[coolhandshin]

Do you drive away immediately after a cold engine start?

especially for 535 and 550 turbo engines, is there a need for some time for the engine to warm up?

and also, after maybe a long highway drive, do you let the engine to cool down by sitting idle in the parking lot?

I heard that turbo engines need more time to warm and cool down, and allocating time to do that helps with the engine health.

[Jon D]

As per BMW recommendations, you should begin driving immediately starting. However, you should moderate the engine loading and keep the RPM within the lower range until the oil is at its normal operating temperature.
I also allow the engine to idle for 30-60 seconds after a hard thrash before switching off to allow the turbo temperature to stabilise, but if I've just been highway cruising, I tend to progressively slow down for the last mile or two and then shut down normally.
What is really important is to follow the break-in procedure, otherwise you can end up with an oil burning engine. My 535d has 11k miles on the clock and the oil level is still exactly where it was on delivery - on the top notch on the dipstick.

[EdM5]

I'm with Jon D on this one.
I have noticed quite a big difference however when I compare my M3 to the 535d.
The diesel's oil seems to be at operating temperature within a few miles but the (petrol) M3 takes at least 10 miles or 10 minutes to warm up properly. I keep an eye on the oil temp gauge all the time.
In both cars I do not select sport mode (F10) or M-mode (M3) until the oil has warmed up.

[alextremo]

I wait for the idle rpms to drop before driving away (maybe 20 seconds) then I don't go above 3000rpm until I reach the first tick on the oil temp gauge.

I tend not to be on boost within 2 or 3 miles of my house so I just turn her off when I pull into the garage. Also I believe our cars utilize an electric water pump and fan after the engine is turned off to continue to cool if necessary.

[Snapper Chris]

Originally Posted by alextremo

Also I believe our cars utilize an electric water pump and fan after the engine is turned off to continue to cool if necessary.

True - however as the bearings in the turbo will be stationary once the engine is switched off, there is the risk, if the engine / turbo are still very hot, that the now stationary oil surrounding the hot bearings may cook and carbonise. So in the event that the engine and turbo have been running recently at high revs, or under heavy load, then it is still worth letting the oil circulate and cool for a minute or two with the engine running before switching off.

[Robin_NL]

The first 15kms/10 miles or so I keep the revs around 2000/2500 max rpm until the oiltempgauge reaches about 85/90 degrees Celsius.

And after driven it hard, I let the engine/turbo cool down for about 1 minute.

[copello]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

And after driven it hard, I let the engine/turbo cool down for about 1 minute.

I think this is important: cases of borken turbos (on E60) when shut down immediately after being driven hard from what I have been told by dealer. Probably same risk on F10 ?

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by copello

I think this is important: cases of borken turbos (on E60) when shut down immediately after being driven hard from what I have been told by dealer. Probably same risk on F10 ?

I guess so. I've had a few turbo-cars, like a Subaru GTT, Audi S3, some turbodiesels and a N54 335i. I always cooled the turbos like that after driving them hard. Never had any problems with those engines.

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

{snip}
In both cars I do not select sport mode (F10) or M-mode (M3) until the oil has warmed up.

Interesting -- I follow the same protocol on my M3 -- normal mode until the oil has warmed up, based on getting a reading on the oil level + the variable redline up to the normal spot.

(For those who might not know, the redline on the M3 starts out at about 6500 RPMs if the car is very cold and adjusts gradually to its 8400 RPM normal level.)

I did the same with my E39 M5 based on the adjustable redline.

With the turbos, I wish that bit of technology would trickle down to the non-M cars.

My first turbo wes a 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo (no intercooling, no cooling after the car is shut down), and my situation was like Alextremo -- the closest highway is about 6 miles away, so after any high-speed run, the time on the local roads provides for cool-down. And let's face it, for those of us in the US, any high-speed driving is going to be under 100 MPH, so we're not really stressing the engine/cooling system all that much anyway. Sigh. (I think the Euro Delivery has spoiled me.)

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by MBrown1003

My first turbo wes a 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo

And I used to think that Lt. Columbo was the only American ever to drive a Peugeot!

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

The diesel's oil seems to be at operating temperature within a few miles but the (petrol) M3 takes at least 10 miles or 10 minutes to warm up properly.

Probably due to compression ratio difference; I don't know what the actual figures are, but I suspect that the diesel is significantly higher than the petrol unit, thereby generating more heat.

[HighlandPete]

I'm a bit surprised by a diesel warming up faster than a petrol. Goes against the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine and less heat waste/loss. I know diesel's we use, take about 16 miles to get oil temperature up to normal range in winter time. Much slower than a petrol engine.

Certainly coolant warm up times are virtually double, with a diesel. I wonder if in the examples, the oil cooler is in open circuit on the petrol, and perhaps the work cycle is having some influence.

HighlandPete

[Snapper Chris]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I'm a bit surprised by a diesel warming up faster than a petrol. Goes against the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine and less heat waste/loss. I know diesel's we use, take about 16 miles to get oil temperature up to normal range in winter time. Much slower than a petrol engine.
HighlandPete

You're right Pete - my 535d (e61) took about twice as long to warm up compared with my current 535i (F11).

[Seattle135is]

This is an age old debate on the Porsche Turbo forums - I was advised to idle the engine on my 997 Turbo for about 2 minutes after an 'enthusiastic' drive - my rule of thumb - I don't punch it immediately (first mile or 2) after starting up and I 'go easy' for the last mile or 2...- been doing the same on past 335's and present 335 and 550.

[coolhandshin]

Originally Posted by Seattle335

I was advised to idle the engine on my 997 Turbo for about 2 minutes after an 'enthusiastic' drive - my rule of thumb - I don't punch it immediately (first mile or 2) after starting up and I 'go easy' for the last mile or 2...-

Thanks for all your replies,

I think Seattle335's routine is the one I'm gonna follow, not too time consuming or difficult and also seems to care the engine just about enough so that I am not uncomfortable

[delvek]

Originally Posted by alextremo

I wait for the idle rpms to drop before driving away (maybe 20 seconds) then I don't go above 3000rpm until I reach the first tick on the oil temp gauge.

I tend not to be on boost within 2 or 3 miles of my house so I just turn her off when I pull into the garage. Also I believe our cars utilize an electric water pump and fan after the engine is turned off to continue to cool if necessary.

Exactly what I do.

My first turbo was back in 88' I bought an 83' 280xz turbo and was advised by the owner not to drive off or shut down without allowing its turbos to "cool down" for 2 minutes. It always was irritating to me because I was in a rush usually but I did it, lol.

[HighlandPete]

Just a reminder that EGT is different in petrol vs. diesel. Diesel being much lower and therefore not as critical for run down as the petrol motors.

But still sensible to give a few extra seconds, particularly on start up before driving off, to ensure oil is circulating well.

Costs nothing to have good habits, both on start up and shut down. I have the luxury of living a 1/4 mile down a lane, so suits any engine when cold and hot.

HighlandPete

[listerone]

In warmer weather I drive off,slowly at first,pretty much immediately.In colser weather I let it idle for 30 seconds or so and then drive off...slowly for the first mile or so.

[mtgbkr200]

I wait for the tires to stop smoking, then I drive off! j/k

[Bamsha]

Originally Posted by listerone

In warmer weather I drive off,slowly at first,pretty much immediately.In colser weather I let it idle for 30 seconds or so and then drive off...slowly for the first mile or so.

I think BMW recommends to always drive away right away, since the car will warm up faster that way. But not rev it until normal running temp has been achieved.