I might have to start daily driving my FD. (btw, anyone want to buy a 99 mazda protege es? )

I only live like a half mile from work. Less actually.

On the few days I've driven it to work, the car is barely warmed up by the time I get there. This is on top of letting it idle for 1-2 minutes at start up.

I'm assuming this is bad for the car. But I'd like to know how bad... and specifically why its bad.

Anyone?

 

i dont think its that bad as long as you dont try and race anyone, when it is cold you shouldnt get any boost even if you try to so i dont think it is bad for it at all, as long as you let it run for a couple of min.

 

just leave it running and ill hop in and fully warm it up for you you could also just leave extra early for work and have yourself some spirited driving. you are in texas, cops seem to not care as much compared to being in CA.
kris

 

I say just walk to work if it's that close...either that or ride your bike

But on a serious note I have heard that short rides aren't that great for the rotary but how bad really beats me...

 

If you are only half a mile away, I'd suggest walking or biking -- at least during good weather days. Not only will it save wear-and-tear on your car but you will be able to fit in your car easier.

If you are never fully warming the car up, I'd imagine you are going to get more carbon build-up than usual.

 

Thats kind of what I thought.

Yea I thought about getting a bike. The pedal kind. I'm just kind of lazy

 

Why waste all that gas? If I drive my FD to work I seem to always take the long way...

 

I drive to and from work everyday. Doesn't seem to be bother the car much. I do let it warm up to operating temp b4 driving though.
I would buy a bike and ride it to work, but I can't ride a bike through a tunnel.
I am going to take the bus/subway to work when it snows.

 

So leme ask you something...do you guys let your car warm up to operating temp before you actually start driving?

I usually just let it sit for about a minute, then I never go into boost until it has reached operating temps...

 

Yea that is what I do...

I guess I could go out before I leave, start it up, let it warm up, and eat breakfast or something =)

It seems to take too long to warm up completely to 180ish to let it just sit there. It'd take longer to warm up than it would to drive it to work!

BAH! hahaha

 

i usually warm her till she gets to about 150F....i use to be really **** about warming up and would not move till she was at 180F.

 

you are in austin, take the dillo. That what I use to take (its free). Man, I miss austin.

 

Just take a longer route to work say 4-5 HOT laps around the biggest parking lot in the neighborhood

I daily drive mine every where I live over 30 miles from work so the commute is no problem, but if i just have to run to the grocery store, 1/2 block from my house I go the long way around a couple extra blocks just to stretch it out

 

That's funny, i read that and thought it said "take the *****" I was wondering how the hell are you going to warm the 7 up with a *****?

 

i wake up, go out to my car, start it, set the turbo timer for like 10 minutes. then i take the key out and lock the car and arm it. go in, take a shower, get ready for class and when i go out to get in it, she's already warm.

 

hahaha

 

never hurts for you to get some exercise man

 

heh yea, I could start walking, but on rainy days, days I'd rather keep the 7 in its protective shell I'll have to drive it.

 

well, I have 75k on my original engine and turbos and daily I drive the car to school, picking up someone on the way, let the car sit for 3 hours, get back in come home for lunch for 45 min, start her up again, go back to school, then leave school 2 hours later

the car reaches full warm up on each trip, and if it gets hot enough on any of them, before I turn the engine off I drive with the hood popped for about 5 min each time and with the temp being around 40 degree's outside right now, it cools the engine down pretty quickly. Then I leave the hood open till it is fully cooled down. the car see's boost sometimes during the day, after its warmed up all the way, but it usually doesnt see floor and heavy driving till the weekend when I drive it somewhere on a farther distance.

My car has had 0 problems other then me replacing the vacuum lines which of course is typical. my engine burns no coolant, but there is an oil line leaking somewhere, because I do have some oil leaking around the turbo's, and im almost positive its not coming from the turbo's because its not in an area that would leak, and it seems to be leaking down from the y pipe coupling. Or my turbos might just be starting to go. Regardless, I get perfect boost, engine runs great, and ive driven my car daily for the past 10k miles.

Who says a fd cant be a daily driver? not me

then again I am 17, and I do know these cars like the back of my hand aside from tuneing. I do change the oil every 1500-2000k miles adding a quart every so often, and I do have the vacuum line job, downpipe, intake, boost gauge, and lowering springs that I put in by myself. and every time I turn off the car if its hot enough, the hood is popped and the heat is leaking out hoodless

Who knows! maybe Im just lucky hahah

Steve

 

before I get flamed for being 17 and driving a high powered rear wheel drive car , I encourage you to prove to me that I drive like a typical teenager, and I dont know how to take care of my car? I know alot of 25+ year olds on here that dont know anything about the car they drive, and get ripped off left and right taking there car to get it done for them. I might not be making an insane amount of money right now, but im paying for my own car, and im saving my money constantly just for this car. I do love it like its my own son hahah. Its somthing I like to do , and if that means I have to spend alot of money on it ( which I havent yet) then so be it!

Stevo

 

and now for somereaosn I feel like Im an idiot for posting all of that. WOOHOOO!!!!

 

THE DILLO short for armadillo is Austin's public transportation.

 

I daily drive my FD on short trips and have averaged over 20K miles the past two years. The original motor finally blew an apex seal at 98K; only about 8K on the new motor since May.

I typically drive it as soon as it's started but never boost it unless the motor is warmed.

When racing I always warm the motor; I never run the car hard without the motor and fluids warmed. I couldn't believe how many people go to Dyno Day and start the car, roll onto the dyno and 2 minutes later are turning 8000 rpm on an engine practically stone cold.

 

bike or rollerblade to work bud, you can even walk it.

 

I suggest getting a beater/daily drive; why you might ask? Well heres the thing, the amount of gas you would save with a crappy car with good millage should cost you just about the same amount as the beater car but in the end, your beater car will take the dents and scratches that come with driving in traffic and parking in crappy parking lots while you get to keep your FD nice and shiny. Thats what I would do if I were you.

Good luck