Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
Warming up engine question
-
- Member
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:31 pm
Warming up engine question
Hi Gents,
What's your thoughts on warming up engine everyday when you don't drive. I live in the tropics & I drive my Z only once or twice per week.
The thing is I will start the engine everyday let it idle for about 3-4 mins then I bring the rev up to about 1500 to 1700 rpm for around 4 mins then let idle for another minute or so before I shut down the engine.. My thoughts is
plainly to charge the battery but more importantly to get oil flowing all over the engine internals. I might be wrong in doing so, would like your thoughts on this..
Thanks
What's your thoughts on warming up engine everyday when you don't drive. I live in the tropics & I drive my Z only once or twice per week.
The thing is I will start the engine everyday let it idle for about 3-4 mins then I bring the rev up to about 1500 to 1700 rpm for around 4 mins then let idle for another minute or so before I shut down the engine.. My thoughts is
plainly to charge the battery but more importantly to get oil flowing all over the engine internals. I might be wrong in doing so, would like your thoughts on this..
Thanks
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2552
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 3:40 pm
- Location: Plymouth
Warming up engine question
Absolutely not, max wear occurs during the first few minutes of running until its warm. Due to high cold tolerances and reduced efficiency of oils at low temps (not all)...
An engines builder would advise you to - start the engine and drive it immediately. This way it reaches operating temp quickly and wear is reduced.
An engines builder would advise you to - start the engine and drive it immediately. This way it reaches operating temp quickly and wear is reduced.
Mark
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather
- Marcoose
- Member
- Posts: 913
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:52 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA
Warming up engine question
Yeah, what Mark said. Warming up engines is a legacy from our grandparents. If you drive that little –same here–, you may want to consider a battery tender.
How’s the rust problem in your region?
How’s the rust problem in your region?
2016 35is, monoballs, camber plates, KWV3, PS4S, xHP, MHD, LFB pedal, flat bottom wheel, red indicators, black headlamps
-
- Member
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:31 pm
Warming up engine question
Thanks Gents , Rust isn't an issue at my end Marcoose so far haven't notice it. Lol
- Marcoose
- Member
- Posts: 913
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:52 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA
Warming up engine question
Great. I’ve worked for a few months in the Yucatan Peninsula –a paradise!–, and rust there was horrible.
Say, in your region, do sun visors have warning stickers?
Say, in your region, do sun visors have warning stickers?
2016 35is, monoballs, camber plates, KWV3, PS4S, xHP, MHD, LFB pedal, flat bottom wheel, red indicators, black headlamps
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1429
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa
Warming up engine question
Definitely not. When a car is used it is good to get it properly up to temperature, but certainly doesnt need to be brought up to temp every day when you arent driving anywhere!?!
Not sure 4 minutes of idling and 4 minutes of sustained low revs will get an engine warm anyway. Normally needs a good 20 minutes of use ideally. The battery also wont likely recover the charge required to start in 8 minutes.
Id stop doing it. You're just wearing out your engine, starter motor and battery prematurely.
Not sure 4 minutes of idling and 4 minutes of sustained low revs will get an engine warm anyway. Normally needs a good 20 minutes of use ideally. The battery also wont likely recover the charge required to start in 8 minutes.
Id stop doing it. You're just wearing out your engine, starter motor and battery prematurely.
- BeeEmm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1512
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:23 am
- Location: London
Warming up engine question
What does the manual say? Start up and drive immediately keeping revs reasonably low. mcbutler has the right idea. Idling is bad for a cold engine, bad, bad, bad. Read the effing manual. It matters not whether you live in California or Norway.
I used to have two boys and a girl. Now I have two Men and a Woman.
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26517
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Warming up engine question
Wise advise above. Fair enough, if you car is laid up a long time it's worth running the engine and rocking the car back and forth a few times once a month or so. But much more than that is just putting unnecessary wear on your engine. Many folk happily leave their Z4's several months with little more maintenance than a trickle charger. Personally I don't think that is best for the car, as things can seize up else ware. I don't think the engine itself suffers by being left for several months.
-
- Member
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:31 pm
Warming up engine question
Thank Gents, well after the advices I now make it a point to drive it at least twice a week. Lol
- Marcoose
- Member
- Posts: 913
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:52 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA
Warming up engine question
One more advice: drive it like it’s stolen.
2016 35is, monoballs, camber plates, KWV3, PS4S, xHP, MHD, LFB pedal, flat bottom wheel, red indicators, black headlamps
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26517
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Warming up engine question
But only after it's properly warmed up.
I get lorries and camper vans over taking me when I set off onto the small duelled section of up hill, a few hundred yards from our house. I try to make up for it once the car is properly warmed through.
- ronk
- Lifer
- Posts: 14222
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
- Location: Durham
Warming up engine question
If mine is not going to reach full temperature - it doesn't get started.
When it does, it is warmed up gently - After its winter hibernation even more slowly as there are a lot of other things to get warmed up again.
When it does, it is warmed up gently - After its winter hibernation even more slowly as there are a lot of other things to get warmed up again.
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
- step_change
- Member
- Posts: 737
- Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:21 pm
- Location: Planet Earth
- Contact:
Warming up engine question
This is what concerns me when I have to get the car out of the garage to access other things in there since because it's an auto I can't just push it back, I have to start the engine.
I try to do this as little as possible.
I try to do this as little as possible.
Gone : 2013 35is, Melbourne Red, DCT, Nav, Comfort pack
Gone: 2007 2.5is, Montego Blue, Auto, Nav
Gone: 2007 2.5is, Montego Blue, Auto, Nav
- ronk
- Lifer
- Posts: 14222
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
- Location: Durham
Warming up engine question
I remember years ago there used to be an engine pre warming device available as an add on accessory. Mains voltage.
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.