legacycentral bbs

here's another new to turbo question.

here in ND we get some damn cold actual temps. like -20F.

what i want to know is what is an appropriate amount of time to have my turbo car warm up in the morning?

also how long should i let it idle when i get to work before i shut it down and head on in? the drive is about 8-10 minutes and never hit speeds over 45 mph. but i accellerate quickly and like to use all the powerband.

just trying to plan out my evening commute to work.

also debating if it would be better to take the interstate or not. it would take longer but the speeds would be higher and give the engine more time at optimal temp. and more time for me behind the wheel of my new toy.

I let mine warm up for about 5 mins then cool down for about 1. I do feel like the oil in the tranny needs to warm up also but that may just be me. I usually cruise along in second until it warms up.

As long as you don't get on it hard while its cold, you should be fine. For cool down, you really don't need to let it idle unless you've been absolutely beating the piss out of it, as the turbo is both oil and water cooled.

You don't need to let the car idle to warm up unless it won't run right if you try to drive it. Usually, driving gently is the right way to warm the car up, since it will also warm up the differential fluid and stuff. If you let the car idle long enough the transmission fluid will actually warm up just from the input shaft turning.

An 8-10 minute drive is just barely long enough to warm the car up in cold weather. Unfortunately, that means you won't be able to accelerate quickly and use the powerband until near the end of the commute. You should try to push the engine a little after it warms up, though, so you don't end up collecting water in your exhaust.

I'd avoid the interstate if the engine would still be cold by the time you get there. Merging onto a highway when the car's cold can be bad for the car (because you either have to push harder than you should when it's cold, or you have to merge at an unsafely low speed).

Usually the time it takes to drive into the parking lot and then park the car is enough time for the turbo to cool down enough to shut the engine off. Leave the engine on while you collect your things from the rest of the car and you'll have a little extra safety.

I hope you have synthetic all around at those rude temperatures. Mineral-based oils are really scary thick when that cold.

my '90 WILL NOT warm up idling. it has to be driven takes about 20 blocks at a contand 40 mph in 3rd to get the gauge to move to it operating range and for the heater to blow warm air. this is about the midpoint of my drive to work. can i expect the same from the turbo?

this is about the same distance to the interstate (20 blocks at similar speed). it isnt busy but god i hate driving on it. the other drivers are total boneheads. and rude too.

basically im wondering about any special care that may be needed for the turbo car above and beyond common (to car geeks) automotive sense.

gald to hear that a minute of idle is enough for a "cool down." i do that now anyway. but that is more because i love how my car sounds at idle. i had heard that turbo timers were pretty useless, good to hear its true. how hard is it to sit in your car for a minute or two? if you are in that much of a hurry you really need to reorganize your schedule.

all thiat being said, i think i will find a longer route to work and just leave early. about 15 min. should do the trick i just have to get my butt out of the house 5 min earlier.

there is good way i can double back on myself and have some "fun" roads to drive on that are low in traffic and still fun to drive the speed limit on. dont need a speeding ticket or an accident.

that sounds like the best option since i have a feeling that as much as i love driving my 90 i will love the ss even more.

Quite a few years ago I was visiting my Dad you lived about 1/2 mile from Smith Rocks in Central Oregon. I live in Portland Oregon and always used 20w50 in my 1978 wagon.

Well, it was -20 that night. Not only wouldnt the car start, it simply wouldnt turn over, even with super jumper cables. The oil was like ice. Thank Goddess I had factory block heaters installed. Two hours later and it started right up! But I made sure to change the oil that day when I got back to Portland!

I didn't see you mention it....is this a stock turbo setup with oil & water lines, or aftermarket with just oil?

How many miles is the trip...not time.

Legacy777 wrote:I didn't see you mention it....is this a stock turbo setup with oil & water lines, or aftermarket with just oil?

How many miles is the trip...not time.

stock 94 SS.

it is about 6-8 miles. but the 8-10 min is actual drive time not sitting at lights. we dont have traffic jams here in fargo.

6-8 miles really isn't super short. I wouldn't get overly concerned. My car warms up in a mile or so of stop and go traffic.