Engine warm up?

[Dime]

Some say "let it idle until it's up to temp",
others say "only if it's cold out",
and still others say "just drive it, but don't drive it hard until it is warmed up."

What's the consensus on our cars?

[GOLDCYLON]

Much like any other car. let her warm up and enjoy her when you hammer it. Any cam work done for sure let her warm up. GC

[sammy]

here is what i learned from corey henderson , who along with mark and pete the 3 most knowledgeable guys i know on our cars . corey say start the car and let it idle for 3 minutes and then shift at low rpms till the oil temp is at least 160 degrees. then you are good to go .

[XfireZ51]

I let it idle till coolant temp gets to about 140, then drive it but shift by 2000rpm until oil temp gets into the 160 range then increase rpm range.

[rhipsher]

I start mine after a week of sitting for maybe 30 seconds and just go. Of course I wait until its warmed up before I really get on it. It's not like the 68 Mustang where you do have to let it warm up especially with that Holley 4 barrel that can be temperamental.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/keeno1970/21.jpg

[tomtom72]

Another vote for the 3 mins and then go, but wait until the oil temp is at least 140 before exceeding 2k rpms. That 140* and 2k rpms stuff is in the regular corvette owner's manual anyway.

I usually wait till my oil temp is "normal" since the 90's gauge don't have any markings in between 100* and 260* so ya have to guess. To me it's just easier to keep it under 2k till my oil temp is past the last zero in 100....and then let'er rip!:o

:cheers:
Tom

[Kevin]

Crank it put seat belt on....which can take a while for me and go

[XfireZ51]

Another vote for the 3 mins and then go, but wait until the oil temp is at least 140 before exceeding 2k rpms. That 140* and 2k rpms stuff is in the regular corvette owner's manual anyway.

I usually wait till my oil temp is "normal" since the 90's gauge don't have any markings in between 100* and 260* so ya have to guess. To me it's just easier to keep it under 2k till my oil temp is past the last zero in 100....and then let'er rip!:o

:cheers:
Tom

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

[mike100]

I drive it as soon as the idle settles and I got the seat belt latched, but then again, you almost don't need a jacket for a San Diego winter.

[bdw18_123]

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

Unfortunately, the 90-91's don't have the digital temp & batt volt readouts that the 92 and up have. That's one thing I wish I could have in mine. I don't get why they didn't at least put the tic marks on the analog ones for the 90-91's.

[tomtom72]

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

:o Not exactly. I have to memorize the protocol for getting in and out of the LCD display on the HVAC display....which I haven't done even after 7 yrs of ownership!:o

I don't mind waiting the time it takes for the motor oil to come up to normal operating temp. The only time it is a PIA is when I'm on a run with my C5 & 6 bros. If we stop for like an hour for a meal break it's about 1/2 the time to get back to temp. Those motors, excluding the 427's & G. S's, have a lot less oil to get up to temp...so I lag a bit, but only for a short while!:neutral:

Besides, I figure it as a 'whole package' scheme; motor oil, trans oil, gear oil, P/S fluid all have to come to temp before they're ready to take on the day's use. Yes, they're all synthetic, and cold temp lubricity & flow is the forte of synthetic oils....what can I say? I treat my DD the same way! So at least I'm consistently OCD!:sign10:

Tom
:confused:

[tomtom72]

Unfortunately, the 90-91's don't have the digital temp & batt volt readouts that the 92 and up have. That's one thing I wish I could have in mine. I don't get why they didn't at least put the tic marks on the analog ones for the 90-91's.

Ben, are you sure about that? I remember one of the more Senior Z Brothers showing me digital water temp on the HVAC display. Or at least I'm fairly sure I remember that.:confused:

[Dime]

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

Which reminds me, if someone could tell me how to do is that would be great. I've had the car for seven months and I'm still figuring out the ins and outs.

[sammy]

yours is a 91 so it doesnt have the display option which started in 92

[tomtom72]

Okay so the 90's are retarded...we don't have the ability to get digital read outs of coolant & oil temps on the HVAC display?

TIA
:cheers:
Tom

[bdw18_123]

Okay so the 90's are retarded...we don't have the ability to get digital read outs of coolant & oil temps on the HVAC display?

TIA
:cheers:
Tom

I don't know about getting temps on the HVAC display, maybe you can get them there, I'll have to look in my manual.

I was talking about the "Gauges" button next to the DIC that the 92 and up cars have that display the temps and batt voltage in the odometer area.

[GOLDCYLON]

I don't know about getting temps on the HVAC display, maybe you can get them there, I'll have to look in my manual.

I was talking about the "Gauges" button next to the DIC that the 92 and up cars have that display the temps and batt voltage in the odometer area.


You can it reads out on the HVAC controls but you have to go through a procedure to get them. You are correct 91s did not have that option.

[Dime]

You can it reads out on the HVAC controls but you have to go through a procedure to get them. You are correct 91s did not have that option.

Would coolant temp be included in this? When I first got my car and had Mike Ebert look it over he showed me how to check the coolant temp and I was too dumb to ask him what else I could see as well.

[bdw18_123]

You can it reads out on the HVAC controls but you have to go through a procedure to get them. You are correct 91s did not have that option.

So you are saying that the 90 cars can get the oil & coolant temps on the HVAC display with a certain procedure?

I looked in the service manual and there is a procedure (hold the fan 'up' and 'down' buttons for 5 seconds, then use the same fan 'up' and 'down' buttons for navigation and the center 'auto' button for selecting) for displaying HVAC fault codes and inside/outside air temps, but it didn't mention anything about engine coolant or oil temps.

[VetteMed]

There's a listing of different readings you can observe using the HVAC panel.

1C1-5 in the 1991 FSM details all the different codes.

To enter the diagnostic mode, hold fan-up and fan-down simultaneously, for 5 seconds. The LCD will display -00 . Then push AUTO FAN, and the display will show any fault codes.

To access the other parameters, use the up and down fan speed arrows to cycle through the parameters. Once you see the parameter you are seeking, press AUTO FAN again and the value will be displayed.

Parameter 16 is coolant temp, in degrees C.

[VetteMed]

Other noteworthy parameters:

6 = engine RPM (divided by 25)
7 = vehicle speed

[bdw18_123]

Other noteworthy parameters:

6 = engine RPM (divided by 25)
7 = vehicle speed

There are I think, 26 different parameters numbered -00 to -37, but some numbers are skipped, so there aren't actually 37 different parameters.

My FSM only lists definitions for parameters 02, 03 & 04. Can you (or anyone that has access to it) post the whole list here? I'm sure it would be useful for many of us here.

[VetteMed]

Ask, and ye shall receive:

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv163/agchoset/1991%20ZR-1/img105.jpg

[bdw18_123]

Awesome, thanks! So us 90-91 owners can get digital coolant temp at least.

:cheers:

[VetteMed]

Yep! Too bad I didn't remember the procedure today when I was wondering about my coolant temp gauge :)