Engine Warm-Up Time

[47heaven]

Just curious what a safe engine warm up time would be on the straight 6 engines on a 75-85 degree day before driving off. Actually, how warm should the engine get? Is driving with a cold engine bad for it? Just wonder what anyone else's thoughts and opinions are on this.

PS: I did a search for this in the archives, but nothing was found.

[james curl]

Probably about as long as you warm up a modern engine, about 45 seconds before putting it in reverse to back out.

[RobertKB]

At that temperature, I start it and wait for the oil pressure gauge to show full pressure and I'm off. Keep the revs fairly normal until warmed up more. I never drive them hard to begin with.

[Don Coatney]

On my last visit to George Asche he took me and Richie Hodge for a ride in this pictured car. It was wintertime in Pennsylvania. He started the car and hit the road in about one minute or less. Once on the road he hammered it hard in all the gears as if it were a rental car.

In my car I usually give it a couple of minutes to warm up.

[TodFitch]

At that temperature, I start it and wait for the oil pressure gauge to show full pressure and I'm off. Keep the revs fairly normal until warmed up more. I never drive them hard to begin with.

Ditto. And full oil pressure happens in just a few of seconds after engine start.

[47heaven]

Okay guys, thanks. I wasn't sure. I remember my parents starting the car and letting it warm up for what seem like a long time. Somewhere I heard you were supposed to get the engine warm before driving off. Just trying to preserve the engine the best I can.

[47heaven]

On my last visit to George Asche he took me and Richie Hodge for a ride in this pictured car. It was wintertime in Pennsylvania. He started the car and hit the road in about one minute or less. Once on the road he hammered it hard in all the gears as if it were a rental car.

In my car I usually give it a couple of minutes to warm up.

Nice car. One thing I like is to drive when it's cold out and have that heater going. Our heaters really keep us toasty.

[TodFitch]

Okay guys, thanks. I wasn't sure. I remember my parents starting the car and letting it warm up for what seem like a long time. Somewhere I heard you were supposed to get the engine warm before driving off. Just trying to preserve the engine the best I can.

That was the old conventional wisdom. But I think that it was found to be an unfounded worry about driving before it was fully warmed up. I suspect that it was more for the operator's comfort and convenience: Cold start drivability can be an issue especially if the choke and heat riser have not been maintained properly. Getting the car warm before driving would then make it easier to handle those first few miles.

You just want make sure that all surfaces are properly covered in oil and that does not take very long at all. Especially if you are using a multi-weight oil that flows well in cold temperatures.

[pflaming]

My dad always said to watch the oil pressure, when it was up get going and that referred to cars, trucks, tractors, etc. By following that advise I never had an engine blow up on me. We lived in Western Nebr where it got COLD!

[radioguy7]

Oil pressure is the most important as I have always eyeballed the oil pressure gauge on startup on any vehicle I have owned.

This habbit saved the engine in my GMC this past spring when I went to start it after a few months of sitting. She fired right up as it always does but I noticed my gauge stayed at reading zero, then I started to hear that the lifters were very noisy so I immediatly shut it down. I still have not got to the bottom of the problem yet but I am guessing that it somehow lost it's prime?

[randroid]

Gents,

While in the Navy I ran the main engines (steam turbines) for the ship and was required to learn a lot about the different oils used in the different components. The biggest emphasis was on proper oil temperature when starting; the turbines were spun at about 2 rpm for a period of time prior to being allowed to actually come up to speed, usually about half an hour, but the oil needed to reach 90 degrees before being moved at all. I don't recall what the operating temperature for the Babbitt-bearings was but the lubricating qualities of the oil was greatly enhanced as temp increased. It's a molecular thing.

One of the things I like best about electric block heaters is that they increase the lubricating qualities of the oil before it is ever asked to do any lubricating. A friend who successfully built AA Fuel Dragsters told me to start my car, let the temp gauge to begin moving, then drive it slowly for about six blocks to allow the tires, tranny, shocks, etc, to get warm, then I'd be safe to go into go-fast racer mode. It's always worked for me. Driving fast as soon as an engine starts is shear foolishness so far as I'm concerned, but that's just me.

-Randy

[woodie49]

I am just confused:confused:. What is "cold weather??"

Our 60 degree mornings in sunny So Cal really don't seem to affect the cars performance much:D.

[55 Fargo]

Nice car. One thing I like is to drive when it's cold out and have that heater going. Our heaters really keep us toasty.

Darrin whats cold for you, :is a nice spring or fall day.

Try these babies out in 0 to -5 days, they still run nice and get decently warm inside.

Maybe George asche drove his engine like a rental car, and I believe it has about 200000 or so miles on it, but for me I follow Roberts method, oil pressure up, take it easy for a bit then let engine warm up to temp, and drive, not too hard on my old girl, or she may have a dump somewhere........Fred

[Normspeed]

Multigrade oils are a lot better than single grade for a cold motor.

I like to give mine a minute or two of warmup just so it's more driveable. I don't run any chokes at all in the carbs. I agree, these old Mopar heaters can really put out some heat.

[JIPJOBXX]

Since I took oft my choke I usually let her run for about a minute or so. I had one of those electrical chokes but it was a pain in the butt to keep it working correctly so I just removed the control rod to the carburetor butterfly and now just let it warm up a tad before I get underway!!!

[47heaven]

Darrin whats cold for you, :is a nice spring or fall day.

Try these babies out in 0 to -5 days, they still run nice and get decently warm inside.

Maybe George asche drove his engine like a rental car, and I believe it has about 200000 or so miles on it, but for me I follow Roberts method, oil pressure up, take it easy for a bit then let engine warm up to temp, and drive, not too hard on my old girl, or she may have a dump somewhere........Fred

Here in So Cal, where are blood is thinner, a cold day is considered to be in the high 30's to 40's. Freezing is when we get down to high 20's to mid-30's. Since I live in the valley, it gets colder here than along the coast and Los Angeles. On that same token, it gets hotter too.

[55 Fargo]

Here in So Cal, where are blood is thinner, a cold day is considered to be in the high 30's to 40's. Freezing is when we get down to high 20's to mid-30's. Since I live in the valley, it gets colder here than along the coast and Los Angeles. On that same token, it gets hotter too.

Like I said Darren, 30s and 40s nice early spring days and late fall days here in the Heartland Of Manitoba.

I realize the valley is cooler in winter and hotter in summer, compared to the beach towns, and in LA itself.

One of my supervisors grew up in Beaumont, crazy fool moved back here about 30 years ago, now regrets it as his siblings have done well in California.

I spent a bit of time in the LA area years ago, seems like another lifetime ago, been about 18 years since my last time in the LA area, wouldn't even know it anymore.....

[michael.warshaw]

here in ny it gets to about 20 f in winter, since i just got my car not sure how she will react but im sure that heater will work great. my temp always stays in between 160 and 180 and at low idle my oil is about 25 when driving on parkway its about 60.