How detrimental is it to...

radek7633 · 01-09-2011, 10:36 PM

This is what a friend of mine told me... he tracks his car and is very knowledgeable:

not quoting but the point was that to let a car idle to warm up is not necessarily good for the car. When you start it up and begin to drive it right away you are getting more oil up into the engine right off the bat. if you let it idle you are not getting as much oil up and this causes friction, friction in an engine is bad (duh).

As to gunning it right off when the engine is cold, I would not recommend it as the oil is heavy and will not lubricate properly at a time of high friction.

So my advice (and I am no mechanic and a novice to the mechanics of engines) do not go to either extreme... idling is bad, and gunning it cold is bad.

My two cents

TypeOne · 01-09-2011, 11:07 PM

Confusion...ugh...

Insert foot into mouth.

:-X

ChrisSlicks · 01-10-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeOne

Oil gets thicker as it warms up. When your car sits and cools down, the oil thins out. The oil is thin so that it lubricates the engine better when everything is cold.

Sorry that's not really true. Oil thins as it gets hotter and thickens as it cools.

The viscosity of a 5W30 at 100F is around 60 cSt, and at 210F is around 10 cSt (higher number is thicker).

I think you were mislead by the numbers. The number followed by the W means that it is a Winter weight, which means it has the viscosity of that weight oil if it were at operating temperature (210F), but doesn't mean that it acts like a SAE 5 weight oil would at operating temperature while cold.

Now with the modern multi-weight oils there are some properties that are built in the help reduce the extremes in viscosity, but not so much that it can ever be level in viscosity or operate backwards.

ImportConvert · 01-10-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Sorry that's not really true. Oil thins as it gets hotter and thickens as it cools.

The viscosity of a 5W30 at 100F is around 60 cSt, and at 210F is around 10 cSt (higher number is thicker).

I think you were mislead by the numbers. The number followed by the W means that it is a Winter weight, which means it has the viscosity of that weight oil if it were at operating temperature (210F), but doesn't mean that it acts like a SAE 5 weight oil would at operating temperature while cold.

Now with the modern multi-weight oils there are some properties that are built in the help reduce the extremes in viscosity, but not so much that it can ever be level in viscosity or operate backwards.

+1

cSt is the only number worth reading regarding viscosity imo.

Aidan · 01-10-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeOne

Oil gets thicker as it warms up. When your car sits and cools down, the oil thins out. The oil is thin so that it lubricates the engine better when everything is cold.

This is the worst explanation I've ever heard. Oil get thicker as it warms up?

And by the way. Hi everyone. Long time reader. First time poster. Please continue.

sonic370 · 01-10-2011, 07:36 PM

when sitting beside a lambo at a red light it is never a good idea to gun your
car

01-09-2011, 11:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1853	Confusion...ugh... Insert foot into mouth. :-X Last edited by TypeOne; 01-10-2011 at 08:29 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Added weight detrimental?	ddvette9	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	14	02-28-2010 11:37 AM

01-09-2011, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
radek7633 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 102 Drives: 09 Nissan 370 M6 Sp. Rep Power: 16	This is what a friend of mine told me... he tracks his car and is very knowledgeable: not quoting but the point was that to let a car idle to warm up is not necessarily good for the car. When you start it up and begin to drive it right away you are getting more oil up into the engine right off the bat. if you let it idle you are not getting as much oil up and this causes friction, friction in an engine is bad (duh). As to gunning it right off when the engine is cold, I would not recommend it as the oil is heavy and will not lubricate properly at a time of high friction. So my advice (and I am no mechanic and a novice to the mechanics of engines) do not go to either extreme... idling is bad, and gunning it cold is bad. My two cents

01-10-2011, 07:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 20	when sitting beside a lambo at a red light it is never a good idea to gun your car