Is it best to drive cautiously while the engine is heating up?

[Marlon]

Driving a Z4 is like making love to a beautiful woman.

You approach slowly, taking in every curve, appreciating those tiny imperfections, building up the anticipation. You ensure you warm her up for at least 10 minutes so that she's fully lubricated. You gradually build up the speed so that you don't crash & burn at the start of your journey, before finally applying full thrust for 5 seconds and then settling in to a 8 hour marathon session :wink:

sounds like I've been doing it all wrong

 

[exdos]

Driving a Z4 is like making love to a beautiful woman.

Coming from the real Swiss Tony.

 

[rhys4]

My neighbour has a Z4M.It's a sunday afternoon car from march to september,but he starts it up most week ends,revs it like mad for about 10 mins and then puts it back in the garage. I think he will have a few engine repairs before long.

 

[AndyBeech]

My neighbour has a Z4M.It's a sunday afternoon car from march to september,but he starts it up most week ends,revs it like mad for about 10 mins and then puts it back in the garage. I think he will have a few engine repairs before long.

And that's why low mileage/low owner (?) /garage queen cars don't demand much of a premium, if any, in my book Much rather have a higher mileage well used example from an enthusiast owner

 

[simonlpearce]

Remember its not just the engine your getting up to temp. Gearbox and diff also perform better when warmed through properly.

 

[mmm-five]

Remember its not just the engine your getting up to temp. Gearbox and diff also perform better when warmed through properly.

Definitely! I wouldn't advocate any heavy thrusting without fully lubricated working bits

 

[PerryGunn]

Remember its not just the engine your getting up to temp. Gearbox and diff also perform better when warmed through properly.

Definitely! I wouldn't advocate any heavy thrusting without fully lubricated working bits

and do you advocate short-stroke or long-stroke....?

 

[markeg]

Oh, and ensure you wipe any excess off your dipstick - noting that kitchen/toilet roll is ideal, and curtains are not an option

 

[simonlpearce]

Oh, and ensure you wipe any excess off your dipstick - noting that kitchen/toilet roll is ideal, and curtains are not an option

What about socks :lol:

 

[PerryGunn]

Oh, and ensure you wipe any excess off your dipstick - noting that kitchen/toilet roll is ideal, and curtains are not an option

What about socks :lol:

Only if your name is Woots....

 

[thepits]

Except those who say ' oooh, don't drive it. It gets it dirty and pushes the mileage up.'

hahahahaha

 

[thepits]

I never give mine a good thrashing until she is nicely warmed up.



as for the Z4 ................

 

[paulgs1000]

Here's an interesting point taken from the handbook

'Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate
engine speeds'.

Thought it relevant

 

[Mike6]

You should never drive an engine hard until it has warmed up and oil is circulating properly. Whilst you may not notice any problems immediately driving hard from cold will cause significant engine wear over a longer period.

 

[Zed Five]

Here's an interesting point taken from the handbook

'Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate
engine speeds'.

Thought it relevant

agreed. Letting it 'sit and warm up' is bad too. Just drive it moderately for the first few miles.

 

[AndyBeech]

In my old 3.0si, I used to go with wait until the coolant temp gauge reached normal temp then 5 minutes on top of that before giving it any kind of bean-age. Luckily the M has the oil temp gauge, all performance cars should have one IMO.

 

[Zed Five]

I do the same on my Fireblade, 50deg temp before it taken above 50mph.

 

[Steve84N]

The reason you shouldn't wait for it to warm up just idling is because it takes far longer than normal moderate driving. Whichever way you cut it when it's cold it's not great for the engine so the quickest safest way to get to normal operating temperature is what's required. Ideally the fluids would be pre-warmed before you even started it like in an F1 car, although there it's a necessity as it wouldn't even start when cold because the tolerances are so tight it's almost seized.

Another random fact is that a Lockheed Martin Blackbird actually leaks fuel when sat on the ground because they have to design it to be watertight at high temperature. Same problem with cars, it's a compromise but designed to be at it's best the vast majority of the time.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Here's an interesting point taken from the handbook

'Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate
engine speeds'.

Thought it relevant

...and very relevant to all those who garage their cars and think it's a great idea to let the engine run up to temp every week or so.

Quickest way to wreck the engine (aside finding a ditch, etc.)

 

[thepits]

Here's an interesting point taken from the handbook

'Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate
engine speeds'.

Thought it relevant

...and very relevant to all those who garage their cars and think it's a great idea to let the engine run up to temp every week or so.

Quickest way to wreck the engine (aside finding a ditch, etc.)

Don't start me on garage queens :evil:

20 years old, 10k miles, started and revved up on the drive every weekend but never driven - doh! :thumbsdown: