Warming up before racing

[riplash]

Since I got it, I have kept my car from going much over 3k revs for the first 10 - 15 minutes of the journey, until the Oil Temp has risen a fair bit. Only then do I open it up.

What Id like to know is, what temp does the oil have to be at for it to be safe to open things up a bit?

What other factors come into play when youre warming up.. Does it take a certain amount of miles?

Just curious really, Ive been erring on the side of caution and have been shown up a few times because Im not willing to thrash it when its only luke warm!

 

[STICKER TWONK]

Get some decent oil in it and you shouldnt have to wait long for it to warm up. Thrashing it from cold isnt gonna do immense harm anyway, especially if you use top quality oil.

 

[Rich-D]

Quote: Originally posted by zedx19 on 05 November 2003

Thrashing it from cold isnt gonna do immense harm anyway, especially if you use top quality oil.

Im glad Im not your engine...

 

[Tom_16v]

Ideally wait for the oil to go over 70 degress before caining it.

 

[RicH-]

i usually wait for the oil to get around 60-70 b4 i take it over 4k.

And i get my oil changed every 5k

 

[Adams_16v]

same here! 4k max untill 70degrees

 

[steve a]

Same about 70ish. And zed i wouldnt go giving it some from cold if i were you.

 

[Tom_16v]

Quote: Originally posted by I2ich16v- on 05 November 2003

And i get my oil changed every 5k

Mine gets done every 3K!

 

[RicH-]

exellent !

 

[MarkRS]

Stay below 3k revs until 80 degrees. 70 is ok though if you are impatient. Thrashing from cold is the worst thing you can possibly do lol as said change oil every 3-5k. Glad to see other people looking after theirs cars properly

 

[riplash]

I tend to wait until about 70+ degrees, thanks for the reassurance guys!

As for quality oil, it is due a change, had to top up with shítty Magnatec the other day.. just havent got round to ordering the filter etc and getting it done!

 

[pep87]

thrashing from cold, worst thing you could do to your engine!!!! oil never wears out!!!

 

[riplash]

Doesnt wear out, but gets filled with grime eventually if left to fester?

 

[funkimic]

very tempting sometimes to cain it when you get the red mist.

 

[riplash]

LoL tell me about it, started this thread because of a modded Mk2 Golf GTI that wanted to play on the way to work (on empty roads officer). I had to hold off, but my right foot felt so heavy.

Next time....

 

[RicH-]

lol yea theres always someone wanting to race when the oils not warm ! then when ur lookin for a race u can never find one !!

 

[sleepy]

what oil does everyone use. Are the expensive oils really worth it?

 

[Tom_16v]

Quote: Originally posted by I2ich16v- on 06 November 2003

lol yea theres always someone wanting to race when the oils not warm ! then when ur lookin for a race u can never find one !!

so true!

every day my brother comes out of work, another lad in a saxo vtr tries to race him....both have just finished work but the lad in the saxo aint arsed about waiting for his oil to warm up!

 

[Alex M]

its a shame that thrashing from cold is bad, as my valver is far far quicker from cold. Which shows what really cold air can do if sent up the intake, with extra fuel. Anybody else notice how much quicker they are when cold. But I still avoid it, just makes me hanker after the ultimate cool air induction solution.

 

[riplash]

Quote: Originally posted by sleepy on 06 November 2003

what oil does everyone use. Are the expensive oils really worth it?

Ill be going with Mobil 1 when I do a full change.

 

[Tom_16v]

Quote: Originally posted by sleepy on 06 November 2003

what oil does everyone use. Are the expensive oils really worth it?

I use Castrol GTX Magnetec, I like it. Lot better than the normal sh!t that was in it when I bought the car.

At least itd been changed every 3K miles though.

 

[CUP80Y]

The Cup doesnt have an oil temp guage so its difficult to tell when its hot enough. The rev limiter does cut in early though if its still too cold. Sometimes ive been driving for a good 10-15 mins and the rev limiter still kicks in early!! Does anyone know if the point at which it is hot enough (where the rev limiter moves to the normal higher position) is set at 70 Degrees?? (which is the recognised optimum temp)

My old MK 2 16V golf was at 70 Degs on the trip comp after approx 5 mins!!!

 

[steve a]

Takes a good 10mins driving for mine to get near 70 degrees.

 

[BenR]

in real terms, depending on starup temps (ambient) thenyou only really have to wait for oil pressure to build and you can drive pretty much normally. 6000rpm is fine with moderately warm oil.

Somebody please explain to me why you lot seem to think that oil doesnt move or protect any surfaces until its hot?

 

[RicH-]

i dunno i just heard its best to let it warm up 1st so thats what i do lol!

 

[riplash]

Same as.. assumed it was something to do with the viscosity (sp?) of oil at different temps..

 

[Rich-D]

Quote: Originally posted by CUP80Y on 06 November 2003


The Cup doesnt have an oil temp guage so its difficult to tell when its hot enough. The rev limiter does cut in early though if its still too cold.

Bingo... too cold = early rev limit!

My last couple of cars have had oil temp guages, so I knew what was going on, and Ive considered auxillary guages in the Cup.

 

[Rich-D]

Quote: Originally posted by BenR on 06 November 2003


Somebody please explain to me why you lot seem to think that oil doesnt move or protect any surfaces until its hot?

Who said that?!

 

[WannabeeCup]

Im no mechanic but from my understanding the warmming up phase relates to the varous seals and small mechanical parts inside the engine, leting the engine warm up means that your putting less stress on the engine prolonging its life. If for example you thrash it from cold you are exposing the parts to rapid expansion and over time this will cause the metal to fatigue and possibly fail in a resulting bang inside the engine. A good example was perfectly illustrated by my cousin who had purchased a new fiesta some years back, he is 4 years younger and had just started driving. All the time he was kanning his car from cold. By 10000 miles his engined sounded notably different and his car appeared to have aged rapidly with rattles starting to appear extra and this was a car that was about a year old. By the time it got to about 30k the car was f**ked and in need of an engine rebuild. Whereas ive had my motor for about 6 years, bought it at 65k or so and have done well over 100k and its still running fine, all because i dont kain it from cold ....

 

[BenR]

Quote: Originally posted by Rich-D on 06 November 2003

Quote: Originally posted by BenR on 06 November 2003


Somebody please explain to me why you lot seem to think that oil doesnt move or protect any surfaces until its hot?

Who said that?!

well, you all seem so paranoid of touching the throttle untill its almost 100C!

Tractors which are far more agricultural in design (hehehe) are abused from day one, from cold and their bearins undergo far higer loads. dont see them falling apart.