I have had an rx-8 for about 2 months now, love it and take care of it, i let it warm up to atleast the 2nd dark bar on the heat meter and always have it running for over 5 minutes before turning it off, But there are 2 things i want to know:

1) If im about to leave some place with a girl, and the car has already cooled down is it OK to just drive off without warming it up? ya kno, a lil embarrassing saying lets wait 2 - 3 mins for my car to warm up.. awkward lol

2) If i drive to a place, turn off the engine do what i got to do and then realize ima go drive down the road to do whatever, do i still have to run it for 5 minutes before shutting it off even thought i did that before i went to the other place? (kinda annoying sitting in the car for 5 minutes doin nothing)

neways those are the two main questions i have, if you could answer those and maybe give me some more advice and things to know about the rx-8, because i'm still new to the car i would appreciate it. Thanks, Stephen

 

1.anyone one who steps a foot in the car must respect it thus waiting for her to warm up. you should take honer in it



2.as long as your car is still warm just give it a few seconds better to be safe then sorry

 

very very true, but in some cases can i just hop in wait like 25 seconds and take off?

 

ya if the the engine is still above cold \\ u dont have to wait 5 mins everytime u stop.

 

yup, you don't need to wait everytime. if you know you'll be driving longer than 5 min anyway, the trip would get it to operating temp anyway by the time you get to your destination. it's moving the car to wash it or change places in parking or less than 5 min drive when you haven't driven it for the day that would more likely cause flooding.

 

Well, a) telling your girl that you have a special and unique engine that has to warm up before the car is turned off is a lot less embarrassing than b) not being able to start your car at all because you flooded it.

a) gives you a few minutes to talk to her before you take her home to do the nasty. hell, may even get her interested in your car.

b) pisses her off and she goes and jumps in some other guy's car which actually does start, so that he takes her home to do the nasty.

It's all in how you word it.

 

Just let it sit for like 30 seconds then drive it off.

IT will be fine. as long as you have most up to date flashes (And good condition plugs and coils and starter)

 

You do NOT have to warm it up by idling before driving off. The owner's manual says 10 seconds. Letting a car sit and idle is not good for it. The best way to warm a car up is to drive it, keeping revs low and throttle moderate until it's warm.

Related to this, you might hear about the "rev to 3000 before shutting off" thing. That's something you have to do if you warm the car by letting it sit and idle, rather than driving it. Take that as an indicator that warming by idling does evil things.

Ken

 

you do not have to wait 2-3 minutes. Just start the car, buckle up, turn on the radio and you're set.
Just take it easy on the rpm's until the car is compltely warm

 

waiting for it to warm up isn't necessary. just don't mash the pedal till the car gets up to operating temperature.

 

There is absolutely no harm in passing the warm-up time by complimenting the girl on something.

Sorta warm her up at the same time if you know what I mean.

 

yeah there is no need to let it warm up before driving..i get in start it up put on seat belt change the cd or radio station and take off just keeps the rev's below 3k till it's warm then off you go....Now if it is 10 below zero then you shoud let it warm up for a few minutes so nothing expands too quickly and to get all the fluids in the engine moving since they are thicker in that cold of weather

 

What he said .
Spend more effort in warming up your girl and less on the car ....

 

If its winter and very cold you will need to warm her up.

 

But not for several minutes. And even if you warm the engine by idling, once you start to drive you still need to go gently for a while until the gearbox and rear end have warmed up.

Ken