RE: Aha! We knew it all along!!!!!

["Stanton, John" <JStanton@newsamerica.com>]

Mike,

I would agree with your warming up routine if one's driveway in on a highway
entrance ramp and the car is required to drive at highway speeds in the
first minute after start up.  I for one must travel city streets at a
reasonable pace before getting on the highway.  This imho is the best warm
up procedure for it takes into account all parts of the car engine,
transmission as all running gear, while sitting in the driveway does nothing
for the running gear.

Happy motoring,

JJS



> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Mike Arman [SMTP:armanmik@n-jcenter.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, February 09, 1999 4:11 AM
> To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:	Aha! We knew it all along!!!!!
> 
> snip . . .
> 
> >I'm a Martian.
> >
> >- --
> > Phil Payne
> 
> unsnip . . . <G>
> 
> (Please, no comments about my fine future career in the mass media, for
> taking things somewhat out of context.)
> 
> 
> Another item: Our new A-6 Avant owner who asks if she should warm it up
> before tackling the hill near her home.
> 
> Yes, a little. I'd let it run about a minute, and then move off. Remember
> that the transmission and other driveline parts are still cold, so be
> gentle.
> 
> The "Drive off at once" crowd is wrong - any internal combustion engine
> needs to warm up so the various parts can assume their correct sizes
> (expansion from heat) and correct running tolerances. The oil also needs
> to
> warm up somewhat, since cold oil is much thicker than hot oil, and the
> lubrication properties are not the same.
> 
> This is not as critical in newer cars as it was in older ones, and nowhere
> near as critical as with air-cooled engines (which have larger
> cold-clearances because the running temperature of air cooled engines
> cannot usually be held as consistently as water cooled engines), but yes,
> you should STILL warm it up a minute or so before you drive off,
> especially
> if you live in a cold climate.
> 
> (In air cooled aircraft engines, you are cautioned not to apply full
> (takeoff) power until the oil temperature gauge has at least moved off the
> "cold" peg.)
> 
> You won't notice a difference at first, but after a few years of careful
> treatment, both your engine and your wallet will thank you.
> 
> Another error is the misconception that driving off at once will reduce
> air
> pollution. This is also wrong. Yes, cold engines are dirty, but which is
> dirtier - a cold engine running at idle for 90 seconds (tiny throttle
> opening, moving a little air) or a cold engine at 70 MPH, large throttle
> opening, moving a LOT of air? Over the long term, letting your engine warm
> up a little will create less pollution AND the engine will last much
> longer.
> 
> Yet another side benefit - wouldn't you like to make sure everything is
> working correctly BEFORE you pull onto the freeway? If my car has had an
> oil, water, Pentosin or brake fluid leak (what, an Audi that leaks???),
> I'd
> prefer to find out about it in my driveway, not at 70 MPH on a limited
> access highway.
> 
> Cars are NOT appliances - this isn't a refrigerator which you just plug in
> and it runs for 15 years with no attention except opening and closing the
> door, or like a television, which you just plug in and then simply stare
> at
> for 15 years. Unfortunately, many people treat their cars EXACTLY the same
> way as they treat their refrigerator or their TV, and they are totally
> shocked and betrayed when the car stops, and costs them big bucks to fix.
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Mike Arman
> 
>