Notices
Maintenance & Repair 350Z up keep and diagnosing/fixing problems

Will there be engine damage if no warm up?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 08:04 PM
  #1  
graymetalicsilv's Avatar
graymetalicsilv
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: LA
Default Will there be engine damage if no warm up?

2008 350z base

The owner's manual suggest 30 seconds warm up on cold start ups. Will there be engine damage if no warm up?
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 08:14 PM
  #2  
RMichael's Avatar
RMichael
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,550
Likes: 3
From: east coast
Default

So what you're asking basically is "the engineers told me to do it one way and the manufacturer put these instructions in a manual to help me but I want to know if I can risk doing it another way?"

risk it. go for it.

j/k, sounds like an odd question to me.

You must be in a hurry when you start the car.

Last edited by RMichael; Feb 3, 2012 at 08:15 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:09 PM
  #3  
terrasmak's Avatar
terrasmak
Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,119
Likes: 2,400
From: Sin City
Default

30 seconds , that is it.

Then again i don't wait at all, Start, slowly back out of garage, drive slow thru neighborhood . Well over 30 seconds has passed before i hit 3k rpms
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:34 PM
  #4  
thespottedcow's Avatar
thespottedcow
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
Default

Meh, I wait for the idle to drop before I start driving and dont rev it past 3k until the oil temp is at 140.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:39 PM
  #5  
Duckeee's Avatar
Duckeee
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
Default

i usually sit and wait until the oil pressure is below 60. call me lame but it's my ritual.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:43 PM
  #6  
zach711f's Avatar
zach711f
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 8
From: rapid city
Default

Ever think about a remote car starter?
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:47 PM
  #7  
L-Fab's Avatar
L-Fab
Banned
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: South El Monte
Default

Like terrasmak, I drive slow until it gets to normal operating temperatures.
Very low RPM, very little load.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:51 PM
  #8  
pbn85's Avatar
pbn85
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 1
From: Bayside, NYC
Default

Originally Posted by zach711f
Ever think about a remote car starter?
Its risky on a manual car. Even with a neutral bypass if you leave your car in gear one day and remote start it there will be bigger issues.

Im really old school. I used to watch my dad warm up his cars and he always waited till rpm hit 1k and would then drive off. Grantes those were older cars in the mid 1990s, that mentality stuck with me and i do the same. After its completely warmed up it just feels like a pleasure to drive compared to cold starting it and driving off. The gears engage smoother and the engine is smoother. Thats my view on the matter. In the summer the warm up time isnt that long though.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 10:05 PM
  #9  
davidv's Avatar
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 42,753
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, AZ
Default

Originally Posted by L-Fab
Like terrasmak, I drive slow until it gets to normal operating temperatures.
Very low RPM, very little load.
Same here.

I drive drive off in second gear at idle until oil temperature gage moves. Takes about 1000 feet. Then accelerate modestly. Not certain where I picked up this ritual.

Last edited by davidv; Feb 3, 2012 at 10:06 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2012 | 11:46 PM
  #10  
sdZ33's Avatar
sdZ33
Registered User
iTrader: (39)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 3
From: San Diego
Default

on cold start, i just sit and wait until normal temp... just for piece of mind...
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 03:02 AM
  #11  
JCITY's Avatar
JCITY
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 1
From: GEORGIA
Default

"Modern" cars actually need no warm up.Start&go.
However,like others,I give it maybe a 30-45 sec in the morning
to get the "fluids" circulating.Also,hold the revs down until the temp
reaches normal.
Early cars(50-60's),especially "foreign" cars sure needed warm ups before
getting underway.
I've used this practice forever.Seems connon sense to me.It is not unusual
for one of my past vehicles to be running well at 300k.
Must be doing something right!
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 06:25 AM
  #12  
jerryd87's Avatar
jerryd87
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,439
Likes: 10
From: NE ohio
Default

the whole point to warming up the trans is for clearances, in a engine the clearances are going to be larger at operating temp then when the engine is cold because everything expands at different rates based on metal composition and thickness(well for bearings, on piston rings they close because when they expand they cant go out so they push together). if you push the engine hard you run the risk of shredding a bearing/spinning a bearing. on a stock engine not a big problem, on a built engine i wouldnt dream of touching it until it has idled enough for operating temp.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 07:30 AM
  #13  
ian99rt's Avatar
ian99rt
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 704
Likes: 12
From: Naples, FL
Default

Originally Posted by sdZ33
on cold start, i just sit and wait until normal temp... just for piece of mind...
Ditto,

Getting all the engine components up to operating temps ensures all clearnces between moving components are right on before loading the motor.

