SteveIndeed
Well Known Member
One simple principle has already been stated umpteen times above: be gentle when it's cold. But there's another chapter to that tale. Water warms up faster than oil. So even though the needle on the water temperature gauge may be sitting pretty at 90 degrees centigrade two minutes after you set off, that doesn't mean your oil is as warm. Once that needle hits the normal range, it's a good idea to take it easy for another two or three minutes before using your big toe liberally. There is also absolutely no need to let the motor idle before moving off after it's been standing overnight but simply be gentle.
As has also been repeated above, if the motor's been spinning at high RPM either because of traffic-light GPs or sustained high-speed freeway driving, it's good practice to gently drive the car home for at least three kilometres. If driving those three kilometres isn't an option, i.e. you've just arrived at the Harrismith/Colesberg Ultra City on the N3/N1 after a long stint of 120km/h+, let the motor idle while parked for about two minutes before switching it off.
It's the golden rule of car ownership: have mechanical sympathy.
As has also been repeated above, if the motor's been spinning at high RPM either because of traffic-light GPs or sustained high-speed freeway driving, it's good practice to gently drive the car home for at least three kilometres. If driving those three kilometres isn't an option, i.e. you've just arrived at the Harrismith/Colesberg Ultra City on the N3/N1 after a long stint of 120km/h+, let the motor idle while parked for about two minutes before switching it off.
It's the golden rule of car ownership: have mechanical sympathy.