I read somewhere that I should wait 5 minutes to let the car warm up.....5 minutes? I thought it would be a little faster than that....do I actually have to wait that long every time I wanna go somewhere? My car idles high to start out with, then once I start driving it gets to normal, but it stays at a low idle for a while until i start driving, even after like 5 minutes when i tested it one time....but I was wondering if it was cause maybe I wasn't waiting long enough? But 5 minutes seems like quite some time.

 

1 or 2 minutes is fine. Then just drive keeping it under 3500RPM's for the next 10-15 minutes. Then let it loose!

 

5 minutes is a ridiculous amount of time. 30 seconds to a minute is more then sufficient, as long as you go easy on the car until it reaches operating temperature. Lots of people seem to have these extraordinarily long warmup times, thinking that it is somehow necessary or good for their car. In fact, the opposite is true.

 

My car starts up, does the standard rev to 3k, then goes down and idles at like 1500/1700 range, I let it go for a minute or two, then go driving for a bit, then I realize that when I stop at lights, the idle is a normal low idle under 1k....as long as i'm driving under 3500rpms after the few first minutes, should I be fine?

 

Once the car reaches operating temperature (via the temp guage) then you can beat on it. There's just no reason for these long idle-warm up periods.

 

*which* temp gauge aaron? Unless you're talking about an oil temp gauge, which the cars certainly don't have stock, you're wrong, afaik...
I give mine at least a few minutes after reaching full water temp.

 

The water temp guage is fine. Once the water has reached operating temperature, you can bet the oil is more then circulated....

 

if the oil took 10 mins to circulate the engine would be well and truly stuffed
the oil temp and engine temp (thus expansion of bits) is what's important. both oil and engines are designed to operate at a specific temperature. the water temp doesn't tell the full story.

 

Usually have a cigarette while waiting for it to warm up... cigarette = 3min ?

 

I'm with Blowtus. Oil takes longer than water to heat up. I guess it's up to each person as to how long before you really beat on the car. I usually begin slight boosting, and revs up to 4500 as the water temp steadies. Then I give it another 10 mins before I really boost hard and redline it.

 

i have a rebuild engine, new radiator, new water pump, new thermostat, new hoses. my coolant temp alwasy stays below 15% on the coolant temp gauge. is soemthing wrong with it?

 

Wow you guys are lucky. My car won't idle unless I hold it to 2grand for a couple minutes. I just see it as normal maintence.

- Steiner

 

vegeta6263 you did use a Mazda OEM tstat didnt you?

 

yes i did but still its below all the time.. i have no clue also my starter was replaced. it worked fine for 600 miles. but now the car dies everywhere. i mean i tried to start it today and nothing.. i can hear the starter, i punched teh **** out it to see if it would give it te hspark but nothign i still think is the starter... the o rings on my oil filter stand are leaking kinda bad im thinkign all that oil got into teh starter cables and fuckk it up i dont know im pissed very. sorry for bugging in to ur thread man.

 

go to autozone and get your starter checked or try tapping it lightly with a hammer and then try starting it again.