Driving habits when cold engine

[Betlog]

Hi everyone,

I started a thread earlier about how I revved my engine to about 3,800 RPMs on cold start (here: Is this bad?) and got me thinking about doing a poll to see what others' habits are when the engine is cold. So out of curiosity, what are your guy's driving habits when you first start the car? For example, do you just let it on idle until you get to normal temperatures?

For mikie13 ( . )( . )

[11blackSTi]

I just turn the key and floor it

No just kidding.

I always turn my key to on so my boost gauge zeros out (AEM analog), and then start the engine. Then I wait for 2-3 minutes or so for the engine to warm up. I won't crank on it though until the engine is fully warmed up (5-10 minutes). If it is really really cold out I let my car warm up for 5-10 minutes before I even move it. If you absolutely can't wait, just wait 30 seconds or so for the oil to circulate and then keep the rpms way down until the engine warms.

Also, I wouldn't recommend turning the engine off directly after cranking on it. If I have been on it right before I stop my car, I usually let it idle a few minutes before I turn it off.

[STI*NG]

I'm usually not in a hurry to get anywhere so I'll start up, wait a couple minutes, and go. In the winter I go out and start the car while I'm getting ready, so it usually idles for 5-10 minutes.
A nice leisure cruise through the neighborhood ensures that everything is up to temp by the time I want to put a load on it.

[MainFrame]

I try to keep it under 3k with no boost until my oil pressure stabilizes.

[Betlog]

Is the RPM value of what is considered "abusive" relative to the rev limit of a car? For example, with the WRX rev limit of 6,700 RPM, is 3,000 RPM similar to 4,000 RPM on something like a Honda S2000, which has a rev limit of 9,000 RPM? If so, a 4,000 RPM rev on ours would be like a 5,300 RPM rev. on the S2000.

[11blackSTi]

Is the RPM value of what is considered "abusive" relative to the rev limit of a car? For example, with the WRX rev limit of 6,700 RPM, is 3,000 RPM similar to 4,000 RPM on something like a Honda S2000, which has a rev limit of 9,000 RPM? If so, a 4,000 RPM rev on ours would be like a 5,300 RPM rev.

I would look at it more as...when does my turbo start to boost. I wouldn't be going into heavy boost loads until the car is warmed up. Below 3K is going to avoid boosting. 4K you will be boosting (although not full boost).

[STI*NG]

With the bike it's a totally different thing. Start it up, pin it to the limiter a few times, and race off.
No wait, I forgot I'm not a squid...

[Mikie13]

No bewbs, no polling.

[Betlog]

No bewbs, no polling.

Fixed.

[11blackSTi]

Fixed.

Haha...No it has to be a poll option

[rexxx0486]

I voted under 3500 rpms, (since there was no bewbs option) but I'm always late for something so I often just get in and go. Then again I work at the dealership so breaking something isn't as big a deal for me as for a lot of you guys...

[Betlog]

Haha...No it has to be a poll option

Sadly, I can't edit the poll.

[MainFrame]

I would look at it more as...when does my turbo start to boost. I wouldn't be going into heavy boost loads until the car is warmed up. Below 3K is going to avoid boosting. 4K you will be boosting (although not full boost).

No.. boost is not RPM dependent. I can hit full boost at 3100rpm, or I can rev to 5000rpm with no boost, they are virtually unrelated. What we're looking to limit here are piston speeds and cylinder pressure.

[Ingo]

When I go to work in the morning I have to go up a hill first. So I start, let it run maybe a minute while I pick up the newpaper and bring it inside. Then I go up the hill, shifting at 3k, that bring me into next geat at 2k. 2nd and 3rd gears. At the top I go into 4th still under easy acceleration. Then heating starts to work and I feel better about pushing it more....

[11blackSTi]

No.. boost is not RPM dependent. I can hit full boost at 3100rpm, or I can rev to 5000rpm with no boost, they are virtually unrelated. What we're looking to limit here are piston speeds and cylinder pressure.

I'm assuming you have some way of controlling your boost? There is no way my car would rev to 5000 rpms without my turbo kicking in. Higher rpms means more exhaust flow, which speeds up the turbo spool, which forces more air into the cylinders, no?