Engine warm up? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Dime · 03-02-2012

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 · 03-02-2012

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 · 03-02-2012

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 · 03-02-2012

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 · 03-02-2012

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.

tomtom72 · 03-02-2012

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!

Tom

XfireZ51 · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Tom

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

bdw18_123 · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

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 · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdw18_123

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.

tomtom72 · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Tom,

Have you tried the LCD for the Oil Temp readout?

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!

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!

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!

Tom

03-02-2012	#1
Dime Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vicksburg, MS Posts: 135	Engine warm up? 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? __________________ [B][U]1991 No. 519[/U][/B]

03-02-2012	#2
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,147	Re: Engine warm up? 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 __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

03-02-2012	#3
sammy Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lone Pine, CA Posts: 591	Re: Engine warm up? 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 .

03-02-2012	#4
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,706	Re: Engine warm up? 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. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Former Membership Chairman Former ZR-1 Registry - BOD 1972 Corvette 4speed base Coupe SOLD long time ago 1984 Corvette Z-51/4+3 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Aqua/Gray #474 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Black Rose/Cognac #458 2014 Honda VFR Interceptor DX

03-02-2012	#5
rhipsher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,319	Re: Engine warm up? 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. Last edited by rhipsher; 03-02-2012 at 04:47 PM.

03-02-2012	#6
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,637	Re: Engine warm up? 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! Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member