Last car (2000 celica gts) I drove for 10 years, 215k miles and redlining 8200 rpms all day long. Letting the motor warm up totally before driving allowed it to only lose 10 psi of compression in the worst cylinder over the last 180k miles. Guy I sold the car to now has 250 k miles and said she's still running great.

Our cars don't take very long at all anyways so do your engine a favor and it should return the effort with long life.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 07:48 AM
  #14  
zach711f's Avatar
zach711f
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 8
From: rapid city
Default

Originally Posted by pbn85
Its risky on a manual car. Even with a neutral bypass if you leave your car in gear one day and remote start it there will be bigger issues.

Im really old school. I used to watch my dad warm up his cars and he always waited till rpm hit 1k and would then drive off. Grantes those were older cars in the mid 1990s, that mentality stuck with me and i do the same. After its completely warmed up it just feels like a pleasure to drive compared to cold starting it and driving off. The gears engage smoother and the engine is smoother. Thats my view on the matter. In the summer the warm up time isnt that long though.
any good manual car starters have to be set before getting out of the car for them to work. 1) put in neutral 3) you press foot brake down and pull up the ebrake. 4) with your car still running turn off key and open the door to get out. (the car will still be running at this time because of the car starter programing.) 5) shut the door. (the car will shut off and lock itself.) this way you have no problems with your manual car starter. if someone opens your car for any reasons you will have to start the car and do the programing all over again..its a fail safe.

Last edited by zach711f; Feb 4, 2012 at 07:51 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 06:52 PM
  #15  
Kcee91's Avatar
Kcee91
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 727
Likes: 2
From: ....
Default

My procedure.

When it's Winter time:

1.) Start car, let idle for two minuted to get the oil circulated around the engine. I still idle the car 2 minutes before I go, just for peace of mind. When it hits summertime here in AZ, I just give it 30 sec and drive moderately.

2.) Keep rpm's below 3k. I shift at 2k for about 2-5 minutes. By that time, the temp should be at around mid-normal operating temp.

3.) Keep driving easy for another 5 minutes after you reach fully operating temperature. At this point, you can go up to 3krpm.

4.) Keep in mind that oil temp takes longer to warm up. Don't be fooled by the coolant temp. If you ever driven a 370z you know what I"m talking about. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get everything up to temp.

5.) As people have been saying, don't BEAT on it right when you start up, take it easy. Think of running at a race, you wouldn't be full sprinting at warm up, right? You slowly stretch and you feel looser and more comfortable at each stage of getting ready for the race.

6.) If you keep those in mind, you'll be fine.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2012 | 10:24 PM
  #16  
resident25's Avatar
resident25
New Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Default

I wait until the temp gauge starts moving before I take off.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2012 | 04:32 PM
  #17  
pbn85's Avatar
pbn85
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 1
From: Bayside, NYC
Default

I have a semi-retarded question to ask. We all know engine oil circulates when the car is idling. But what about gear oil in the transmission? I was always under the impression that if you're not engaging the gears, the gear oil stays level in the gear box and doesn't circulate. Or does gear oil start circulating as soon as the car is turned on? Maybe that would explain why when I warm the car up fully, shifting is way smoother than cold starting and driving off (had to do it once - was in a big rush)?
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2012 | 05:09 PM
  #18  
Stock2Autocrozz's Avatar
Stock2Autocrozz
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 2
From: MN
Default

[QUOTE=Kcee91;9593126]My procedure.

When it's Winter time:
[QUOTE]

This was my laugh for the day...nothin personal
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2012 | 06:52 PM
  #19  
Italianjoe1's Avatar
Italianjoe1
New Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 14
From: Miami, FL
Default

Originally Posted by pbn85
I have a semi-retarded question to ask. We all know engine oil circulates when the car is idling. But what about gear oil in the transmission? I was always under the impression that if you're not engaging the gears, the gear oil stays level in the gear box and doesn't circulate. Or does gear oil start circulating as soon as the car is turned on? Maybe that would explain why when I warm the car up fully, shifting is way smoother than cold starting and driving off (had to do it once - was in a big rush)?
True, on a manual car there isn't much movement in the trans until you are rolling. Either way, heat transfers quickly since everything is aluminum. As the block warms a little the trans case warms a little. And the input shaft is still turning in neutral as long as you are off the clutch, so there is movement/friction in the trans getting things going.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2012 | 08:52 PM
  #20  
pbn85's Avatar
pbn85
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 1
From: Bayside, NYC
Default

Originally Posted by Italianjoe1
True, on a manual car there isn't much movement in the trans until you are rolling. Either way, heat transfers quickly since everything is aluminum. As the block warms a little the trans case warms a little. And the input shaft is still turning in neutral as long as you are off the clutch, so there is movement/friction in the trans getting things going.
thanks for the input. So I was right. Heat transfer makes a lot of sense though. Didn't think of that.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:59 PM.