the past three years. I've had no issues at all, except bad gas mileage! I do take my 8 on a 60 mile journey back to my hometown every fortnight or so where I make sure I do the obligatory redlines a couple of times at least.

 

Redlining in such a short distance is important. I didn't the first month I owned my car and I could tell. Like stated before don't redline until or go above 4k until your warm

 

Just look at the engine coolant temperature gage. As long as the needle is close to the middle you can turn off the car. In cases where you want to turn off the car but it is still very far to the left, you have to rev and hold to 3500 RPM for a minute or so until it's closer to the center. By the way the needle does not have to be 100% at the middle. I've turned off the engine numerous times when it was only half way between the left and center of the gage and have never flooded in 4 years.

 

Thats PLENTY of time. I had that same type of route for over a year through all diff temp's and never once had prob. Dont sweat it.

 

my trip is 4 miles and it's enough time. i let it warm up for a couple minutes before leaving home but i do that with any car i drive during these cold mornings. not great on gas mileage sitting there in the driveway but if mpg was a concern i wouldn't have purchased an 8.

 

I'm in the same boat. Let it warm up for a minute or two and then drive to work early in the morning (6:15 am) and it only takes 10 minutes to get there. Go through the Tim's drive through, though, always adds another few minutes. By the time I'm at work, the temp is fine. No problems at all so far.

 

Bingo, same here. It's not really a concern... it's only challenging to do a redline with the short distance, but I more than make up for it on the weekends.

michael

 

for my last mile i have a choice to either continue on the smaller roads or jump on an onramp to the expressway for one exit. by that time the needle has been in the middle for a while so i use that to get my RPMs up.

 

That's a normal commute distance.

Your good to go!

 

just the other day i drove 4 blocks in the freezing cold, shut it off for 5 minutes, started it back up and drove home. didnt flood, drove fine.

 

I had a dream that I flooded my car.

I dont remember how long I drove it though.

 

My commute is only 2 miles. Whoop!

It's enough time to warm the engine, but I'm in Southern California so temperatures are always 50-70 degrees in the mornings so I don't think it's a big deal.

 

As long as you have enough time to warm the engine, the battery should be fully charged as well.

 

It's a car, yes, you should drive it

 

My commute is much longer than that. But the neighborhood grocery story is about a mile and a half away, takes about 5 minutes to get there. From a cold start, my temp gage is up to normal by the time I get there, and I've never had a problem shutting down as soon as I find a parking space. That's even in the winter (or what passes for winter here), temp in the 20s.

Yeah, you need to let it warm up if you just move a short distance. If you warm it by idling, you should do the 3k rev thing.

Ken