I have herd that you should warm up the engine to around 180 before you go above 4k RPM's, but i have also read in the manule that you should not warm up the engine at idle (i think thats for breakin though). I really love this car and want to take the best possible care of it because i drive the hell outta thing. Thanks for the help


Bill

You should never warm up any car by idling for more than a few seconds. Start the car, let it idle for maybe 5-10 seconds, then start driving very gently until it is warmed up.

I believe the owner's manual recommends driving right after starting the car (no warm up) because a driver is more likely to take it easy until the car is warmed up which allows the transmission to also warm up. If a driver does a full engine warm up at idle he is more likely to hammer the car without waiting for the transmission to warm up.

I personally idle the car until it reduces from high cold idle to normal idle rpm, then keep it under 3000 rpm until the temperature is 180. I wait ~10 miles at warmed up temperature before WOT operations and/or redline rpm. Just my technique.

This is mainly for quicker catyletic light-off, there is nothing wrong with letting the engine idle for a minute or so until you see the water temp gauge start to move. But letting it idle for more than 5-10 seconds won't cause any harm to the engine, nor will it prolong its life.

alright thanks

Generally speaking idling is not good for your motor. So why idle unnecessarily ...

Anyone who does not warm up their engine simply doesn't care what kind of engine longevity they obtain or does not understand what is occuring. Mobil 1 provides the best lubrication and anti friction at a minimum temperature of 157 degrees F. Below this temperature and you are scrubbing engine life away at an accelerated rate if you stress your engine at all.

A car that is warmed up (without driving) to 157 degree water temperature in an ambient temperature of approx. 60 degrees F will have an initial oil temperature of about 70-80 degrees before you start moving. Once water temperature reaches 157 degrees, it takes about fifteen miles at 2000 rpm's for the motor oil to reach 157 degrees F. The transmission takes about five additional miles to attain a temperature of 157 degrees.

I never move the car until the water temperature attains 157 degrees. Then never drive in excess 2,000 rpm's for approximately fifteen minutes. Add a bottle of Techron every 7000 miles and you will not accumulate any build up in your combustion areas.

Glad to see Porsche has dumped the voltmeter for an oil temp gauge in the C-GT and 997. Now you won't have to make an educated "guess" when you can start thrashing .

I'm with you there Chad and Dock...regardless what the manual says, turning the key then immediately driving it is bad in my opinion...I believe the manual says start and go out of consideration for the environment (emissions), not the motor...

You can tell if it's warm by watching the oil pressure at idle. If it drops to the usual hot oil pressure at idle (about 2 bar on my car) the oil is warm enough.

That changes as the engine wears. By the way, how hot is two bar or warm enough?

I've always let the car warm up until temperature hits 180 thanks to cjv's advice.

CJV - what was the additive you mentioned before that helps the water etc. warm up faster?

It is called Radiator Relief. www.designengineering.com