[asiftyper]

Hi Everyone

I have just purchased a type R. I have been told not to drive the engine when its cold. Is this true?

Other websites (useless) indicate that idling the engine is bad for your car.

Please suggest.....

Asif

[Adam_ATR]

Rubbish! Just keep the revs sensible until it's warm, DEFINATELY no VTEC until it's properly hot.

Idleing doesn't do the car any good. not sure if it causes harm though.

[nas_r]

Welcome . When i first got into vtec i used to thrash my vti even from cold until i learnt that you shouldn't. Then i used to let me car warm up for 10 mins before setting off on any journey.

As petrol prices started flying up i thought "why waste petrol idling the car for 10 mins when i can just drive normally till the car warms up".

Just refrain from hammering the car when its cold and thats for any car not just vtecs.

[chrismc]

Drive it gently when cold.

Same as any of the other milliions of cars on the planet

[sinbad]

As mentioned really. I usually let mine idle for 30seconds and then set off. Keep the revs low and you can build up as the car warms and the oil pressure settles. Only use vtec after a good 10minutes, sometimes the car can feel warmer even though the oil and water haven't reached the correct runnning temps.

Another thing to mention. is if you've been giving it some heavy right foot, drive the last 5minutes of your journey at a steady cruising speed to bring the temps down. Not just for your oil/water but for your brakes too. Not as important on an NA car but still worthwhile doing.

[phantom]

Is this a wind up..

If not then you need

asiftyper, on Oct 14 2009, 12:43 PM, said:

Hi Everyone

I have just purchased a type R. I have been told not to drive the engine when its cold. Is this true?

Other websites (useless) indicate that idling the engine is bad for your car.

Please suggest.....

Asif

[flylife2k]

Hi Asif

You have to warm the oil up, I mostly use a baby bottle warmer for the oil, brings it up to just the right temperature then pour it in and away you go

Warning - dont do this, I used to but not any more Just drive it sensibly for 15 minutes before high revving

[planet_page™]

Best to just get straight in the car and drive, or at least give it a few revs whilst stationary to get the oil around the engine

[sinbad]

People used to think that letting it idle was good as it let the car warm up on its own at idle revs ~750rpm, however it doesnt get the oil pressure up which is what you need, so the below advice is sound.

planet_page™, on Oct 14 2009, 01:54 PM, said:

Best to just get straight in the car and drive, or at least give it a few revs whilst stationary to get the oil around the engine

[mremerica]

Remember that the temp gauge on the dash is Water temperature, not oil temperature

[EdLeake]

Start car. Let idle for a few seconds. Rev three times to approx 50% rev range. Let idle for a few seconds.

Drive off and use a third of your rev range for 5 minutes, 50% for 10 minutes and if you're journey is less than 15 minutes DO NOT use VTEC.

Use the correct gear, don't labour the car when it's cold.

Letting a car idle is more of an issue in extremes (really hot or cold), in really hot conditions there's no air flow stressing the block as it overheats, in really cold conditions standing idle allows for hotspots which stress the materials in the engine. In reality, it's not that bad unless you do it for 'ages' and 'often'.

[stux]

EdLeake, on Oct 14 2009, 03:38 PM, said:

Start car. Let idle for a few seconds. Rev three times to approx 50% rev range. Let idle for a few seconds.

Drive off and use a third of your rev range for 5 minutes, 50% for 10 minutes and if you're journey is less than 15 minutes DO NOT use VTEC.

Use the correct gear, don't labour the car when it's cold.

Letting a car idle is more of an issue in extremes (really hot or cold), in really hot conditions there's no air flow stressing the block as it overheats, in really cold conditions standing idle allows for hotspots which stress the materials in the engine. In reality, it's not that bad unless you do it for 'ages' and 'often'.

Similar to my habits.

From stone cold :

Idle for 30 secs whilst pissing around with seatbelt/stereo
Below 3000rpm for first 5 mins
Below 4250rpm for next 5 mins
Below 5500rpm for next 5 mins
Then VTEC for the rest of the journey

I've found in the past that suddenly lifting off the throttle when cold causes the exhaust to pop/backfire. If you try to use VTEC from cold, the Low lift cam will continue to operate up to ~6500rpm then make a bad, bad noise. I have only ever done this once and would never do this again.

[chrismc]

The lift & duration are such that the cam doesnt make power at high rpm without the VTEC locking in the more aggressive profile (when cold)

This makes the engine go flat & feel breathless if pushed into what is normally the VTEC range (5800rpm+)

The same thing occurs if the car is cornered hard when low on oil & the VTEC drops out.

[Dirk V]

A lot of different stories with the same conclusion. I was asking myself the same question when i bought my ATR. Just take it easy with your right foot and don't use VTEC the first 15 minutes.

This post has been edited by Dirk V: 14 October 2009 - 04:51 PM

[stux]

chrismc, on Oct 14 2009, 05:23 PM, said:

The lift & duration are such that the cam doesnt make power at high rpm without the VTEC locking in the more aggressive profile (when cold)

This makes the engine go flat & feel breathless if pushed into what is normally the VTEC range (5800rpm+)

So Essentially it behaves like a 'normal' low lift cam engine and maxes out where a normal untuned (like many average cars) 4-cylinder probably would....

The primary profiles are only designed to make torque at low to moderate rpm's.

My question now would be : what is the optimum rpm range for the hi-lift cam? At what rpm does the hi-lift cam make worse power than the low-lift cam. I've heard of people dropping the vtec cut in to below 5000rpm, but surely this would have a negative effect on torque with a N/A engine....

This post has been edited by stux2004: 14 October 2009 - 05:08 PM

[Little Legs]

asiftyper, on Oct 14 2009, 12:43 PM, said:

Hi Everyone

I have just purchased a type R. I have been told not to drive the engine when its cold. Is this true?

Other websites (useless) indicate that idling the engine is bad for your car.

Please suggest.....

Asif

idling your car is bad, well worse for your engine than driving it below 3000rpm as at idle oil isn't being pushed around the engine as much as driving slowly.

Don't thrash it until warm and the confusion about not driving your car cold comes from the fact that VTEC will not engage until the engine is warm. So drive it gently until warm

[Rab]

i used to just open the bonnet and heat the engine with an old hairdryer for 5 mins.

job done

[Sam004]

Rab, on Oct 14 2009, 10:08 PM, said:

i used to just open the bonnet and heat the engine with an old hairdryer for 5 mins.

job done

I prefer the blow torch method myself

[Rab]

Sam004, on Oct 14 2009, 10:20 PM, said:

I prefer the blow torch method myself

i really should invest in one, would save me time in the mornings

[Pionir]

Easy solution - move to Central London. That'll guarantee at least a 1hr warmup before you can hit VTEC.