Warm Up - Cool Down

[RobM]

I'm sure we all know how important it is to let your engine warm up properly before driving it hard and cool down after driving it hard, especially for turbo'd engines, but I thought it would be interesting to hear different peoples approaches to this and, if possible, some techy experts with the 'correct' way of doing things?

Personally... I let the car idle for a minute or two before setting off (moreso on seriously cold days) and I keep the revs below 3K RPM until the engine has been up to temp for a few minutes, and even then I don't give it the full beans until it's been running a while.

For cooling down, I make sure the last mile or two of my journey is done at lower revs to bring the temperature back down to normal and then I let the car idle for a minute before turning the engine off.

Is this the right thing to do? What do you do?

 

[InfernalBadger]

Turn On -> Drive -> Arrive -> Turn Off -> Get Out


I do generally wait for the engine to warm up before putting my foot down though.

 

[RobM]

Sounds far too technical for me

 

[InfernalBadger]

Never have time to sit around waiting for it to warm up as I'm usually running late for work.

 

[Reg]

When its cold just get in and drive gently - its better for it than sitting at idle. Strangely enough though, bikes are quite the opposite. They really should be left to warm at idle for a few minutes from stone cold, before riding. Strange but true.

 

[RobM]

I figured that it was worth letting the oil circulate for a minute and for things to get moving before putting the engine under any load? I appreciate the oil pump isn't working at it's full potential sitting idling, but better than nothing, surely?

 

[jedi knight]

Use to do that when the car was new but don't now, just get in drive.

 

[Jonesy]

Ummm......what will happen if you don't

 

[smoothuk]

i think it the oil can leave residues in the pipework? and i think it can block the oil feed?? but im sure that someone can give a better answer...i would be interested to know the reason for it as i always let mine warm up and cool down. i have popped the bonnet a good 5 mins after a thrash before and the turbo has still been glowing...

 

[warren_cox]

I try never rev the car over 3,500rpm for the first 5 minutes and then never red line it before 10 minutes (particularly in winter), as the oil temp wont exceed 90 odd degress until then. People generally believe that once the water temp is centred that its ready to go, but at this point the oils only usually half way there.

If I've been ragging the car hard I will always try to slow down for the last 2-3 miles of the journey to allow the turbo to cool down a bit, and if time allows sit for a minute or so at tickover just to give some extra time for oil circulation.

A bit gay, but then when a car is modified to stage 2 and you've been kicking the $h1t out of it a little respect doesn't go a miss. Look after 'it' and 'it' should look after you for the sake of a couple of minutes.

 

[ajoellew]

Keep it under 3,000 revs for the first 10 minutes of my journey.
Keep it under 3,000 revs for the last 5 minutes of my journey.

 

[cliveyp]

Keep it under 3000 revs for a good few miles from a cold start, then normally take it easy towards the end of a hard run, or let it tick over for a couple of minutes before turning it off.

 

[cupra r rob]

I usually let it run for 30 secs before setting off then keep the revs down for 10 min, take it easy before stopping and let it cool down for a couple of mins.

 

[omara04]

What has been said is very true - you can see when the thermostat is open because the temp guage (on mine anyway) Jumps from around 60 straight to 90. About 2-3 mins after this happens, the oil is up to temperature and you can toe-down to your heart's content.

Afterwards I generally write and send a text to the girlfriend - sufficient time for a "cool down". The object here is to let the casting of the Turbo to cool down, so as not to induce any quenching effects (rapid cooling of metal through heat conduction to a fluid or to another, larger block of metal) which can cause brittleness and other defects; and to allow the main bearing to spin down whilst being coated with oil so as not to run the bearing "dry". The turbo's spin at a phenomenal rate (much higher than that of the engine, talking in excess of 10's of 1000's of rpm) so switching the engine off whilst the turbo is still spooled up is a big no-no.

Taking care of a turbo is no easy task, but it'll save you in the long run!

 

[Big_daddy]

cold start - drive straight away keepin under 2300rpm-gentle accelartion till it hits 90 degress.
when i park i off it straight away. some times hear the fan still running. hard driving i idle for 30 seconds then off it.

 

[LCR User]

I agree with the majority here, no excessive revving until warmed up and towards the end of a journy, definitely respect the motor and I guess it will do the same for you.

Always thought of the car/LCR like a human being operating, when we wake up in the mornings (Or wake up from a 12h shift), we don't start sprinting straight away, let the body warm up then go! - Are ya getting us....

Would turbo-timers play a part here?

 

[Big_daddy]

turbo timers dont run correctly on these leons due to alaram capatibitly. Mainly for jap cars

 

[Nathanio]

I know this to be true of older turbos of the cooling down but is it so much of an issue in modern turbos with cooling jackets?

I fully get the whole don't trash cold thing and do that too but do wonder if modern turbos need the sit at tick over for several minutes after. My dad has two Saab turbos a 900 classic convertible (awesome to drive, sounds great and has proper old school turbo!) and a newish 9-5 2.3t. As a family we let the 900 warm up whilst driving and then take it easy last few miles and then sit with it cooling after for a minute. Note this doesn't have a water jacket like the 1.8T does.

But it doesn't do the same in his 9-5 which does have a cooling jacket as the Saab specialist he goes to says its not as important in modern turbos as they have the water jacket and so as long as you take it easy for the last 5 minutes or so of the journey it won't cause a problem. They did say it very important to do in the 900 though.

Comments?

 

[Big_daddy]

thats true, i have to let my pulsar cool down after heavy driving, this is done by the turbo timer fitted to it. when cooling down the car doors lock and after the engine turns of the mobilser kicks in and the sensora activate. i hate waitin around waitin for it to cool espcisally when you in a rush1

 

[Scoobers]

Strangely enough though, bikes are quite the opposite. They really should be left to warm at idle for a few minutes from stone cold, before riding. Strange but true.

Some of the best wipeout vids I've seen were on cold tyres too. Whether bike or car. Warmup before having fun, not doing so is painfull/expensive.