optimal warm up time

**kiwi135** · 07-08-2009 02:49 PM

how long should i warm my car up for in that morning before i set off (ek with b18c7 dont no if it matters or not) ATM i leave it for about 2mins.

**DLO01** · 07-08-2009 03:01 PM

Turn on, make sure you have oil pressue, then go. No need to sit and warm up. Just make sure you drive 'normally' till the car has warmed up completly (10mins or so)

**JetSir** · 07-08-2009 03:16 PM

start and go pretty much.... i have friends that let it idle for 5min =/ waste of petrol in my eyes

**Crapdaz** · 07-08-2009 03:33 PM

yeh wastes petrol on cold starts,
start and go and normally i keep my revs under 2-2.5 for say the first 10mins sometimes i give a little more say 3.
Once warm im up to 6-7k

**VTi_b0i** · 07-08-2009 03:39 PM

i let my turbo civic warm up for like 3-4mins when thats cold, it drives like a pig if i dont... but my daily (09 Getz) about 30seconds to a minute...

**Mr_will** · 07-08-2009 03:40 PM

you dont need to sit there for longer than about 30 seconds. by then you will well and truly have oil pressure.

dont over rev, and dont be too hard on throttle until temp reaches normal level

**mattchuej8** · 07-08-2009 03:40 PM

agree. just dont go making yoru engine work hard form the get go.
i personally let it idle for 30sec-1minute, then drive gently (2-3k revs) till engine has warmed up then if i need to push it a little i do.
just personal preference.

**JDM.Power** · 07-08-2009 03:49 PM

5min wait for me, and drive like a granny for another 5mins or till temperature reaches warm.

**02gzm** · 07-08-2009 04:33 PM

Extended idleing is bad for fuel consumption. 30sec-1min for me on cold mornings as my car doesn't like to idle for the first minute or so if I take off earlier. IACV is clean and no vacuum leaks either

**BURST** · 07-08-2009 05:43 PM

I read somewhere that letting it just sit there doesnt warm up your gearbox, so it's better to drive it gently. Is this true?

**JohnL** · 07-08-2009 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by BURST

I read somewhere that letting it just sit there doesnt warm up your gearbox, so it's better to drive it gently. Is this true?

Yes, though keep in mind that the gearbox isn't as sensitive as the engine to being properly warmed up.

This isn't to suggest that it's OK to 'fang it' as soon as the temp guage nears / reaches 'normal'. It's not a good idea to drive the car hard (or more than fairly gently) as soon as the coolant is up to temp because the oil temp lags behind coolant temp. It's best to give it a few more minutes to make sure everything is thoroughly warmed up. Cold oil doesn't lubricate as well as warmed up oil.

It's not a good idea to leave the engine idling for any extended period because oil spray onto the bore walls ('flinging' off the crank from the big end bearings) at idle speeds is not great, and the pistons may be running with less oil than is ideal. This is especially the case when the oil is cold and thus thicker than at operating temperature...