What oil temp for warming up?

[scd603]

Just got engine replaced in my 2017. Been babying it for 600mi so far. And, have been warming it up for 15" before driving off and them letting oil get to 170ish before driving 'normal'. Curious if 170 is a good target.

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[Postal Bob]

Letting it idle for 15 minutes is not good for the engine. Better off driving it slowly until the oil temps past 160 minimum. Takes longer for it to warm up idling, than driving slowly.
Better yet, based on where you live, wait until Spring when temps stay above 50 at least.

 

[TENTEX]

I go by this excerpt from the Owners Manual:

"Redline limited to 8000 RPM until the engine oil temperature exceeds 190°F (88°C)."

 

[Bullitt Tooth Tony]

I let it sit until the car goes into low idle (around 800 RPM) before moving, then don't take it over 3500 until it's 140*, then past 6k once it's 190*+. I'm probably overly cautious, but I'd rather be safe than sorry

 

[ShatterPoints]

My mezger days have me probably more paranoid than I should be. I will start even below 50F and let the car idle until 100F coolant temp and 70F oil temp. Then I drive under 3k until oil temp hits 140-150, then I will take it to 4k to get some heat in the oil. By 160-170F I will drive normal (not to redline)

 

[Saxgod]

I let it sit until the car goes into low idle (around 800 RPM) before moving, then don't take it over 3500 until it's 140*, then past 6k once it's 190*+. I'm probably overly cautious, but I'd rather be safe than sorry

Same here. Let it go to low idle then stay below 3k until 140.

 

[loco_GT350]

I let it sit until the car goes into low idle (around 800 RPM) before moving, then don't take it over 3500 until it's 140*, then past 6k once it's 190*+. I'm probably overly cautious, but I'd rather be safe than sorry

I basically do the same thing, except I keep it under 3500 until 190*. Not saying anyone needs to keep it under 3500, its just what I do.....

 

[460Fred]

Once a week I need to head out early at 5am. Don’t want to upset the neighbors so I take off immediately.
Just cruse along around 3K until I’m over 100F then don’t go over 4K until 190F. Don’t remember where I heard that but it’s worked so far. On colder days, around 45-50F the temp drops at a red light. Letting it idle will only get you so far temp wise.
Here’s what the manual says. Vague enough for you? Looks like nannies are built in to protect us from ourselves.

 

[Bullitt Tooth Tony]

On colder days, around 45-50F the temp drops at a red light. Letting it idle will only get you so far temp wise.

I've been dailying mine through the Midwest winter and used black painters tape to cover about 80% of the oil cooler grille. It's been helping a lot on these colder days, though the oil temp still never gets above 200F.

 

[john@fatfab]

These cars don't have a actual oil temperature sensor. The value you see displayed on the gauge is based off of the readings from the engine coolant and ambient air temp and then some formula ford came up with to output a reading based on those. I'm sure they got the math close, but I would question its accuracy in cold weather situations. Probably give it a couple extra minutes in those situations.

 

[raiderjatt02]

These cars don't have a actual oil temperature sensor. The value you see displayed on the gauge is based off of the readings from the engine coolant and ambient air temp and then some formula ford came up with to output a reading based on those. I'm sure they got the math close, but I would question its accuracy in cold weather situations. Probably give it a couple extra minutes in those situations.

Oh wow, I had no idea but that's good to know!

 

[NoXiDe]

I've been dailying mine through the Midwest winter and used black painters tape to cover about 80% of the oil cooler grille. It's been helping a lot on these colder days, though the oil temp still never gets above 200F.

I crafted a simple cover for both the engine and trans side. It definitely does help and make my winter drives more enjoyable.

 

[scd603]

Letting it idle for 15 minutes is not good for the engine. Better off driving it slowly until the oil temps past 160 minimum. Takes longer for it to warm up idling, than driving slowly.
Better yet, based on where you live, wait until Spring when temps stay above 50 at least.

So why is idling bad?

 

[scd603]

I crafted a simple cover for both the engine and trans side. It definitely does help and make my winter drives more enjoyable.

Looks so good, you should start selling kits on eBay

 

[UnhandledException]

So why is idling bad?

Because you are running a cold engine much much MUCH longer. What it will take you idling for 15 minutes in a 30F degree weather will require less than 1-2 minute of driving. The amount of pressure you put on your engine "struggling" in that environment is much longer. The longer crank turns when engine is cold, the worse it is. It also tremendously increases oil consumption, oil dillution. During cold start, ECU will run the engine really rich to warm up the cats. This causes lots of fuel being washed inside the cylinder walls making their way into the oil. By driving the car right away, you reduce the amount of time cats take to warm up hence reducing this fuel dillution. When fuel is mixed with oil, it pretty much destroys the oil (if you do this idling everyday for a few weeks).

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