Proper engine warmup?

[secretariat]

Can anyone tell me if you need to warm the turbo engine up before taking off like you should do in an N/A engine when it is cold outside say 50 degrees or less. All of my previous engines were N/A and I would wait til RPM's dropped down before taking off. Thanks, I have no experience with turbos.

[2kaccordocoupe]

same thing applies to the turbo

the ecu also monitors the oil temp and won't create max boost until the temp hits the target value (not sure what that is)

[Caelric]

In fact, warming up a turbo engine is even more important, as it is that very oil which lubricates the turbos (unless the turbos have a closed loop oiling system), and cold oil doesn't lubricate very well.

However, most modern turbo engines do have some sort of control via the ECU that will not allow full boost until the engine is warm, as 2kaccordcoupe alluded to. Even with that, though, you really want to go easy until the temp gauge starts to move.

[secretariat]

Thanks for responses, I'm actually talking about starting the car and waiting before you put it in drive and drive off. Should you warm the car up? Thanks

[bvez3ro]

Originally Posted by secretariat

Thanks for responses, I'm actually talking about starting the car and waiting before you put it in drive and drive off. Should you warm the car up? Thanks

Easy answer: No.
But as the other members already stated, don't do kickdowns or full throttle until the engine is warm.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by secretariat

Thanks for responses, I'm actually talking about starting the car and waiting before you put it in drive and drive off. Should you warm the car up? Thanks

You should start the car and drive immediately - this is the fastest way to get the oil circulating and thus protect the engine. Once the engine has warmed up and is showing full revs available you can use full throttle if required.

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by ss134

You should start the car and drive immediately - this is the fastest way to get the oil circulating and thus protect the engine. Once the engine has warmed up and is showing full revs available you can use full throttle if required.

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

your comment matches up with what is in the owner's manual. In the "Driving Tips" section:

Drive away immediately
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right away, but at moderate engine speeds.

This is the fastest way for the cold engine to reach its operating temperature.

[secretariat]

OK thanks, just drive away. Much easier than sitting there waiting.

[Caelric]

Originally Posted by ss134

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

Yep. Very important to do so, to prevent coking the oil onto the turbos. Especially after tracking the car, you want to do a cool down lap, and let the car idle a bit before shutting it off completely.

[E92LNGCGY]

If you let the motor idle when cold does it damage the engine? Where I live it get really cold in winters and to just jump in an drive that just seems mad. The temps could get down to -40 C (colder with the wind).

[ss134]

Originally Posted by E92LNGCGY

If you let the motor idle when cold does it damage the engine? Where I live it get really cold in winters and to just jump in an drive that just seems mad. The temps could get down to -40 C (colder with the wind).

It takes a lot longer for the oil to circulate and protect your engine when just idling. Follow what BMW recommend - get in and drive moderately until engine is at operating temp!!

[ZGM3]

Originally Posted by ss134

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

Originally Posted by Caelric

Yep. Very important to do so, to prevent coking the oil onto the turbos. Especially after tracking the car, you want to do a cool down lap, and let the car idle a bit before shutting it off completely.

Is this still necessary with today's turbos?
I remember in the 80's that all the turbo cars needed cooling down, a hot aftermarket item was a turbo timer to help with the process..

I would always do a cool down lap at the track regardless of the type of engine, but how long should I let the car idle after spirited driving?

[ss134]

Originally Posted by ZGM3

Is this still necessary with today's turbos?
I remember in the 80's that all the turbo cars needed cooling down, a hot aftermarket item was a turbo timer to help with the process..

I would always do a cool down lap at the track regardless of the type of engine, but how long should I let the car idle after spirited driving?

I personally just make sure that the last 15 mins of my drive after driving in a spirited fashion are driven moderately. This works for me and I've never had a problem with a turbo engine and I've owned quite a few. Just treat the last 15 mins of your drive as a cool down lap effectively.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by ss134

I personally just make sure that the last 15 mins of my drive after driving in a spirited fashion are driven moderately. This works for me and I've never had a problem with a turbo engine and I've owned quite a few. Just treat the last 15 mins of your drive as a cool down lap effectively.

It takes me 15 mins to drive to work... I will need to take the scenic route now.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

It takes me 15 mins to drive to work... I will need to take the scenic route now.

As long as youre not thrashing the car it should be fine. My journey to work is about the same and barely warms the car up. I save my spirited drives for after work and weekends

[Sir Loin]

Hehe, the only "spirited" driving I do when driving to work is waving my fist at my fellow drivers.

[KevinM]

All my M cars' oil temp gauges have two dots on either side of center which illustrate the proper temp range for spirited driving. I've had a lot of seat time in the 1 M as well, and it has the dots also (and takes forever to get past the first dot compared my my naturally aspirated Ms...). The AW/SO car in the delivery thread doesn't seem to have the dots. Does the owner's manual specify the correct oil temp range? Maybe BMW doesn't care any more, as teh M235i doesn't even have a oil temp gauge!

[jc05e46m3]

Originally Posted by ss134

You should start the car and drive immediately - this is the fastest way to get the oil circulating and thus protect the engine. Once the engine has warmed up and is showing full revs available you can use full throttle if required.

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Caelric

Yep. Very important to do so, to prevent coking the oil onto the turbos. Especially after tracking the car, you want to do a cool down lap, and let the car idle a bit before shutting it off completely.

^This is perfect. I would only add that it also prevents coking in the lines as well. /end thread.

[secretariat]

Never have owned a turbo engine, when you go to work in the morning and step into your M3/4 should you warm car up or just take off?

[jmkr]

Like any engine (turbo or NA), it is important to let the coolant and oil temps warm up before you mash it. Especially though with a turbo engine you want to make sure that oil running to the bearings,etc is up to operating temp before you go into high boost.

My rule of thumb is drive around before WOT and less than 4k rpm for 10 minutes when starting cold. And also avoid that too in the 5 minutes leading up to turning the engine off.

[TheRealOrosie]

Originally Posted by jmkr

Like any engine (turbo or NA), it is important to let the coolant and oil temps warm up before you mash it. Especially though with a turbo engine you want to make sure that oil running to the bearings,etc is up to operating temp before you go into high boost.

My rule of thumb is drive around before WOT and less than 4k rpm for 10 minutes when starting cold. And also avoid that too in the 5 minutes leading up to turning the engine off.

Just stay out of boost until the oil temp needle starts moving. I really would not worry too much about driving easy before turning the engine off, unless you are coming off of a track or something. I believe the F80 will continue to circulate oil to the turbo's after shutting off the engine, when the oil temp is really hot, to avoid coking the oil.

[Tiago@VRSF]

Originally Posted by ss134

You should start the car and drive immediately - this is the fastest way to get the oil circulating and thus protect the engine. Once the engine has warmed up and is showing full revs available you can use full throttle if required.

It is also important with turbo engines after a hard drive to drive the last few miles moderately to allow the turbos and other components to cool.

This is also the quickest way to get everything up to temp.