My apologies in case this topic has been already discussed. I have a 2010 997.2 Carrera 4 base cabriolet with a 6sp manual, currently at 65k miles. I'd like to hear from the members, how long do you drive below 3000 rpm, before you consider the engine running at the proper operating temperature. During winter months, it takes a good 30 minutes and 20-30 miles of driving before the oil temp needle approaches I'd say 185-190F. I never hit 200F, unless I push the engine beyond 3000rpm. In the summer, things happen a bit faster. So my approach is to go easy on the engine for app. 30 minutes, driving steady between 2000-2800 rpm. How do other members follow the procedure. I never run the engine at idle and I avoid any stop-and-go traffic after a cold start.

 

I just take it real nice and easy until the oil temp needle comes off the peg (150F indicated).

 

Similar to the short trips thread, I have thought about this a lot because I am 1 mile from an aggressive freeway on ramp. Before this house, I lived by Ave. 43 off/onramp in Highland Park where you actually have to do a launch to get on the 110 (seriously look at it on street view, it is bonkers and I used to scare non LA people in my EVO launching onto the freeway there). The 110Ave. 43 onramp is the most aggressive onramp I have ever experienced for sure. I noticed, when I do shift at or under 3k, the revs drop too far and I feel like I am on the border of making the engine lug. Also, this is not a safe way to get on the freeway even with a normal(ish) onramp. ...but I shift more like 3500 until oil temps hit the av. temp (around 200). If my water is up to temp and the oil gauge is between the bottom and 200 but I have to get on the freeway, I do not floor it but I will rev up to 4k max and I do not go full WOT. This is more from not wanting to spool a turbo too hard before the oil is at temp. So, I did this with turbo cars previously as well as NA cars and I have not had issues.

there isn't even a burnout box here.

LQQK right

(side note: The exit on the other side is ALL KINDS of hairy as well. You basically jump off with as much distance to a 90 degree turn with black skidmarks all stopping at a knee high BATTERED curb).

 

How bad/good is it to warm up the engine at idle until it reaches operating temps or at the mid-point mark on the temp gauge?

 

Not sure what the protocol is for a .2, but that’s a no go in the .1.

 

I Keep it under 3000 till the temp gets close to the 200 mark. It won't go to 200 for me without going over 3000

 

the 110 freeway was designed for the horse and carriage days, not entering with traffic going 80 in the slow lane

 

Dealing with the same issue and with the colder temps in the North East! If I’m lucky the car is up to temp by the time I get to my destination and I can push it on the at home. Contemplating a vanity plate WARMNUP.

 

Here in SoCal it takes about 15 mins of easy driving to warm up my 997.2

 

These threads are almost amusing. I wonder for those who keep it to some crazy narrow range for 30 mins if they are doing more damage. Lugging the engine potentially, using wrong rpm for load, etc.

If it takes 30 mins to get up to reasonable oil temp to drive relatively normally, perhaps driving in overly frigid temps too often? More damaging to car?

Drive it more gently until the oil gets warmed (175+), sure. But babying it until 200+?

Reminds me of people who seem to never get the tach above 6,000 rpm… or is every drive 1hr for the sake of operating temps? Seems very limiting.

 

I think it was actually initially designed for bikes! I might be wrong but at least sections of it were a raised bikeway. You are right in any case, it is VERY fun to blast on after midnight but hairy to watch dads getting out dad anger in Aerostar vans from the 90s at 85mph. Living at the 110 = seeing pretty intense accidents every day. I actually started driving over to the 2 to start my route even though it was a longer drive.

 

The 997.2 owners manual says keep it below 4.2k RPM for five minutes.

I'll wait until the oil temp gets between 175-200 before I consider it warmed up.

 

So, here's another question. I, like most owners here, definitely wait until oil temp gets to 200 and drive under 3000rpm for a good 15-20 min as that's how long it takes for my 911 to warm up. However, my local gas station is literally next door.

My question is, is it ok to start a cold engine then drive off, and then turn it off after just 5 minutes? it's definitely not warmed up but I assume even with a brief 5 minute drive the oils would have at least gotten some circulation into the engine. My concern here is that the 2nd start cycle should be no more or less harmful than the first engine start of that day correct?

Or, should I start getting gas 15-20 min away from me? kidding of course, but may be not...

 

There's two separate but related issues here. First off is to keep it below 3k RPM until the engine oil is at temp because there's lots of good evidence that will reduce the likelihood of bore scoring. The second issue is that if you only take short trips your oil won't get up to temp and boil off contaminants (fuel, water, etc.).

IMO, there's no problem with a five minute trip (to the gas station or whatever) provided you are doing plenty of longer trips where the oil gets up to temp. If most of your trips are five minutes then that's a potential issue, but an occasional short trip is not a problem.

 

I think if you ONLY did that, it would be an issue.