Cold start uphill battle..literally..... What would you do??
2002 CB M5
124,xxx on the clock
Original tranny and diff oil afaik
Castrol TWS(if it matters)
I have a problem.
Ever since I've come into ownership of my car about 3 years ago, I've always babied my car on a cold start. I'll turn the key and after about a second or 2 after she fires up ill start driving. I dont go past 2k until the oil temps hit the first dot. I shift carefully and I drive that way until i think the rest of the car is warmed up(tires, brakes, suspension, transmission).
My work relocated me to a office in Santa Clarita ( golden valley/ centre point pkwy ). Getting to the office is easy because the commute to the 14 fwy is about 7 miles from my house and gives me sufficient time to warm her up. When i get off my exit(golden valley) its a long 5 miles down a steep hill. Then its another 1/4mile of downhill after i make a left onto Centre point pkwy. Like i said, its a breeze getting there.
Going back home is another story. I work 8-10 hours and my car just sits there so by the time i'm ready to go home shes completely cold again.
Heres where my problem starts.
Right when i turn out of the complex, its a steep uphill for 1/4 mile. Then another steep hill..except this time its for 7 miles. on a cold start. I try my best to keep it under 2k while shifting carefully but at the same time, i dont want to be lugging the motor. The weather here is almost always 100 degrees plus so i'm also concerned that shifting at 2k while going up a steep hill will blow my tranny. I end up SLOWLY gaining speed to 50 and in 5th, im hovering right at about 2k rpms. I stay pegged right there until i get to the onramp. But by the time i get to the on ramp i have a lump at the back of my throat and i feel like i just killed my car a little bit.
I need advice. What would you do in my situation? Am i being paranoid? Sorry for the long post but i wanted to help you visualize my problem as vividly as possible. Any input(constructive) will be appreciated!!!
2002 CB M5
124,xxx on the clock
Original tranny and diff oil afaik
Castrol TWS(if it matters)
I have a problem.
Ever since I've come into ownership of my car about 3 years ago, I've always babied my car on a cold start. I'll turn the key and after about a second or 2 after she fires up ill start driving. I dont go past 2k until the oil temps hit the first dot. I shift carefully and I drive that way until i think the rest of the car is warmed up(tires, brakes, suspension, transmission).
My work relocated me to a office in Santa Clarita ( golden valley/ centre point pkwy ). Getting to the office is easy because the commute to the 14 fwy is about 7 miles from my house and gives me sufficient time to warm her up. When i get off my exit(golden valley) its a long 5 miles down a steep hill. Then its another 1/4mile of downhill after i make a left onto Centre point pkwy. Like i said, its a breeze getting there.
Going back home is another story. I work 8-10 hours and my car just sits there so by the time i'm ready to go home shes completely cold again.
Heres where my problem starts.
Right when i turn out of the complex, its a steep uphill for 1/4 mile. Then another steep hill..except this time its for 7 miles. on a cold start. I try my best to keep it under 2k while shifting carefully but at the same time, i dont want to be lugging the motor. The weather here is almost always 100 degrees plus so i'm also concerned that shifting at 2k while going up a steep hill will blow my tranny. I end up SLOWLY gaining speed to 50 and in 5th, im hovering right at about 2k rpms. I stay pegged right there until i get to the onramp. But by the time i get to the on ramp i have a lump at the back of my throat and i feel like i just killed my car a little bit.
I need advice. What would you do in my situation? Am i being paranoid? Sorry for the long post but i wanted to help you visualize my problem as vividly as possible. Any input(constructive) will be appreciated!!!
I am no expert, but I am JUST as particular about cold starts.
I always wait 30-45 seconds after cold start before I start moving, and I never go over 1800-2000 RPM until most of the RED LEDs have disappeared. Even after that I never put the car under load or go more than 30% throttle until the oil is at proper operating temp.
If it were me, in your situation, I would keep the car under 2000 RPM BUT I would also make sure to not put the car under load.
