When do you consider an engine 'warmed up'?

[Bandit723]

pressure is resistance of flow

I just had a Bill Nye the science guy moment here.

 

[FS87LT]

Other than other considerations, "warmed up enough" might be as soon as the fast idle kicks off, on a non-computer-controlled engine. The way I like to set the automatic choke is that it is on hot base idle after a few blocks of driving in our N TX climate, cold or otherwise. In cold weather, heater temp can be another indicator. A hot interior is better than a cold one. But I also normally don't "wail on it" just to be doing it . . . other than for diagnostics and such.

Enjoy!
FS87LT

 

[kenny77]

Till I get it out of the garage.... idle in the driveway for a couple minutes ....drive it out of the neighborhood....then I always spin the tires loudly onto the main street, from a little bit of a rolling start. Like just as my foot has fully released the clutch.

 

[McCune]

It seems people who are sympathetic of the rotating assembly of their engine, tend to have the most break downs and repairs. The guys who don't give a crap, seem to do better and spend less on repairs.

 

[cadillac_al]

I'm with you on your thinking Lowend, I also fully agree with camaro71/holland as well.

Depends what you mean by "wail on" it, if "wail on it" means absolute full power power pulls/runs to max rpm or qualifying laps, then yes, it's critical. Piston material comes into play as well, such as 2618 or to a lesser extent, 4032, you need heat in them there chambers so the pistons "come around"......

Revving in a few low gears at partial throttle whiffing to 6,000 rpm in your street car going to get coffee or a case beer, as long as it's good and warmed up. I find that most old school V* engines oil temps follows the water temps by about 10* or so.

When I was drag racing in my teens/20's, I like to run it with hot oil and cool water temps in the <120* at the line. When I'm on the road course I do a few laps to get things up to temp, I like the water at 170-180* and the oil at 190* to start my session, most times the oil get's to 260-270* or so.

Look at CUP before qualifying, ice water circulating in the heads at the same time oil going through a boiler heating the oil to 300+*, just before you are called to the line for your 2 lap qualifier, the quick disconnects are pulled and they are gone....

I was on the dyno all day yesterday and today....the oil temps we aim for before a full pull is around 175-180*, it's amazing how much power one can "lose" with cold/thick oil and increased psi....I hate high oil pressure...but many like it as it gives them the "warm and fuzzies",....it gives me the gd "heebie-jeebies".

GM was smart with the C5 with engineering the target oil temps at 200-220, those C5's are considered "old" now, but they still kick newer "sports cars" ass that are 10-15 years newer on the track....

Don't some drag racers make runs on a cold engine? I could have sworn I have heard of that theory somewhere in my past. Since you are a dyno guy, can a cold engine make more power? even with thin 0w-30 oil?

 

[81Z28LS]

I always drive mine about 15 minutes in average air temperatures before I get on it. If you really watch an oil temperature gauge, it takes quite a while to get up to, say 180ﾟ. Especially if it's cool or cold outside.

 

[krabben1]

Im not a scientist,but I watch that enginemasters show with brule.
He operates the dyno all day long and I think I caught him say he waits until its 130*.
Dont know if that was water or oil temp,he didnt specify.

 

[muscl car]

Many years ago when I was drag racing I wanted to see 140° water temp by the time my lane was called into the staging lanes . Then once my lane was called to get ready to race . I wanted the water temp to be somewhere between 160-170 as I pulled into the water box ready to make my pass down the track

 

[Bandit723]

I normally idle the engine on my car till the radiator fluid hits 140ish. Oil temp may not be up there but i do notice more power with the cooler oil. Must be the resistance = more pressure.

 

[COPO]

Worst thing you can do is hammer it with a cold engine, and no, you don’t get more HP with a cold engine. Why? BC of oil viscosity drag on the bearings when the oil is cold.