Oil Temperature before "getting it on"?

Owners manual
Page 3-6

Do not run the engine at speed rates over 4,000 rpm until oil temperature has reached at least 150~160F (65~70C)

In cooler weather it takes a while to get there, 15 -20 minutes or more....

 

I always warm things up before getting it on! Unless we're talking about a "quickie", of course.

 

drive your car, relax and enjoy it...it will not explode even if you exceed 4000 rpm running on cold oil....

 

In general I don't go above 4000 RPM until the oil has moved towards the first mark on the oil temp. Its a pain waiting for so long.. but I can understand how high viscosity would be bad for moving parts... its written that way for a reason in the manual.

 

Me.. I start the car and wait for the coolant gauge to move off to the first hash and then I am off.. Take it easy the first 3 - 4 miles to get things moving and then off you go.. The reason Ferrari is so specific is so they can shove it up your ass when an engine fails. If Ferrari wrote to hop scotch before entering the vehicle you know how many owners would actually do it.. The results would surprise you.. Get her warm but dont obsess over it..

R

 

My take: if aircraft need the oil to be warm before takeoff stress, so will my 360's motor before I takeoff..

 

The reason the oil takes so long to warm up is because there is so much of it. Have to get all 12qts or so through the engine to get it warm. The water temp is not a great indicator of things for this reason. Initially I used to look at the water temp gauge because that is what I am used to looking at in other cars to see if the engine is warm. But now I watch the oil temp and wait for it to tick up before driving hard.

 

I baby mine too! I wait until it's obviously warm before dropping the hammer. My dropping the hammer is generally just a nice roll on anyway and probably much moire tame than some of you guys. Mine seems to warm up a lot faster if I am cruising below 4K in residential neighborhoods than warming up on the freeway. The cooling system works very well!! I can drive in 3rd or 4th at 25-45 mph and the oil is up to temp in about 5 miles of driving or I can cruise on the freeway in 6th at 65 mph and it takes me about 10 miles to get the temp up.

 

Yeah the 10 miles on the freeway to warm up scenario is generally in the morning when the temps are about 70 deg F. I too am trying to warm up longer in garage before taking off.

 

This is not correct - as a kid, I spun a rod bearing as a result. It did not explode however -it 'just' siezed.

Thankfully it was a toyota and not a F-car.

Dont' do it! Ever!

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

Come on guys...you gotta do a little foreplay before the main event! I bite my shift hand until warm and then start to play...

 

I've been thinking about your question. Apparently you already know what Ferrari says; i.e. don't exceed 4000 rpm until the oil temp is 65-70 degrees.

Are you just curious about how many people violate that recommendation or are you looking for anecdotal evidence that you can use to justify ignoring the warning yourself?

One must remember that this is the Internet and sure enough it only took a few responses to find someone who basically says, "Go for it. Ignore these silly restrictions", with the implication that he knows more about the 360 engine than does Ferrari and/or Ferrari put the recommendation in the owners manual because they get a kick out of making their customers jump through unnecessary hoops. That may be true, but I doubt it.

I think most of us who understand how engines work, especially dry sump engines with lots of oil, tend to take it easy when the oil is cold with or without a specific warning from Ferrari. And yes, it's a bit of a PITA to wait so long. But you are unlikely to find me ignoring this recommendation based on a response to your question, especially when it comes from some guy I've never heard of and who's qualifications are unknown to me except that he obviously has internet access.

Nobody likes waiting for the oil to warm up which is why plenty of people racing with high performance engines drain the oil, heat it up, and put it back in hot just before starting the engine, especially when warm-up time is not available. Some even also pressurize the oil system before turning the engine over. I'm guessing they don't do this just for fun.

Suit yourself, but I'm going to continue to warm the oil by driving conservatively before thrashing my engine just like I have done since I bought my first car with a dry sump engine 46 years ago.

 

... and what car is that may I ask?

 

1968 Porsche 911. Why do you ask?

 

You seem to be well-educated and very opinionated about cars in general. Specifically any disregards to the Ferrari moniker causes you to attack other people's opinions that differs from yours. I was curious whether this is due to you living in Italy and has a high regards to Italian automakers or otherwise. It's nice to know that you used to own a Porsche. So have I.

 

Well, I've been around for a long time and although I have never made my living as an auto mechanic, I have done a lot of work on cars, I've done a bit of non-professional racing, and quite a bit of design engineering and fabrication over the years. My educational background was as an engineer in the field of aerodynamics. It should come as no surprise to anyone that with time, experience, and a certain amount of education people (including me) develop opinions relating to various aspects of any field which interests them. Cars, for me, are no exception. No shame in that, at least in my opinion

It also should come as no surprise that some Ferrari owners visiting this forum are folks who own a high performance vehicle for the first time and their background and experience are both pretty lean when it comes to understanding mechanical things. No shame in that either.

Sometimes when they ask for opinions or pose questions, they get great information especially on this forum where plenty of well informed and sharp people hang out. Other times, keeping in mind that this is the Internet where anyone can say anything, the advice they get isn't so great.

Contrary to your claim, I don't have a high regard for Italian manufacturers. In fact, just the opposite is true. Italians don't so such a good job with mechanical things, but Italians know more about passion than anybody else. A Ferrari, minus the passion comes in a distant second to Porsche, for example. But considering the passion associated with Ferrari, (to invert a line from Risky Business) "there is no substitute". My Ducati is not a great motorcycle either until you consider the passion, and then it's wonderful.

Furthermore, I have no particular faith in what Ferrari says about their cars or the procedures used to maintain them. Both the workshop manual and the owners manual, for my car at least, has plenty of errors. However, more often than not the advice they put forth is sound and unless someone can make a good argument otherwise, I tend to go with what the manufacture says. Having said that, I'm not wedded to the Ferrari way and I occasionally take views contrary to what Ferrari (or any other company) says but only when it seems to make sense.

On occasions when I see someone on this forum, especially those with limited experience, being steered in the wrong direction, I'll chime in with my views. I nearly always try to include a logical explanation and some sound reasoning in my posts. And just like anyone else who posts here, the OP can choose to consider my opinion and the opinions of others in any way he/she likes. You can call that an attack if you wish. After all, this is the Internet.

 

Alan,

You're thinking about two different things....driving immediately vs idling compared to driving immediately vs driving over 4k rpms

On any vehicle, I don't go over 4k rpms until my coolant/oil temps are at the proper temps...unless there is an emergency....

 

Way back in the day of carburetors and manual chokes some cars would hardly run when cold and had to be warmed up when it was really cold before they could be effectively driven. Unfortunately, running in this rich condition washed oil off the cylinder walls and fouled the plugs; not good.

Now, with fuel injection controlled by smart ECUs, you really need only let the engine idle after starting long enough to fasten your seat belt. Gentle driving for the first little while until the engine gets fully warm is always a good idea, especially with a Ferrari as we've already discussed.

Extended idle simply wastes fuel and if done inside a garage can be hazardous to your health. If it doesn't kill you, some folks think breathing the fumes can lower your IQ. Who knows, extended idling might make someone go nuts and trade their Ferrari on a Corvette.

 

LOL!!!

 

Well said! I try to do the same.

 

I might have to disagree ...

I fire up the Ferrari and let it idle while I run the dust brush over it before I take it out, and I have never thought of going back to a corvette