• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

YACT: engine warm ups. is it needed? and Gas rating.

L

larciel

Diamond Member
i have 2004 acura tsx. and i let my rpm meter go below 1k everytime before i put it in Drive and move the car.. (by that time, engine's temp is about 1/4)

i thought it was very good for the engine to warm up, because after all, it's a machine...

but what i hear from friends and foes is all different and so i turn to you gurus ;P

do we really need to warm up car engine w/ today's cars?

*and what about the gas mileage... premium (91) really worth more over (87) ?
 
In regards to warming up just give it a few seconds once you turn it on to let oil pressure build and then drive slowly and gently with low rpm and low throttle until it's fully warmed up. Letting it idle itself warm, besides being a pain in the ass, is not necessary.

The 91 vs 87 has been beaten to death so many bloody times. Just use whatever's in the manual. If your car asks for 91 use it. If it asks for 87 use that. Don't ever buy more than what your manual says, because it's a waste of money.
 
After twenty five years plus of rebuilding engines and repairing vehicles, this is my opinion on the subject ;

Cold weather, 32 degrees and below;

Older vehicle with carb(s) = warm up for five minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using regular motor oil, warm up for five minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.


Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using synthetic motor oil, warm up for three minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Warm weather, 50 degrees and above ;

Older vehicle with carb(s) = warm up for 30 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using regular motor oil, warm up for 30 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using synthetic motor oil, warm up for 10 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

The ambient temp, viscosity of the oil, the load the engine sees and the R.P.M. it is brought to when cold all have a dramatic effect on engine wear.
 
Originally posted by: synchronizer
After twenty five years plus of rebuilding engines and repairing vehicles, this is my opinion on the subject ;

Cold weather, 32 degrees and below;

Older vehicle with carb(s) = warm up for five minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using regular motor oil, warm up for five minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.


Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using synthetic motor oil, warm up for three minutes, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Warm weather, 50 degrees and above ;

Older vehicle with carb(s) = warm up for 30 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using regular motor oil, warm up for 30 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

Newer vehicle with fuel injection and using synthetic motor oil, warm up for 10 seconds, then drive gently until fully warmed up.

The ambient temp, viscosity of the oil, the load the engine sees and the R.P.M. it is brought to when cold all have a dramatic effect on engine wear.
Click to expand...
I agree.
*and what about the gas mileage... premium (91) really worth more over (87) ?
Click to expand...

Octane rating has absolutely nothing to do with MPG. Use whatever your manual says to use.

If it says you need 87 and you put in 89 or 91, you are throwing your money away.
 
hi roger! 😀

nice tsx 😉 i just wait 30 secs and then shift into 1st and drive off. you don't need to warm up. using 87 is fine, but normally use 91 b/c that's what RTFM states. and don't bother changing your oil at 3k - it's a waste of $$$.
 
Letting a newer car idle untill it is warm is not necessary.
However driving hard at high RPM's before it has warmed up is not good.
Using higher octane gas then what is recommended is a waste of money.
 
My VW says to drive conservativly to warm up the car. Not to let it sit and idle.

So I just drive to the far right of the road.

BTW, the 99+ Passat calls for 92+ octane.
 
A few seconds at idle is all that is needed. Just keep the revs low and don't stress it until the engine reaches normal operating temp.
 
Even if the manual says to use 92 you can use 87. All high compression Honda engines have knock sensors and will retard the timing if they detect pinging due to lower octane gas. You will feel less performance but, I don't think it affects fuel economy.
 
Not only is using a fuel with a higher recommended octane level a waste of money, it can cause issues with your vehicle. It can play havoc on your computer system which is anticipating ## octane gas to properly run your vehicle. Just use what the manual asks for and you'll be fine. Putting in more expensive gas with a higher octane level than needed is not a wise move.


 
Originally posted by: Captain_Howdy
Even if the manual says to use 92 you can use 87. All high compression Honda engines have knock sensors and will retard the timing if they detect pinging due to lower octane gas. You will feel less performance but, I don't think it affects fuel economy.
Click to expand...

Just thinking about this will tell you less MPG.... less power... same amount of gas being used... lower MPG. Your right, they do have knock sensors, but Im sure not going to sit there and use lower octane and have my engine knocking, knock sensor or not it's not good for the engine.
 
I just start my car, release the handbrake and let it roll down the driveway.
Then I let it roll down the block while still in neutral, and by the time I reach the end of the block, I'm ready to put it in second (~10-15 mph) and the engine is semi-warmed up.

The whole procedure takes about 20-30 seconds. Saves me time from warming up 😛
 
Because I smoke self-rolled cigarettes, in the morning I sit and roll two while the engine's on, and once I've finished the second one, the rev counter has usually dropped down to 750rpm from 1100rpm or so. Good enough for me :beer:
 
My 2004 SRT-4 wont go into full turbo boost until it's warmed up... Normally the car pushes 15-16psi... but when it's cold and ya get on it, the most I get is a good 4-5psi of boost... so I'm sure the computer has something in it to prevent it from wrecking anything...

So I'd say it's really important to warm up the engine... 🙂
 
With your new TSX: on mornings above 32F, idle the engine for a minimum of 10 seconds to let the engine oil circulate, then drive conservatively until the engine is fully warmed up.
Below 32F, allow at least 2 minutes of idling to warm up.

Driving conservatively and babying your car while engine is cold is IMO the secret to long engine life. For example, I have a turbocharged car and it NEVER sees positive boost pressure while still cold.

RTFM. Sorry to say that, but your Acura manual contains all this information. 91 won't help you get better gas mileage, but your engine requires it to run properly and avoid ignition knock. So use it. 🙂
 
If your car doesn't need 91 octane, don't use it. The combustion in the pistons won't burn it off cleanly and it'll leave deposits in your car... so rather giving your car added benefits, it wrecks it slowly.

so final word: if your car is meant for 87, put 87...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top