Autocross Question

[NickCats]

Ok, I have a stupid question. I am attending my second autocross this Saturday and I was wondering if it is bad for the car to run it in the high rev limits when the car is cold ?

For regular day to day driving, I make sure the temp is in the 180 range before I wind out the gears. In an autocross, since the car sits for awhile and cools down, then when it is time for your run you are basically pushing high RPM’s in 1st and 2nd for about a minute or so, is this bad for the engine ?

Thanks,

Nick

[Perfectlap]

good question!
I don't think I ever really looked at the temp during an autox, or maybe I did and it never registered. usually i turn off the engine while waiting on the qeue.
Sometimes during the autox I will leave the 'paddock' and take a drive around the venue to warm up the tires a bit. I doubt it makes a huge difference but since they were R comps I figured maybe....

In the morning I always short shift when first starting up the car but its usually up to temp in no time.


but revving any engine that's cold is not good in the long run.

[FrayAdjacent]

It is definitely better to run the engine at temperature, especially if you're pushing it hard. The engine oil viscosity changes as temperature increases - it flows better. You need good oil flow when you're pushing it.


I can't say it will really HURT the car if it's not warmed up, but I will say it's better to have it warmed up before pushing it hard.

[ChrisZang]

same here:
I made it an habit of mine to start the car and let it idle before the driver's meeting (you never know if your run group goes first). And between runs I let the engine idle.
Don't ask about the average gas mileage I get out of an Auto-X

[986 Girl]

Originally Posted by ChrisZang

same here:
I made it an habit of mine to start the car and let it idle before the driver's meeting (you never know if your run group goes first). And between runs I let the engine idle.
Don't ask about the average gas mileage I get out of an Auto-X

At one event I remember driving an hour out to... got 31 mpg on the way there...

... and then a whopping 9 mpg while participating. Hehehe.

[Rodger]

Nine MPG?! Pshh.....I got 5.9 at my last one! Nice fast course....

I always warm mine up and sustain the revs around 3000 to really get things flowing prior to pulling up to the start.