I like to listen for the air pump to click off. That's usually when the RPM stabilizes to 1500. I guess that's about a minute if the engine isn't too cold in my garage. That's the only time I can verify that the air pump is working properly. Then I drive 3-4 miles at 20-35 MPH before I hit a highway requiring full engine performance. Seems to work out well for me, but I feel for people that have to jump on an expressway just after starting their car.

 

Just to pull out of the driveway, I don't wait long. Maybe 30 seconds for the idle to come down a little. However, before putting my foot in it completely or trying any semi-fast shifts, I wait until 3 bars on the temp gauge.

 

I'm in the camp that lets it idle for about 30 seconds or so, then drives very easy and not putting a high load on the motor for until everything has warmed up. I have a mile of low traffic side road that I just take it easy up, and when I hit the main road....I'm at 4 bars or more.

Checking my FlashPro logs, on these 30 - 40 degree days, it takes the coolant about 5 min to come up to normal operating temp. So i just use that as my base time for driving easy.

It does not take that long for everything to come up to temp. Just like you don't want to sit and idle for long periods, putting a high load on the motor before it's fully warmed up is bad for it also.

 

I know my neighbor likes to keep his moms 350z as warm as possible by going out at like 1am and 3am,turning it on and reving it constantly for about 10 mins before he leaves(usually giving at one more rev to redline at the street). Then he comes back after 10 mins of driving. He also leaves the windows down in the rain, and fills the insides with fastfood bags and cigarettes. Some peoples kids..

I drive gently until the cars been at the standard opperating temp for about 5-10 mins.

 

Before driving, just long enough to buckle up and plug in the iPhone... BUT I dont go past 1/2 throttle or 5k RPM until 3 bars on the temp gauge (AP1)

 

I wait about 2 mins, I give it a while before I take it above 4k rpm though.

 

Im surprised how many people go hard on the car before the oil is all warmed up

 

I start her up it, sing my ABC's, then drive off when done.

I'm kidding lol,but for real, I let it idle for about a minute, drive off, and make sure I take it easy and keep it below 4k rpm until 3 bars have been established on the temperature gauge.

 

Everyone is set on the "3 bars" and go, like I say earlier, your oil's will not be up to temp yet and your being hard on your car!

 

I wait for 2 bars usually. its not recommended to warm up the car due to emmisions. I also don't go past 4k for first 15-20 min