You shouldn't stress a cold engine, right? We all know that. No rev'ing, no lugging, until its fully warmed up. We also know the best way to warm a car up is by driving, gently, not sitting idling. So when is the engine fully warmed up?

We know when the coolant is warm, via the engine temp gauge and the temp of air coming out of the heater vents. But an engine isn't really fully warmed up until the oil is up to temp. So how long does that take?

I don't have an oil temp gauge on my S, but my Audi has one stock. On that car it takes about 4 additional min of highway driving AFTER the coolant is fully up to temp before the oil temp gauge even begins to move off its lowest reading. It takes about 4 more min, or 8 min of highway driving total for the oil to reach operating temp (8 min after coolant temp gauge says car is warm).

This is around freezing temp outside. Car parked outside. Even when its warm out it still takes several min more for oil to be warm once coolant is.

Obviously this is a different car, with a very different engine than the S. But I think the point is valid that it takes several min more for an engine to really be fully warmed up even once engine temp gauge shows operating temp.

It would be great if someone with an oil temp gauge in their S could give some real world info in a variety of outside temps on how long it takes oil in our motors to reach operating temp. Whether we get that info or not, just keep in mind your engine isn't fully warm, and ready for severe use, until several minutes after coolant temp gauge implies it is.

 

Brilliant topic.I use my car as a commute and for leisure. I usually wait a little while until I even start going past 3k. I drive several miles until coolant temp is a operating temp and then still drive very conservativily until I FEEL the oil is up to temp to even think about reving it up to 8k (AP2). We dont have a oil temp guage which would be pretty awesome.

 

When we got three bars! Keep it simple

 

I always let mine warm up to 3 bars coolant temp (ap2v2). Then lightly slowly accelerate and cruise to work. Won't go past 3k-4k until it reaches coolant temp. I will cruise the highway though. Then 5-8 minutes after reaching operating coolant temp cruising at highway speed will I start to actually get on it. Gives the transmission a chance to warm up too. So same there, light shifting. Nothing sudden or fast if I can help it, until it warms up.
Just the way I do it.

 

With an oil to coolant oil cooler it works in reverse in cold conditions, so it helps warm the oil using fully warmed coolant. Having 3 bars on the temp gauge would be close enough to fully warmed, the oil temp will lag a bit, but you are still in the safe territory for pushing the engine if you really needed. If you don't need to push the engine then wait a few minutes more after you get 3 bars. (This is for an ap1, not sure how many bars the ap2's have on their temp gauges)

 

You have to drive about 5 miles before you can beat on it on anything over 60℉ weather. Longer if it's colder, oil temp hits 170℉ by then, which is considered the lower range of ideal. If oil gets to 280℉ you are at the upper limit. At 300℉ you are pushing the limits, you can see these temperatures after 5-8 laps on a track depending on length and circuit layout, and how you drive.

For normal or even spirited driving in mountains, the stock cooler works juuuust fine. You can thrash it with confidence, provided your oil is good, and your cooling system is working properly. If you're gonna hit the track, you should definitely invest in an oil cooler.

 

Typically I'll wait 5 to 10 min (depending on outside temp) after getting 3 bars on the coolant temp gauge to start having fun with her. I figure that gives the trans and diff a chance to warm up a bit also.

 

The transmission gears are in constant mesh and actually spin at engine speed unless the clutch pedal is depressed, the diff is another story and that requires driving, but ultimately driving the car a bit is the only real way to warm it up. It's not just the engine, but everything else that needs to get to operating temperature, bearings, tires, brakes, even the suspension members. After all are shocks not dissipating the springs oscillating motion as heat? Does the performance of rubber not change based on temperature?

 

Absolutely...I meant hard driving by "having fun". Typically I'll let her sit and idle for 30 sec to a mintue then drive gently until "fully" warm...should have specified lol.

 

Everything about this car works better when it has some heat in it, one reason I don't like driving it in cold weather.