Warming up the motor

[Cuppa]

Regarding warming up the motor. (Thought it best to start a new thread rather than hijack this one)

I generally drive off as soon as the motor is started, but it''s all downhill from my place, a twisty dirt road, normally driven in 3rd, with little or no throttle, with rev counter showing between 1500 & 2000rpm. So the motor is not under much load, & takes around 8 or 9 Kms to come up to normal operating temperature on the Nissan gauge. At the 9km mark I hit a short uphill section just as the TDi42 is warmed up.

I do have extra coolant in the system by virtue of extending it to heat my on board hot water service, but have the ability to shut this off if needed. I do this in winter to get a slightly quicker warm up. (So I can use the cabin heater ASAP).

I know there are different ideas on how best to warm up a cold motor ..... But does my method sound reasonable, or do you think it would be better to run the motor for a few minutes before taking off still. I want this motor to last a long time.

Cuppa

[nissannewby]

At a dead cold start up I always let it idle for a couple of minutes just to get the fluids flowing. Then like you just drive it easy to start with. Warm up is when the most wear occurs so the quicker you can get it to operating temperature without putting escessive load on it the better.

[threedogs]

I start up wait till all lights go off, check mirrors etc , take it easy until at normal temp. then you take a generator flat stick from the get go. going to read the user manual, someone said something in there. MY thinking if you don't drive like the last lap of Bathurst after a safety car you should be right, bit of common sense required IMO

[snewin]

Yeah I agree with the above. Start up from cold and let idle for a bit. Take it really easy until the needle is halfway then cruise for about five mins then drive normal. I don't really flog her at the best of times however.

[lorrieandjas]

I've read idling to warm is not perhaps the best way to warm them up. More wear and tear happens at idle speeds when cold? I am pretty sure its in the manual - so I'll take a look.

[jack]

X2 with threedogs, I use common sense. If I was towing or hitting a hill from cold start then I warm up for a few minutes.

[nissannewby]

I've read idling to warm is not perhaps the best way to warm them up. More wear and tear happens at idle speeds when cold? I am pretty sure its in the manual - so I'll take a look.

Yes most wear occurs from cold to warm up. So the quicker you can get it to operating temp the least amount of wear can occur. However like others have said dont go like a bull at a gate just take it easy until she is at temp then all is well.

The reason you see so man ex taxis pushing 700,000km without touching the motor is cos a lot of them are never turned off and when they are (service/fuel up) it is for short periods and the engine doesnt have time to cool all the way down.

[Ben-e-boy]

At a dead cold start up I always let it idle for a couple of minutes just to get the fluids flowing. Then like you just drive it easy to start with. Warm up is when the most wear occurs so the quicker you can get it to operating temperature without putting escessive load on it the better.

x2 that how I do it

[Diesel-Mate]

It is actually worst for an engine to be warmed by idleing it. From start up just get going at a normal driving pace and the engine will last for years. It actually states it the manual to NOT warm it up by idleing. I'm a mechanic btw.

[krbrooking]

I have also heard that it is not good for the motors to sit there idling when cold, I have heard it glazes the bores. Also with the oils now days there isn't much need. As long as you don't drive it like it is stolen it should last.