is it ok to start up the car, let it run for like a minute and then drive off? or is it better to warm it up to 3 bars? also, is it a bad idea to vtec the car when it just warmed up to 3 bars, or should u let it run for awhile? thanks

 

This car requires no special warmup. It was designed to be driven while it is warming up. I think that it is not going to hurt anything to give it several minutes after reaching three bars on the guage before you use VTEC. It takes the transmission much longer to warmup than the engine.

 

Whoa....

First off, definitely DON'T let the car sit and idle to reach 3 bars. You'd be doing way more harm than good.

Secondly, yes, it's perfectly fine to start the car, let it run for a minute and drive.
Your best means of engine preservation is to keep the RPMs reasonable until the engine OIL is completely warmed up. This doesn't mean when you have 3 bars on the heat gauge! Coolant temp and engine oil temp are totally different.

Obviously, since the stock car doesn't have an oil temp gauge, play it smart and don't bring the car anywhere near redline until its been driven about 10 miles or so. You'd be surprised how long it takes engine oil to come up to operating temp, especially when ambient temps are low.

 

Keep in mind there is a lot more to the car than just the engine. The gearbox and diff also have to get to operating temp before too much strain. And if you really want to preserve your car the most important thing to warm up before too much are the tyres.

My advice is to start the car and drive it conservatively until it is at 3 bars. That's the way Honda expect most people to drive it and hance it is designed that way.

What you do after 3 bars is up to you.

 

ok, then is it ok to shut off the car when say the trip u r making is a 2 minute trip, and by the time u get there, it just hit 2 bars...can u just turn the car off right away? and why is it a bad idea to not let the car sit there and idle until it reaches 3 bars? thanks

 

Well, I typically let the car sit there and idle at least 20 seconds if I driven it around easily. You can shut off the car if you want, it isn't going to kill the car, but I don't think it would hurt if you let it idle for a little bit. From what I understand, if you let the car sit there and idle to long, it builts up heat and it isn't good. I agree with what others had said about the tranny fluid taking longer to warm up. So becareful when you shift, when you just started the car.

The reasons why they don't shut off their cars right away on turbo cars because the oil gets hot and when you let it idle, it cools down! Then the oil has less chance in baking!

-Alan

 

I think that what you are saying is that it is not good for the engine to take short trips and never let the car warm up. This is harder on the engine than letting it warm up fully. The moisture in the engine's interior is never dried out and can contaminate the oil sooner than an engine that is always warmed up when driven. If you have to take short trips, then I would make sure to take a long trip on the way home to bring the engine up to a normal temperature before you shut it off.

 

If you are going to let the car sit and idle for 2 minutes make sure you open the garage door.

 

i personally never drive off until i have 2 bars on the temp gauge. it doesn't take that long to get 2 bars anyways, only about 2-3 minutes. after i drive off, i drive very conservatively(keep rpm below 3k) until i get 3 bars on the temp gauge. if i'm in the mood to engage vtec, i wait another 10-15 minutes(depending on ambient temps) after 3 bars on the temp gauge to fully ensure that the oil temp is up to operating spec. oil takes a longer time to warm up than coolant. remember that the drivetrain needs to time to warm up too, so don't go slamming gears without ample warmup time.

 

If you only have two bars by the time you get to your destination, you need to take a longer route!!!

Drive On