What that means is that sometimes its OK to give the car 500 extra RPM than to "lug" the engine up a hil in 3rd gear at barely 2000 RPM.
In my humble opinion, the engine is under MORE strain (up a long hill like you describe) at 1800-2000 RPM in 3-4th gear than at 2500-2700 RPM in 2nd gear.
I dont think you are hurting anything as long as you let the car idle for 30-45 seconds JUST to let all the oil move around.
I am no expert, but I am JUST as particular about cold starts.
I always wait 30-45 seconds after cold start before I start moving, and I never go over 1800-2000 RPM until most of the RED LEDs have disappeared. Even after that I never put the car under load or go more than 30% throttle until the oil is at proper operating temp.
If it were me, in your situation, I would keep the car under 2000 RPM BUT I would also make sure to not put the car under load.
What that means is that sometimes its OK to give the car 500 extra RPM than to "lug" the engine up a hil in 3rd gear at barely 2000 RPM.
In my humble opinion, the engine is under MORE strain (up a long hill like you describe) at 1800-2000 RPM in 3-4th gear than at 2500-2700 RPM in 2nd gear.
I dont think you are hurting anything as long as you let the car idle for 30-45 seconds JUST to let all the oil move around.
Among other things, IMHO the OP is simply lugging the engine.
The warmup lights are there for a reason. It is OK to go over 2000 rpm, the lights don't even start until 4000. Don't put it to the floor, but go ahead and get the engine in its power band. I think up to 3000 rpm is no problem as long as you are sensible on how you get there.
So I agree some extra revs in a lower gear are much better than lower revs in a higher gear.
And unless you are below freezing, no need for 45 seconds of warm up. Cars warms up most quickly from driving. All the parts need to be moving to generate heat.
If you don't believe that, time the car to 79C on the OBC by driving it sensibly, or warming it up in your driveway idling the motor. It will take way longer in your driveway, and while the car is running rich, you are washing unburned gas down the cylinder walls.
So start the motor, put on your seatbelt, check the mirrors, put 'er in gear and drive!
The yellow lines are where you don't want to be. Shift before the yellow line and don't use more than about 50% throttle. That is it it is simple read the owners manual. Personally I try to maintain 3000 till the car gets warm.
Among other things, IMHO the OP is simply lugging the engine.
The warmup lights are there for a reason. It is OK to go over 2000 rpm, the lights don't even start until 4000. Don't put it to the floor, but go ahead and get the engine in its power band. I think up to 3000 rpm is no problem as long as you are sensible on how you get there.
So I agree some extra revs in a lower gear are much better than lower revs in a higher gear.
And unless you are below freezing, no need for 45 seconds of warm up. Cars warms up most quickly from driving. All the parts need to be moving to generate heat.
If you don't believe that, time the car to 79C on the OBC by driving it sensibly, or warming it up in your driveway idling the motor. It will take way longer in your driveway, and while the car is running rich, you are washing unburned gas down the cylinder walls.
So start the motor, put on your seatbelt, check the mirrors, put 'er in gear and drive!
Regards,
Jerry
I always drive a second after i fire her up. Best way to warm up the engine and all of the other components
The yellow lines are where you don't want to be. Shift before the yellow line and don't use more than about 50% throttle. That is it it is simple read the owners manual. Personally I try to maintain 3000 till the car gets warm.
I guess ive been lugging my motor Going up to 3k 'sensibly' would make my uphill battle much more manageable
50 in 5th uphill is silly. Even not fully warm, 4th would be better. Warm, 3rd, if only to play up the hill and have the torque to get on it if necessary, or just for fun.
It depends on the grade of the climb, but I agree you're lugging the engine at 2000RPM. FWIW, I always roll off immediately after start up, 2-3k RPM until it warms up progressively. I stay about 1000rpm below the tach light (3000 when it's at 4000, etc). You can sort of feel the engine spin rough if you wind it out too high too soon.
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Going up to 3k 'sensibly' would make my uphill battle much more manageable
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