Oil temp warm up question.

[chadhunley]

I was curious what you guys let the oil temperature get to before you start driving? It takes up to 15 minutes or more before my cars oil temp reaches 180 degrees. I have the Nismo model, maybe bigger oil cooler? It takes about the same time as my old VQ37 which had a big 34 row oil cooler on it to warm up. I would guess it's ok to drive right away as long as you keep the rpms low until you reach the appropriate oil temp. I'm just surprised a factory car would take so long to warm up.

 

[Mud]

I guess it depends on how cold it is

 

[speedjuno]

Yes

 

[chadhunley]

It was around 60 to 64 degrees today and still took it quite awhile to warm up. I guess I'll see how it does this summer.

 

[Mud]

from the owners manual 5-98 Starting and Driving

 

[chadhunley]

from the owners manual 5-98 Starting and Driving

Well, if the manual says it, I guess it's ok to just let it get to optum temp by driving. Definitely not going to push it until car gets above 180.

 

[Thefunk]

If it's really cold, like 20F or less I'll give the engine 60 seconds before I start driving. The tires take forever to warm up unless I do the tire warming dance on the road, freaking people out.

 

[Mark]

If it's really cold, like 20F or less I'll give the engine 60 seconds before I start driving. The tires take forever to warm up unless I do the tire warming dance on the road, freaking people out.

When it’s 20F outside, the summer tires are hard as a rock. Winter tires are needed for cold weather driving, not just for snow.

 

[ETN]

For those who remember Click and Clack, they had a caller ask this question once, and they were basically like, unless you're red-lining it out of the garage, in dead of winter, you're fine, it's just a remnant misunderstanding, from carbureted engines needing time re mixture, not oil circulation.

My way of thinking- by the time I get out of garage, down driveway, and out of neighborhood, there's nothing to worry about.

 

[speedjuno]

For those who remember Click and Clack, they had a caller ask this question once, and they were basically like, unless you're red-lining it out of the garage, in dead of winter, you're fine, it's just a remnant misunderstanding, from carbureted engines needing time re mixture, not oil circulation.

My way of thinking- by the time I get out of garage, down driveway, and out of neighborhood, there's nothing to worry about.

Sure do miss Click & Clack. But personally, let the engine & oil warm before 'humping' on the throttle. But. Your payments, do as you want.

 

[5amp5on]

However long it takes me to put it in R or D, whichever is appropriate, and hit the gas.

I do admittedly drive for a Mile or two gently on cold mornings before I will start to get spirited, just because I try to be nice to my cars.

 

[VR30Infection]

To set anyone’s mind at ease, I was told by an ex Master mechanic (back when they knew how to rebuild engines, transmissions, and rear ends) that under a little bit of load, the oil psi goes up and it actually helps to oil the top end sooner. For an auto it’s better to be in reverse or drive than park or neutral, or to be moving at under 3k until it warms up. Of course for a stick you would need to be moving in order to be under load.

 

[D2M]

I always just wait until the cold start high idle drops before I start driving. I drive easy until the engine oil temp is around 150° then start pushing it a bit harder until the trans temp gets around 160°, once everything is up to operating temp I can go all out. With the Nismo you don't get the best performance from the trans unless its warmed up.

 

[VR30Infection]

Oh yeah. When auto trans temps are not up, you can definitely notice!