How do you drive during warm-up?

[Moggy]

We've all read about driving steady until the car has warmed up. I usually wait until the oil temp gauge is nearly horizontal (can't remember what temperature this really means). This can take a while - maybe 15+ minutes and 10+ miles.

So how do you drive until you're all warmed up? Max RPM? Throttle usage?

I tend to keep the revs below 5,000 and usually around 3,500 - 4,000 and try not floor it. I'm still in the break in period, so flooring it and revs over 6,000 are not "Audi recommended" anyway, even though it has been known to happen on occasion

[rmicroys]

During warm up, I generally don't go over 4k rpm. And don't go much past 1/2 throttle. Takes a good long while to get the oil over 90 deg C.

If the car is cold, nearly two laps at Calabogie to warm up the oil fully. (3.1mi 21 turn track)

[harrison]

I am concerned with tire temps too. Even a street tire needs to warm up to get sticky. By time the tires are warmed up, the engine oil should also be good to go WOT. But, I am in a fairly warm environment-most of the time. The car sits idling for at least 2 minutes more, after idle drops, before driving off.(when cold)

[rmicroys]

Idling for the most part is not good for an engine, and certainly not good for emissions. The cat lights up the fastest with the engine under load. I think even if you read the owners manual, it states not to idle, and to drive away after starting the car.

From the manual:

For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine when the vehicle is stationary. You
should drive off immediately whenever possible. This will help avoid
unnecessary exhaust emissions

[harrison]

Very interesting... for the sake of the environment? Audis' little green plug! Kudos to Audi. I will still, try not to emmediatly be at WOT, until things stabilize, and cut my idling time down to one minute ? ...for the sake of OUR environment.

[KfabR8]

I'm nice and easy on mine, short shifting and avoiding any heavier footed throttle until the oil temp has moved up away from the red lower lines. Water temp's already good by the time the oil temp catches up.

I've noticed that the new car warms up a bit sooner than the previous two.

[drifting]

I tend to go pretty slow in mine as its all small lanes where I live so no more than 25-30 MPH for about a mile then cruise down a B roads about 40-50 mph.

the track is always a awkward one tho some do give a warm up lap but most don't :S

I rarely hit the limiter ether.

[randombloke]

I take it easy rpm-wise until the oil has warmed up, short shifting in the 3k-4k range. speed wise I have to get up to 60mph pretty much as soon as I exit the drive as it emerges on the coast road in a 60 section just before a blind bend. the car is plenty quick enough at low revs in the tall gears.

[CPBRI]

Start it up and drive away. Keep it to 3-4K until oil temp is up. Then hammer it!

[dailydriver]

I typically drive and go but keep the revs under 4,000 until oil temp gets in normal range. On colder days (which we have a lot here in the Chicago area and I drive year round), I do let it idle and warm up. I'm more comfortable and I think the car is too (with warmer oil and trans fluid).