I was just wondering how much time you guys give to your babe before you tear up the tarmac. Last night, here in LA it was actually kind of cold, and while talking to my friends in the parking lot, I let the car idol and warm for a while. When I drove it, it was A LOT faster than it usually was cold. I usually give mine about 30 seconds in the morning that's it. But now I'm thinking I should give it a little more time.<p>Albert 1.8TQ

The manual for my 2.8 30vqst states that the car should be warmed up in drive with the engine under little strain until the oil comes up past 140. It specifically says not to let idle in park or neutral for any length of time. I start mine up and drive it easy for the first few miles and then start pushing it after the engine has had a chance to reach a uniform temperature.

Idling the car is not a good way to warm it up. Drive the first few miles gently or moderately until you see the temp guage rise to normal operating temps. Then, have fun!<p>I believe that you get better oil flow from the engine under load than you do when it is idling.<br>

(nt)

<br>You have plenty of lubrication unless you start the car with your foot on the gas. Someone once told me that if you heat up the pistons before the block you can get an interference(not Audi). I have never really believed that, you would have to really pound on a stone cold motor.<p>Todd W

Idling is relatively hard on your engine. This past steamin' hot summer in texas, I had the opportunity to sit in traffic on occasion and each time, I noted the engine temperature start to rise after a relatively short period, I'm guessing because there was no cool air source to remove heat from the radiator. Also, oil pressure is lower at idle than at higher revs, at least in cars I've driven that have oil pressure guages.<p>I don't let any of my beasts idle. Start up & drive slowly for a while, keeping revs below 3 - 3.5K until the oil or engine temperature gets into the normal range (I wait until the oil temp is at least 175 in my A4). After that - time for grins!<p>Darryl<br>98.5 1.8Tqms

The other reason for not letting it sit to warm up is that most of the rest of the car is not warming up (wheel bearings, CV joints etc). I ease mine around until I'm getting heat, that way on the cold mornings I end up waiting a little longer than when it's warmer. Also if I don't need heat there is a fair chance the car doesn't either. Have fun.