Engine warm up...?

MikesVT · #1 07-10-2006, 01:38 AM

I have a Ecotech V6, VT series2. Now every morning when I start my car the engine temp is cold for about 10 minutes of driving. I can't sit there waiting for it to warm up as there is always someone waiting for my spot as soon as I unlock it. When driving when its cold I try not to let it rev over 2000... Should I be tryng to keep it lower when cold? Also... should it be like this? The only other cars I have driven before have been V8's and above which arent cold when you start them up. Is it just a v6 thing? Anything I can do to get it to warm up any quicker? How should I drive when it is cold?

Thanks for any help!

deserthead · #2 07-10-2006, 05:56 AM

Mate I do the same thing. I dont take mine over 2k aswell, probly dont have to but its a piece of mind thing.
Also mine takes like 5-10 mins to warm up, its a pain in the arse.
My other halfs Mirage is warm in like 2 mins. . . . . .

NVE_069 · #3 07-10-2006, 08:25 AM

I always thought an have heard with the newer car well from say the vn u didnt have to warm them up unlike the older ones. altho i warm mine up too but drive normal. does it depend on the oil ur usen? as i thought if u had good oil u should be able to start up an drive straight away? im sure there is mixed thoughts on this topic.

1991_Vn2nV · #4 07-10-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikesVT

I have a Ecotech V6, VT series2. Now every morning when I start my car the engine temp is cold for about 10 minutes of driving. I can't sit there waiting for it to warm up as there is always someone waiting for my spot as soon as I unlock it. When driving when its cold I try not to let it rev over 2000... Should I be tryng to keep it lower when cold? Also... should it be like this? The only other cars I have driven before have been V8's and above which arent cold when you start them up. Is it just a v6 thing? Anything I can do to get it to warm up any quicker? How should I drive when it is cold?

Thanks for any help!

Nah theres no real need to warm a car up anymore. Not on more modern commodores. But I wouldnt start her straight her up and start revvin her to 5000 either

Maybe a new thermostat could help if your car is taking ages to warm up, but generally thats just how they are. My VN is the same basically. But dont try and keep it under 2000 if you dont want to as there is no need for it on the modern engines.

MikesVT · #5 07-10-2006, 10:59 AM

Ahh... sweet. Thanks guys! I don't think I'll be getting a new thermostat, I'm still waiting to save up $500 to spend on a new fuel sender unit which is stuffed!!
I think like deserthead said, keeping it under about 2000 is a piece of mind thing, but good to know its ok if i go a little over.
thanks again

vuv6 · #6 07-10-2006, 12:42 PM

how long ago was it wen u replaced your radiator cap?

last service i did and makes the car warm up alot quicker, guess it's just coz it keeps it at a higher pressure.

but yeh they are only $10 and normally they need replacing every 2-3 years.

cheers
ryan

deserthead · #7 07-10-2006, 02:30 PM

Ah I should have mentioned that the times there for the car to warm up is normal driving not sitting there.
I only let it sit there for bout a minute when its on LPG to let the idle smooth out.

sircruisealotVS · #8 07-10-2006, 03:18 PM

hmm, 10 mins...that seems a little long-ish. mine takes about 2-3mins tops to get to running temp ( 1/4 up the temp gauge). 10 mins is a long time when you put in in perspective, id be a little concerned.

MikesVT · #9 07-10-2006, 06:17 PM

maybe a little less than 10, its not that it stays at 'cold' for that long, it slowly warms up, but i mean to the normal temp between 1/4 and half way. I'll try the radiator cap, I've only had the car 7 months so i wouldnt have a clue how long its been.

pandaman · #10 08-10-2006, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1991_Vn2nV

Nah theres no real need to warm a car up anymore. Not on more modern commodores. But I wouldnt start her straight her up and start revvin her to 5000 either

Maybe a new thermostat could help if your car is taking ages to warm up, but generally thats just how they are. My VN is the same basically. But dont try and keep it under 2000 if you dont want to as there is no need for it on the modern engines.

I'd have to disagree, when the engine is cold the lubricants aren't up to temperature and aren't going to do their job as effectively, I don't care if it's a 1950's morris or a 2006 beemer that basic fact is not going to change. Also as engine components heat up they expand slightly, flogging the arse off it and putting too much force through cold components that aren't at their normal operating clearances yet just doesn't seem like a good idea. While newer cars definitely warm up quicker than older ones thanks to smartarse cooling system and the like and engine design's have improved to take more abuse, I still reckon it's good to take it easy till it gets up to temperature.

1991_Vn2nV · #11 08-10-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandaman

I'd have to disagree, when the engine is cold the lubricants aren't up to temperature and aren't going to do their job as effectively, I don't care if it's a 1950's morris or a 2006 beemer that basic fact is not going to change. Also as engine components heat up they expand slightly, flogging the arse off it and putting too much force through cold components that aren't at their normal operating clearances yet just doesn't seem like a good idea. While newer cars definitely warm up quicker than older ones thanks to smartarse cooling system and the like and engine design's have improved to take more abuse, I still reckon it's good to take it easy till it gets up to temperature.

As I said in my post anyway, "But I wouldnt start her straight her up and start revvin her to 5000 either

"

But you dont need to keep it under 2000rpm, normal driving is fine. Whilst it takes the car 10 minutes to warm up, it does not take the lubricants etc. 10 minutes to reach a reasonable operating temperature, it doesnt take long at all. Plus engines wear slightly as the km's tick on anyway, and 'operating clearance' shouldnt be a problem. Perhaps on a brand spanking new engine thats still tight, but on an engine with 50k on the clock thats already worn in, theres room to expand anyway because of the wear thats already taken place.

JD · #12 09-10-2006, 05:31 PM

mines a v8 and takes around 5mins to warm up so its not just a v6 thing its normal for all cars.
warm up times do differ from car to car though.

Shounak · #13 09-10-2006, 05:37 PM

I don't go above 2500rpm until my coolant temperature is at operating.

I want to get an oil temp gauge, to see when the car is properly warmed up. My mums MG has one and that car is treated very gently until the oil temp gets to operating and then I'll start floggin the **** out of it..

Even if it's not a huge thing, it's just peace of mind for me..