Hi,
I have 20 years old Opel Astra G, with 5 gear manual transmission, (1.4 16v gas, 90 HP,58.000 miles). I live on top of a small hill, when I go downhill I put it into 2nd gear and I'd use only the engine break for 2 miles. The engine usually goes up to 3.250 RPM and stays there for the first 2 miles after a cold start.
Can I do this to warm up my engine or is this a bad habit? (Also the 2nd gear suitst perfectly the situation because of the 25 mph speed limit)
Best Regards,
Barnabas
Very bad habit.
Thank you for your answer. Why tho'? Too high RPM? What should be the max RPM for the cold engine?
Cold engines should warm up at about 1600rpm and be driven lightly, without loading it for the first few miles when cold. A cold engine wears the most on a cold start and you jamming it to 3200 rpm will eventually blow up your engine.
Thank you for the answer!
A tiny engine like that should warm up very quickly
Thank you for the answer!
Warm it up while stationary, while you fiddle with the radios, phone, seatbelt, etc before you drive off.
Thank you for the answer!
Normally the warming of an engine occurs by the combustion of fuel with a small percent of heat resulting from friction. In the scenario you describe, the primary heating is a result of friction, not combustion. As @Doc stated, "A very bad idea."
Thank you for the answer!