Date:         Mon, 27 Dec 1999 13:01:01 -0800
Reply-To:     "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Minimum engine wear warm up strategy
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Any thoughts on these engine warmup strategies relative to engine wear?

1.Start and just drive.  Convenient, but high cold engine wear.

2.Start, let idle for 5-10 minutes, then drive. Inconvenient and wastes gas.

3.Start, listen for the slight engine slowdown that takes place in about 5
to 20 seconds when the cold oil syrup starts flowing through the engine,
then drive off, using a very light foot on the accelerator, and as the
engine warms up, resume normal driving.

This "flow point" is obvious on my Ford, but less so on the Vanagon.

A friend recommended this strategy in the carbueration days and it seems
to make sense. He said the engine should not be loaded or raced until the
oil is flowing, but from then on higher loading at relatively low RPM's
warms up the engine much faster, reducing total engine warm up wear.
If the AFM is set properly for about .6v open loop voltage from the O2
sensor, this strategy should work fine for Vanagon fuel injection.

4. Heat the block, then use one of the above.

Cheers, Tom Neal '87 Syncro