Hey guys,
I have a 3.1 RS with an automatic. I know it probably isn't right to just drive after u start it, so how long should i wait? If I drive it for a few minutes, should i go easy on it? Once it gets warmed up after a half hour or so it really flies, just wondering. And getting rev happy on an automatic wont really kill the transmission right? i ain't doin burnouts or anything, just askin.

 

I wait about 15-30 seconds then drive moderately easy until the engine temp is up to 190 degrees. This usaully takes about 5-10 min. Idling in the drive is a waste of fuel and time. Accellerating with care when the engine is cold is like sitting and waiting for the engine to warm up.

 

Thank u for that pointer, I will keep that in mind when i leave for school in the morning

 

lol read those two posts then look at the pictures......lol too funny!!:sillylol:

 

i usally rev mine to 2k and hold for a min(lubricates well i read)
then 1k for a min
and keep it under 2500 for 5min or so when driving
my car seems to warm up quick when sunny out and temps above 70,fl weather i guess

my pic fits well too

 

looks like you need a dentist

 

I hope you don't rev to 2k once you start it. The oil needs time to get circulating and coating things before you go revving it.
I usually let mine warm up to around 130*-140*, cause time I get out to the road where I get past 2k rpms, it has warmed up to 150* or so.

 

Most of the time I let my car run 5/10 minutes before driving it,(it's a compulsive disorder I think) but you should let it idle for at least 30 seconds or so before driving.

My wife on the other hand has her car in gear before the engine makes a full revolution.

Makes me LOOPY!!!!!!!!

 

I'm with gmanuel. It's definately better to drive the car just after you start it. Some time ago I thought it would be better to let it sit idle and warm up. After doing much reading and research on what's best for the car in the long run, it's better to get it under load (drive), than it is to just idle it. There's a book on the market called, "Drive it Forever", and this is one topic dicussed in the book.

later

 

That could be if you have TPI or FI, but us carb guys, carbs like to be a little warm.
Do a search on this board,, it came up in the past, general consesus was to at least wait a little bit.

 

there is no fluctaution in rpm when i rev it
I HOLD there at 2k for a min

my car when cold(f i) will rev and stay at 1500 when cold
and slowly come down

now going to do a search

i remeber reading somewhere thats how engine builders warm up there engines

 

That's how engine builders "break in" the cam - not "warm up" in the morning. I personally hate it when people, like my roommate, start the car and are moving instantly. I like to at least give the car a chance to kick down from the high idle, like 30 sec - 1 min. Tranny prolly appreciates it too.

 

Engine builders I've known for years and am good friends with have told me (and I know they know more about these things than I do) to start it and and within 20-30 seconds start driving it but DO NOT put any heavy load on it and keep it under 2,000 rpm's until it's close to operating temp. The idea is that at idle, the cold oil is not circulating under as high pressure. By running it to 2,000 under light load, you are circulating the oil faster, and getting things lubed. After it's warmed up....wail away

 

I start my Iroc and go back inside to brush my teeth before I leave for work in the morning. I only drive 3 miles to work so the car never gets totally warmed up.

My carbed car on the other hand, needs to be warmed up for a while (I watch the cylinder head temp) or else it has 0 power and feels like it's way lean.

 

start the car, let the tachometer drop to 750 rpm, go

by that time, the computer has shut down the cold start injector, I am in open loop

 

I still don't get the revving to 2000 thing, think about it, the oil hasn't begun circulating and yet you're going to get the pistons and all moving parts to move a lot faster causing more friction with less oil. I'm sure that's why our cars idle a little high when cold, but they don't idle to 2000. That's just my opinion, and I'm by far an expert.

 

When I used to live with my mother-in-law in NJ, during the deep of winter, every morning at 5 a.m., the neighbor would start his V8 and rev it to about 4 K and keep it there for about 2 minutes..... unbelievable. I guess he was trying to get the heater core warm.....

I just get it to kick down, and I'm off, but no heavy foot for about 5 minutes.

 

Think about it. The oil pump is driven by the motor. The higher the rpm's, the more oil pumped. Obvioulsy, you don't want to rev it to 4,000 just after start up, but 2,000 is a good median. Nobody is recommending gunning it to 2,000 and drop the clutch. The more the oil is circulated, the faster it warms up and gets to operating viscosity and gets in to all the parts it needs to get to. If you just start and let it sit, the oil is thicker and is not as efficient as when it is warm. Also, the oil is not pumping with the same pressure to the top side of the engine as it is at higher rpm's. So less oil is getting to your valve train. This is the same principal as highway miles versus stop and go miles. I'd rather buy a car with 150,000 highway miles than a car that put 100,000 miles on around town. Why? Because the stop and go miles are harder on the engine because it has been run more at idle and low rpm's with lower oil pressure. The happy median is to run it at 2,000 rpm's, giving additional pressure to circulate the oil to all moving parts in greater quanity, warming up the oil more quickly and getting it to operating temp and viscosity.