ticky

Just wanted to know from peeps how long does your car take to get to normal operating temperature (water temp).

I normally start the car and leave it for about 2 minutes before I actually drive it. Then setting off keeping below 3000rpm until the temp gauge reaches nominal.
It only takes me about 1/2 to 1 mile before the water temp gauges reads nominal.
Weather condition as you would expect for July.

Brun

Forget the water temp - you need to go with the oil temp. Mine takes around 4 miles to reach 70c which is when i start using boost.
The oil tends to settle around 90c on a run

ticky

Its just that I had blown my head gaskets a couple of weeks back.
I was just curious about the overall time it takes my car to warm up, just going by the normal temperature gauge from dash (95wrx) No separate oil/temp/pressure gauges yet.
I thought my car would warm up quite quickly, just seems a bit odd.

wrxtankie

Defo should be taken from oil temps, I would say about 15 - 20 mins no boost driving will bring you up to about 75 deg. I leave mine off boost untill then

Brun

15 - 20 mins
Mine is up to full opperating temp within 6 or 7 mins - driving off boost. It takes longer in winter.
ticky - I usually see full water temp within 2 miles or so, but the oil is no where near

ticky

Thanks Brun.
Seems normal then, I think its about time to get a oil temp & pressure gauge for more monitoring when the new engine goes in.

GaryCat

You are better off warming the car by driving it gently rather than letting it tick over for two minutes. At tickover, the low oil pressure means that the cold oil will take it's time getting around the engine.

G.

Brun

Did a test on the way home from work this morning
@ 1.3 miles the car showed normal water temp.
@ 1.4 miles the oil gauge registered 50c
@ 2.0 miles the oil was 70c
@ 3.1 miles the oil was 80c
@ 5.4 miles the oil was 90c where i stays really unless i'm on the motorway or booting it. The most i've ever seen was 105c on a really hot day with the foot to the floor
This test was done in 30 and 40 limits under 3k and off boost

pmarch

Now that's what I call useful information - many thanks. I don't have an oil guage but I will keep these mileages in mind. With proviso that would take longer in cold weather so treat as minimum. So leave until 80C/3 miles before going over 2500RPM and into boost mode (on bugeye)?

Brun

For really cold weather i personally wouls add a couple of miles
Gimme a shout in december and i'll conduct some cold weather tests

harvey

iTrader: (48)

The two cars I drive regularly take 5mls, (about seven or eight mins plus) of urban and by-pass driving to get to 80 deg C in the sump at this time of year. That is a minimum. Perhaps another couple of miles in the winter on average. On the coldest days with wet and slush the temperature may only reach 70 deg after 17mls at up to 70mph off boost.

Daz WRX

Great info mate, would be interested to see same sort of thing for someone doing 70-80 from pretty much offset. I'm right ontop of the motorway and dont have any gauges so just stay below 3K for first 10mins of my journey, figure this is long enough.

Daz.

Brun

I'll do the motorway thing for ya when i get a moment and the car is cold

pmarch

You are such a nice helpful person - but I suppose any excuse is good enough for a scooby drive. At this rate, we will soon have a complete guide as to warming up regime under a variety of driving conditions and weather/temperatures. That is good for all of us who either don't want or can't yet afford the extra dials. Good one!

ticky

Thanks Guys.
I have got a general idea how long it should take for the warming up procedure.

Brun
Quote:The most i've ever seen was 105c on a really hot day with the foot to the floor

So at what point should you worry if your oil temperature rises above XXXc?

Brun

I don't have a comprehensive answer to that one. Harvey could probably give a proper answer but i guess if i see significantly more than 105c then sommat could be wrong. The 105c i achieved was, like i said on a very hot day and i was using all the revs on some very demanding roads (within the speed limit of course ) One of the track day boys may have a much higher figure, but thats a different story

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Some cars run hotter than others. There will be differences in oil temp between the sump and the oil ways. Important thing is to look for changes in the temperatures you normally run. Also the temp will alter between running different viscocities. You will notice higher temperatures when working hard and the oil level is low for instance. NOT a good way to check your oil level.
On track in hot weather at ten tenths I can get up to 120 cent. at which time I let the engine cool slowly. Depending on what oil manufacturer you speak to they say the oil is designed to work satisfactorily up to 140 centigrade.

ticky

Thanks Harvey

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

i run mine for a minute or so then drive without boost for a further 4-5 mins seems to loosen up after doin this