AMG3.2

Hey All,

So I have a question. How long do you guys wait to drive before you warm up your car?

How long before driving aggressively?

I ask this because today I had driven for like 30 mins, then parked the car for like 5 mins then got back in it and within like 10 seconds I gave it 3/4 throttle for funzzies.

This couldn't have harmed anything since the engine and tranny were up to temp right?

Thanks!

kjb55

Dead cold (as in 5+ hours off) I drive off once the idle settles (<30 seconds), and don't drive it hard for at least 20 minutes. It takes along time to warm up 9 quarts of oil.

Your car driven for 30 minutes fully reached operating temperature in all fluids. Off for 5 minutes meant absolutely nothing. Didn't harm a thing.

AlabasterC55

Agreed. I usually try to wait until the temp is at normal operating temp before driving at all, but sometimes i cheat a little bit.

Zeppelin

Waiting that long is said to be one of the worse things you can do to a car so I hear.

macbryanie

I let her warm up for 5-10mins then putter it for a couple of km's. Once the engine temp is around 90 degrees...I thrash the hell out of it. I cant help myself. The wife starts it and drives straight out (I cringe, then feel that impending feeling of loss comes, followed by loneliness then concern. I convince myself these feelings are because I miss my wife but....I am not certain on that one).

Mark.D

Doubt it. Maybe only true for diesel engines, where problems can occur when you run at idle for too long without the motor under partial load.

AlabasterC55

Never heard of that before... why would letting the fluids get to normal operating temperature before pushing them through be a problem? The worst thing you can do is just turn the key and start mashing the throttle while everything is still cold.

AMG3.2

Just what I wanted to hear! Thanks man.

And I actually do the same exact thing. I wait about a minute or two and then drive off. I don't let the RPM's go over 2.5k.

What are your drive off RPM's?

macbryanie

I get the dreaded tranny jerk until car is close to or at temperature. Then smooth sailing.

MBfinatic

How is it bad to let your car warm up before driving it?

AMG3.2

What do you mean? It's not bad at all. On the contrary, it is good for the car.

MBfinatic

How is this bad for it to reach regular operating temp?

AMG3.2

Oh I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you meant to just warm it up. I don't have the answer for that one.

dre5373

I usually let her get up to 80 degrees on the temp gauge before I would even think of getting on the throttle. As for cold startup, 30 seconds to 1 minute before driving with an easy throttle until up to operating temperature.

lizardjack

I drive off once the idle settles (<30 seconds), and don't drive it hard for at least 20 minutes
+1
It is more for the tranny than engine though!

MIKESV8

i didn't know that. you post on average about 10 posts a year, but you make them count!

AMG3.2

Michael, any luck on the E55 hunt?

tw2

I wait 5 mins of driving around. If it is warmed up and you only stop for a few minutes I would not hesitate to drive hard.

MBfinatic

I baby my cars . mhm

91RS

I always wait until the idle drops to normal (30 seconds to 1 minute) before taking off and I don't get on it until the operating temperature is up to normal.

AMGnut88

exactly my philosophy.

Chedeng88

+1 on this too.

AsianML

Warming up your in the traditional way (letting it sit until reaching operating temperature) is bad because your car is sitting at idle, with no load, for a long time. It takes a LONG time for the engine and fluids to reach temperature at that rate. Engine wear is highest on cold starts and on a cold engine. If you let it sit, you're letting it sit at cold temperatures for longer than if you started driving right away. It's a very inefficient process this way.

The fastest way to warm up a car is to drive it. Any waiting longer than 5 minutes is a huge waste of time. I always wait until idle drops (about 30 seconds) then I drive away and take it easy for about 20 minutes.

Another thing is that just because the coolant temperature is fully warmed at 90C doesn't mean the oil temperature and oil pressure are too. So don't be fooled that after ten minutes of driving and the temp needle is at 90C that you're all ready to beat on it.

lkfoster

+2

In an ideal world I'd wait to see that engine oil was up to normal before flogging it but there's no way to tell these days. From earlier cars with oil temp gauges it takes a bit longer than the coolant.

EVOII_Racer

its funy cause i do exacty the same as you sir!