i just got my rx-7 and i asked around about how long i should let the car idle after i turn it on and before i turn it off

can someone give me an estimate of how long i should do this? And what would happen if i didnt do it correctly?

 

are you talking about proper warmup/cool down?

for warm up i let it idle for about 30secs to maybe a minute, maybe 2 at most...then i drive it cautiously, not boosting, staying below 3 or 4k rpm. once the water temp reaches about 83 C I drive it normal.

for cool down depends on how hard you were driving it before. if i'm just cruising around then i generally let it idle for 30 seconds before turning it off. if i'm driving harder then i might let it idle up to 2 minutes. but in general i don't like to let it idle too long...instead i try to cruise for a bit after a hard drive before i pull into the parking.

 

I agree. That seems to be the general opinion. I usually stay off boost until my stock coolant temp gauge is in the middle where it normally is. Idleing for 30 sec to 1 min if just cruising, but i usually take it easy the last few minutes before my destination anyway. When in doubt, give it another minute, you can't really be too cautious, so best to be safe.

 

Just to let you know, the stock gauge reaches the "normal" middle position at about 130F. Way too cold to be getting on it. I wouldn't really get on the car hard until I've been driving (not idling) for at least 10 minutes or more.

 

lots of feedback, thanks fellas

 

rynberg, is very correct the Power FC reading for water tenp is the proof . The time between when the stock gage is centered and the PFC reads running temp is supprising

 

Duboisr: No kidding. With my Defi water temp gauge sensor mounted in the thermostat housing, the stock gauge will go to the middle at about 130F and not budge a single degree until at least 220F. It probably stays there even above that, but that is as hot as I was willing to let it go.....

 

If the stock gage goes higher than center it is to late and it is all over but the rebuild, and the porting , polishing and cleaning. paying for new bigger turbos and bigger innercooler , new pipes and exhast system and fuel systom and wider tires plus rewiring and and and and, see what you did just because you did not get a turbo timer .

 

where is a good place to buy turbo timers? and where can i see some on the net?