AlOtaBblGm

I always let the coolant temp warm up before I indulge in this car's many pleasures. However, I noticed that while the coolant may show warm, the engine oil temp (between the tach and speedo on my 2008) is still at the bottom. It takes another few minutes to read. Is that the one I should wait for?

Joe Z

iTrader: (10)

Oil Temp is your go to before hooning around





Joe Z ​​​​​​​

Jwconeil

My oil temp can take a seemingly long while to warm up. I’ve never timed it, but if it’s chilly out, it feels like eternity.

ultimase

I've had commutes in the snow that the oil temp has taken 30+ mins to reach stable operating temperature.

Quadrphnia

Oh the 9qts can take forever to warm up on this car. Sometimes I won't even get to the third bar after a 20 minute drive in cool weather.
Here's my rule of thumb:

• Start the car, drive within a minute or so, go easy on it.
• Once the second oil bar lights up, engage sport - but don't beat on it yet. Sport makes the car hold gear longer on turns, so I wait until I get that second bar to keep from having the RPMs fly above 4k on a cold engine.
• If in a hurry to get to that third oil bar, switch over to manual and stay in lower gears to keep the RPMs at a consistent 2ish 2.5ish. Doing this responsibly can really shorten the time to that third bar.
• 3rd oil bar - stand on it.

The water temp gauge to me is nothing more than a "Have You Blown the Stock Rad" light. *knocks on wood*

Edit: I suggest maintaining pedal control on turns even when sport isn't engaged on a cold engine. This trans is bipolar when it's cold and can still rev high if you're not careful.

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

I turn on sport mode before I leave the garage. But I wait for three bars on the oil temp to hammer on the engine. Depending on ambient temperature, it can take 25 - 35 minutes of normal driving to get the oil temperature up to 3 bars. Atlanta summers are quick to temp. Atlanta winters are very slow to temp. You guys driving in the snow - must be 35 - 45 minutes just to get to normal. If you're seeing 4 or more bars regularly, you need to investigate additional cooling. 3 bars is near ideal temperature.

AlOtaBblGm

Very helpful. Sounds like three bars is the charm.