Cold mornings & oil temp

[Lima]

On Monday morning the oil temp before starting the car was 2°C, but this is the best photographic evidence I have to date, which was taken this morning...



It was only -1°C today, according to my car's ambient temp display, so we'll probably get some cooler starts to the day before spring comes.

I stopped about half way to work this morning to take some photos. I had driven about 7km and the car was parked for about 5-10mins. Before restarting the oil temp was still only in the mid 60s.

[random]

how bad is it for the car??? i usually just jump in and start driving... but i do try not to step on it until the temp reaches 100.

[HotColdBeer]

its fine... just don't drive hard until it warms up to Op temp

[Lima]

its fine... just don't drive hard until it warms up to Op temp

That's right.

You have to remember that while the S3 and Golf R have been detuned for our supposed hot climate, these same cars are designed to work in much cooler temps than we get in Australia. Just be sensible and don't even think about pushing the car until the oil temp has reached 70°C or thereabouts. You can use the coolant temp as a general guide, but really you need to allow around 10 mins of moderate driving before you can expect oil temps to be approaching their ideal range. Normal operating temps are in the high 80s through to around 110°C if you begin push a bit harder. At a track day the oil temp will be pushed further still.

[G-rig]

Sounds freezing down there already!

I try not to drive over 3000RPM till both the water and oil temps are to their normal temps.

The MK6 displays oil temp on the MFD now, buy doesn't display anything until it's over ~50 deg. Once it's about 80 I go for it.

The dsg takes a bit longer to get warm until its very crisp.

[Androo]

Cold starts don't really matter, just make sure you have coolant and the oil is thin when cold so it can lubricate the engine. 0w or 5w should be right.

[S&H]

Sounds freezing down there already!

I try not to drive over 3000RPM till both the water and oil temps are to their normal temps.

The MK6 displays oil temp on the MFD now, buy doesn't display anything until it's over ~50 deg. Once it's about 80 I go for it.

The dsg takes a bit longer to get warm until its very crisp.

3 deg C this morning for Sydney. The snowflake warning symbol on the MFD lit up when ambient temp reached 4 Deg C.

[dainese]

That's right.

You have to remember that while the S3 and Golf R have been detuned for our supposed hot climate, these same cars are designed to work in much cooler temps than we get in Australia. Just be sensible and don't even think about pushing the car until the oil temp has reached 70°C or thereabouts. You can use the coolant temp as a general guide, but really you need to allow around 10 mins of moderate driving before you can expect oil temps to be approaching their ideal range. Normal operating temps are in the high 80s through to around 110°C if you begin push a bit harder. At a track day the oil temp will be pushed further still.

What a beautiful cluster... that will never date...

True. Oil temp always takes longer to warm. You are looking at at least 10 mins.

The gauges in most cars only indicate coolant temp.
This is designed to heat up as soon as possible to get exhaust catalytic converter up to temperature (they only work when up to optimal temp).
The coolant temp is accelerated with a thermostat. The engine oil has no such system, the only systems is cooling and maintaining temps with radiators, and dissipation.

running short trips for the car is NOT good. the extent of the 'damage', i don't know.
It can cause oil to hold moisture, and there is a term for it (forgot it)
The car will also be running under the harsher of intended conditions for its prescribed time.

[dopey]

Yeah I've noticed mine seems to peak at about 60-65 on the 15-20min drive home after sitting outside in 1-3 degree weather when I'm on night shift. Sure does take a long time to warm up, even if I let it idle a bit before driving off. Maybe I need to give it just a little more stick when it's above 50 to get it to warm up faster.. as much as I'd love to let it idle and warm up for longer before setting off, I gotta get home before peak hour traffic at that time of the day.

[dainese]

don't give it stick! not when its cold, you can only let it warm as much as you can... oi wouldn't let it rule my life. peak hour traffic in sydney? pfft...