Starting it up...
 

So i've been told by everyone including the dealer to wait three minutes for the car to warm up before i drive it, but what if there is an emergency....is there a way to avoid the waiting period in this rare occasion? if so...are there any side effects?
Thanks guys,
Sean

Just don't rev the engine over 4K until it's warmed up and you'll be fine.

You need to find new people to take about your car with.
Just like Asmoran said don't beat on a cold engine, keep the rpm's under 4,000 till warm. I have been doing that for over 50,000 miles.

I agree. And this goes for any car! I don't think there will be any immediate harm but long-term can't be good.

best thing to do is start the car up and drive off immeditately, although in extremely cold weather (ie, -20) then you might need to let it warm up. this is also the fastest way to warm up the engine safely. like was mentioned, don't rev it over 4k (i try not to go over 3k) until it is completely warmed up. doing this will also positively effect your gas mileage.

o wow....ddnt kno that...thanks guys!..and i think i should have a talk with that dealer :mad:

lol at the pic....just to double check now...i only need to wait the 3 minutes after driving if i bring it above 5k frequently that drive?

Think of it as an athlete, does a running back roll out of bed and run the 100-yard dash? No an athlete warms up before doing any hard work. In the case of your 8 keep the RPM’s under 4,000 until the temp needle is in the middle then ZOOM ZOOM. That will take less than 5 minutes and under normal driving you don’t need to rev over 4,000.

Thanks for the clarification guys

You're thinking about it the wrong way. Don't think "how long do I have to wait before driving". Instead think "Is the temp gauge in the middle yet". If so, have fun. If not, take it easy for a few more minutes.

I'd recommend waiting about 5 minutes *after* the temp gage settles. Coolant temp maxes at around 180 degrees. There are parts of the engine that will get hotter than that. This is one reason why real oil-pressure gauges are useful -- you can judge when the engine has reached normal temps by the change in oil pressure. Since the 8 doesn't have an actual oil pressure gauge, 5 minutes after coolant temps stabilize is a good rule of thumb.

I like to warm up the car a bit before driving it, but not anything like 3 mins....thats just wasting gas/time.

When I need to leave for work or whatever and the car has been sitting a while (cooled down) I always get in the car and start it first thing, so its on and running, then I close my door, put on my seat belt, double check ive got everything i need, phone, wallet, ect. Put on the radio and tune in something good or put on a CD, roll my windows down if its nice out, ect....by the time ive done everything, the car has been running for 30 secs or so, and I drive off, taking it very easy the first few mins/miles, low revs, smooth power, no heavy throtle, ect. then after the eng temp is up to normal I slowly expand the revs over the next couple mins, take a gear to 4k, then the next gear to 5k, then a gear to 7k, ect. Then Im ready to use the full rev range and drive how I want.

The time it takes me to go from a cold start to using WOT and full revs, about 10, 15 mins, so its really nothing.

unless!!! ur car isnt broken in yet...
i think u should actually wait for ur car to warm up if your car is still new before u drive it off...
but usually i just let the idle settle and then take off at low rpms