Should you let your Viper engine idle to warm up?

[Early93Viper]

I have heard a lot of info both ways on this:

I have some buddies that swear you should let your engine idle so it can warm up to operating temperature. Then once it gets to operating temp you drive it. This is supposedly better for your engine?

And then I have heard from numerous other sources (including this one:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4205233.html ) that you

should just drive at moderate speeds until the engine gets to operating temp. This is supposedly better for your engine?

 

[plumcrazy]

i start it up and drive right away. just slowly and never much RPM's at first.

i only let the oil pressure come up and then leave.

 

[Mccarlin]

I always tend to at least get the oil warm in the car then drive "SANE" untill full operating temps.

 

[98viperGTS]

I start it up and wait till I see some temp. Not sure if this is best but thats what I do. Then I drive easy until it reaches normal temps.

 

[DAMN YANKEE]

Ditto Mccarlin,

When I went about starting the Roe S/C project I was told by a very good source that I would be letting the engine warm up before driving away. I was told to take it easy until the engine was at operating temps.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I let mine idle for a few mins (~5 mins) and then drive normal until I reach operating temp

 

[viperbob]

I treat mine just like my Harley - run at idle for a few minutes and keep the rpms low until fully warmed.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

From the lubricant perspective, you want to minimize the amount of time that the oil is below the boiling temperature of water, minimize the amount of time the fuel system is running enriched, and minimize the blow-by. That argues for driving nearly immediately (waiting to see if you have oil pressure, obviously) and operating at some load to generate heat.

If you have a Gen 1 or 2 you do not have an OEM oil temperature gauge, so you must be looking at water temp... Idling does not generate much heat in the oil.

 

[Bonkers]

Nothing like getting an engine to a nice happy warm temperature
and then slamming it against the basically frozen drivetrain.

The general rule of thumb (with no technical references provided)
is that you start the motor and wait for oil pressure to stabilize
- then drive gently until temp stabilizes. My understanding is
that this is good for the battery as well.

 

[Cobraken]

What Bonkers says

 

[dyeguy]

Do you guys notice that your Viper accelerates rough the first few minutes after start up even if you take it easy? Mine does unless I let it idle for 2-3 minutes before pulling out.

 

[Asp Man]

"I treat mine just like my Harley - run at idle for a few minutes and keep the rpms low until fully warmed. "

You are the execption to the rule, then. Most H-D owners around here seem to think 15 to 20 mins is about right. Probably more about letting the neighbors know that they're H-D owners. LOL!

My $0.02: a few mins, 3 or 4 depending on ambiant temp. There's no need to let it get to full op. temp., just wasting fuel by that time by keeping the engine controler in the idle loop. You need to put temp into the trans., diff., tires and brakes anyway, before opening it up, so you might just as well roll along while it warms up.

 

[RobZ]

I start it up, back out of the garage and let it idle in 1st all the way up the driveway. By that time It's already showing 160 or so and I drive like my Grandma for about 5 miles to ensure that all the fluids are up to temp then proceed with normal RPM and loads.


Rob

 

[DodgeViper01]

I start mine and let it idle until the Oil Temp gauge is in the middle, which is normal operating temperature. Usually takes about 5 - 10 minutes.

 

[KenH]

Do you guys notice that your Viper accelerates rough the first few minutes after start up even if you take it easy? Mine does unless I let it idle for 2-3 minutes before pulling out.

The Viper will stay in open loop mode for about 3 minutes after starting during which it runs on a rich preprogrammed fuel setting of about 11:1 A/F. After about 3 minutes, it switches over to closed loop mode controlled by the O2 sensors and leans the engine out towards the 14.7 A/F range where it is happier running at near idle. That may be what you are noticing.

I'm with the majority here that says to start it, let oil pressure come up and then drive away immediately. I do take it fairly easy until the engine comes up to full temp especially with the SC since you don't want to go into boost on a cold engine.

 

[dyeguy]

The Viper will stay in open loop mode for about 3 minutes after starting during which it runs on a rich preprogrammed fuel setting of about 11:1 A/F. After about 3 minutes, it switches over to closed loop mode controlled by the O2 sensors and leans the engine out towards the 14.7 A/F range where it is happier running at near idle. That may be what you are noticing.

I'm with the majority here that says to start it, let oil pressure come up and then drive away immediately. I do take it fairly easy until the engine comes up to full temp especially with the SC since you don't want to go into boost on a cold engine.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks Ken, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Batboy]

Nothing like getting an engine to a nice happy warm temperature
and then slamming it against the basically frozen drivetrain.

The general rule of thumb (with no technical references provided)
is that you start the motor and wait for oil pressure to stabilize
- then drive gently until temp stabilizes. My understanding is
that this is good for the battery as well.

Ditto here. I do this with all my vehicles not just the Viper. The only exception is my bike (carbureted) which takes a minimum of 5 minutes to warm with choke nearly on full before you can even give it gas. Ahhhh the old days.

 

[Bonkers]

I start mine and let it idle until the Oil Temp gauge
is in the middle, which is normal operating temperature. Usually
takes about 5 - 10 minutes.

Do you mean the oil pressure gauge or the coolant temperature gauge?

If it takes 10mins for oil pressure to build up you have a
problem. If you wait 10mins for the coolant to rise your only
adding wear to your motor. Either way I might have a new idea
about why your MPG numbers are so low.

 

[syldogRT/10]

HAving Gen 1 here is what I do: Start it up and let it idle til the coolent temp. guage moves ever so slightly-usually a couple minutes. Then I drive at low rpm until the oil pressure guage steadies-about 10-20 minutes of driving depending on outside temp. Since I have no oil temp. guage I use the oil pressure reading as an indication that the oil has reached operating temp.

 

[ViperRed]

Almost every car manufacturer willadvise you ( in the owners manual ) to not let the car idle after start up by more than 1 min. Driving it at low RPM's is the best way to bring up your engine temp to operating level!