What's the suggest RPM threshold yo shouldn't exceed after first starting your car?
 

I turn my car on, wait a few seconds and then drive off. I try not to exceed 3k rpm in the first few minutes. Wondering if what I'm doing is ok or if I should change anything up.

From a cold start, I let the RPMs drop off to the normal idle before I move (usually only takes 30 seconds). From there, I keep it under 4k RPMs until it reaches normal operating temp.

What you're doing is fine.

The owner manual simply says "Do not race the engine on start up". No definition as to what "race" entails but since the break in max is 4,000 I would guess that exceeding 4,000 is what they mean.

There was a brilliant detailed post a few years back from some dude in Norway I think who studied this kind of stuff at his job or something, someone dig that up that isn't me this morning, I haven't finished my coffee yet.

Sounds good to me .... :thumbsup:


humfrz

Same here. I let the cold start idle rpms drop before I leave, keep it under 3k for the first 5 or so minutes and under 4k until its warmed up... usually about the time I get to the freeway on ramp for a nice pull to get me up to speed :D

Onramps = Happy :burnrubber:

That reminds me of a back-in-the-day story ....... yep, it's a slow day here in Puyallup.

I had just moved from California to Westport, CT.

I was on the Merritt Parkway for the first time, screaming down the parkway in my MGB when the exit came up.

Now, I was accustomed to the wide sweeping off/on ramps of California.

So, when I exited onto the off ramp, I discovered that the surface was bricks and a much tighter turn than I was anticipating.

Having a sports car ...... I thought ....... no problem ....... right ......??

While sliding around the tight turn, taking most of the "off ramp" ....... I discovered (as another car was coming at me) that the off ramps were also the on ramps ....... :eyebulge:

THE END


humfrz

Never though I would ever hear that sentence!

Me either ....... apparently they were made that way to conserve space .......:iono:


humfrz

I watch my oil temperature which lags a bit behind the water temp. Usually oil temps are at 170-180 when coolant is up to temperature. That's about when I get to an on-ramp 5-10 minutes in. Until then, I try to keep it under 3.5krpm. Still a bit early at the on-ramp, but I can't resist either.

:burnrubber:

Oh man.. ON+OFF ramp is a scary thought indeed! I cant even picture how that would work at all.

What you're doing is fine.

There's a small period, upon first starting a "cold" car, where the RPMs will stay slightly raised and then drop to normal idle. This is to warm the catalytic converter and is not necessary to wait for in order to drive the vehicle. Some people wait as peace of mind.

Curvy onramps = very happy
Curvy offramps very, very happy