Hi everyone!

I just got my first mini (2006 cooper s) and I would like to know what the optimal waiting time is for warming up your engine before you start driving. A buddy of mine told me about 10 seconds since cars today are capable of transferring fluids much quicker through out the automobile when you start your car. Is this true?

Also, should I let the engine run AFTER driving as well?

 

It really doesn't take much time at all, but you want to take it easy the first few miles to give the oil a chance to warm up some. If you have the Chrono package or and oil temp. gauge you can use that gauge to indicate when the oil's up to temp, if you don't have those gauges just make sure the engine coolant is up to around 150-160 degrees, at that point the oil should be somewhat warmed up.

 

The tech at the dealership I was taking Emily to prior to the warranty expiring told me to run the car for about 30 seconds when first starting as long as the outside temp was above freezing. Below that, he said 1 to 2 minutes, then drive slowly until warmed up.
As a general rule of thumb, when I first start driving, I don't exceed 3,000 RPMs until the temp gauge is over the 1/4 tic mark, and no full throttle until the needle points straight up.
There's no real reason for this, other than the fact that I feel like being gentle driving until fully warmed up.

 

Your friend was correct, cars can be driven as soon as they are started. It is also a good idea to keep revs down to 3,000 or less until the operating temp starts to rise. The only reason to warm up a car is for comfort of the heater.

 

I was told that with the tight tolerances that engines have these days, that it is important to immediately get the oil pressure up by starting and going at a easy rate. The mech was adamant about not letting the car just sit there and idle when cold while the oil pressure is at minimum, synthetic maintains it's viscosity even when cold, doesn't get thicker like dino oil, for the most part.

Not an expert, just passing on what I was told.

 

When cold the oil pressure is higher, even at idle, partially because the engine idle is advanced. I see about 60psi under way when cold, and about 30psi at idle, once warmed up idle is less than 15psi (the gauge tic-marks aren't terribly accurate) with oil pressure rising to 30-40psi at higher RPMs. Why every car doesn't have an oil pressure gauge is beyond me.

 

I have a scangauge monitoring true coolant temp and an electric oil temp gauge. I can tell you that the stock 'gauge' is in the normal range once the coolant gets to 160 or 170 degrees. At that point, the oil temp hasn't budged. 20-30 minutes of highway driving to get to a steady state oil temp. I like keeping my cars for a while so I try to stay out of boost and under 3k rpm until oil is up to 160-180 degrees. This is 10-15 minutes of driving. Steady state oil temp on a summer day is around 225 degrees and 200-210 degrees in the winter. Above 200 degrees, I feel no remorse on my boost gauge .

 

The bearing tolerances can only be so "tight"...and after 50, 60, 70k miles or more, those tolerances will not be as tight.
Don't forget...letting the oil warm up is just as important as letting the crankshaft, main bearings, connecting rods, and rod bearings warm up too.
Letting these parts reach normal operating temperature is important.

While I agree with the statement about the synthetic oil viscosity...has your tech ever watched an actual oil pressure gauge on cold start up in a MINI? Oil pressure is definitely not at a minimum. My car has 82k miles and I still see 70psi when cold.

 

Strange, typically when my car gets to the 150-160 degree range I'm seeing oil temps beginning to rise, about 110 degrees and at that point I'm can drive it normally (not spirited). This also doesn't take 20-30 minutes though. I have a 16 mile commute that's basically all highway and start seeing oil temps rise after two or three miles.

 

Page 41 of the Owners Manual for an 04 MCS

"Do not let the engine warm up with the vehicle at a standstill. Move off immediately at a moderate engine speed"

Just passing along some info.

 

I do about five seconds just to let everything settle. On the coldest of mornings (below 20 degrees or so) I'll let her run about 15 seconds or as long as it takes to scrape the ice off the windows...