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Old 05-08-2021, 10:02 AM   #1
ericr
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Default Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

-or is your car so adjusted somehow that at least in warm weather, she fires up and away you go.

when the carburetor jet measurement concept arose, it was claimed that original jets admitted more fuel since the of that era was of lower quality than today's gas, and jets needed downsizing. could that be a factor?

another example of my befuddlement in that no one is around who drove he cars when new to render relevant advice on operational matters.
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Old 05-08-2021, 10:19 AM   #2
alexiskai
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

What happens if you don’t let it warm up?
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Old 05-08-2021, 10:28 AM   #3
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Start it and go. You can’t hurt that engine.
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Old 05-08-2021, 10:33 AM   #4
Patrick L.
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Yep, just start it and let the clutch out.

If its cool then open the GAV a bit accordingly.
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Old 05-08-2021, 10:36 AM   #5
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

An idea of how 'they' thought back then might be hidden in your original Owner's Manual. I'd start there.
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Old 05-08-2021, 12:42 PM   #6
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

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The ethanol in today's gasoline requires a little richer mixture so it just may compensate for the difference in viscosity of today's fuel versus what was available in 1930. In any case you can adjust the mixture with the GAV.

At one time everyone would warm up their car before starting out. The thought was that the rich mixture used for starting would wash the oil off the cylinder walls. I also think it was because of the single grade oils available at the time. The oil had to come up to operating temperature.
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Old 05-08-2021, 01:12 PM   #7
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Why were you concerned. What happened? Wayne
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Old 05-08-2021, 04:10 PM   #8
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

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Why were you concerned. What happened? Wayne
oh no crisis, it just seemed that my car started better when I had the original Zenith in it. after changing over to various "rebuilt" Zeniths I felt it was more time-consuming to get a nice idle...
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Old 05-08-2021, 05:15 PM   #9
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

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oh no crisis, it just seemed that my car started better when I had the original Zenith in it. after changing over to various "rebuilt" Zeniths I felt it was more time-consuming to get a nice idle...
I recently rebuilt my Zenith and am having the same issue. Like you said no
crisis, just a little time consuming.
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Old 05-08-2021, 05:26 PM   #10
Gene F
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

For me, what the others have said about the GAV opening up a bit at first. However, I always like to let it run for a minute to get the oil circulating just a bit. Don't know that it necessary, but I do it. I tend to do that in my modern car too.
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Old 05-08-2021, 05:40 PM   #11
Patrick L.
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Time consuming ? What is time consuming and why ? What is the symptom ?
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Old 05-08-2021, 05:48 PM   #12
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

I ALWAYS let it warm up. If it's not warm, it runs like a pig - no pull, no revs. It's also harder on the engine. A warm engine has been proven to have less wear than a cold one. That's why Taxis get such enormous mileages out of an engine.
IMO, It takes nothing extra but a bit of forethought. I start it before I open the garage door or lock the house etc or do any of the other things before leaving the house.
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Old 05-08-2021, 10:44 PM   #13
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

I let mine warm up for a minute or so but that's about it. Mine seems to run just as good after a minute or restarting it when already warm. I do not see much of a difference.
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Old 05-09-2021, 12:09 AM   #14
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

As already mentioned open the GAV another 1/2 to 1 turn open when you start cold.
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Old 05-09-2021, 03:35 AM   #15
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

I start my 30 CCPU with the GAV opened a turn or two . It fires up easily with an instant choke pull /release . I am very retired 82 in a months time so in no rush life just gliding by . I let the engine warm to running happily on with the Gav just cracked this only takes a minute or so then off I go with no stumbles .

John in sunny/cloudy morning Somerset County England .
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Old 05-09-2021, 08:51 AM   #16
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Warming up an internal combustion engine is much the same now as it was in the model A era. Valve in block engines warm up a bit faster than OHV engines and the older engines had no coolant temperature control but they still warm up to operating temperature within 20 minutes or so if everything is operating normally.

Operate the vehicle easy for the first part of the warm up period and then you can start pulling away from stops a bit quicker and pushing it harder.
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Old 05-09-2021, 09:24 AM   #17
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

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Time consuming ? What is time consuming and why ? What is the symptom ?
well it takes several minutes of warming up and if I push the throttle lever down down to idle too early, the engine dies. I've have lots of difficulty finding the best idle speed accordingly.
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Old 05-09-2021, 10:05 AM   #18
Patrick L.
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Keeping the throttle lever down a bit for a short period is normal as is opening the GAV a 1/2-1 turn or so. Keeping the spark lever retarded a bit helps with warm up.
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Old 05-09-2021, 11:50 AM   #19
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

One note on warm up.. unlike pressurized engines the A needs to fill the valve gallery to lube the main bearings and cam bores...rod bearings get lubed immediately. It takes about 20 seconds or so for the oil pump to fill the valve gallery wells, once full it fill the dipper tray replenishing the rod bearings. I start a cold engine and run it immediately at high idle..at least 1000 rpm, the idea being the faster the pump spins the more it flows, the faster the valve gallery is full insuring total lubrication.

Warming the up the stock engine insures icing doesn't occur, Ford transferred heat from the exhaust manifold to the intake through induction. Icing is an issue with downdraft setups,especially if you use a header.
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Old 05-09-2021, 11:52 AM   #20
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Default Re: Do You Guys Have to Let the Engine Warm Up Before Driving Away?

Let it warm up for at least a couple of minutes .the valve galley has three
different dams in it and have to fill up each before the mains get oil to them. also a good idea to not put your foot on the clutch to put extra pressure on the rear mail, When starting

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