When is an engine actually "warmed up"?<br>I never let my A4 idle for long, but...<br>Should I watch the engine temp gauge or the oil temp? Even when my engine temp comes up, my oil temp gauge still doesn't budge for another couple of minutes..<p>I want to know when it's safe to bring up the revs!!<p>Thanks,<p>Neal<br>98.5 2.8QM<br>casablanca white

It takes longer to boil (heatup) oil then water/coolant, that may explain why the oil temp creeps up ever so slowly. As far as bringing up the revs... I think most of us (with a turbocharger) are more concern with warming up the turbo. Personally, I usually drive under boost (at or below 2000 rpm) for a good 5 minutes before entering the freeway (which just happens to be 8 minutes from my house), or when the oil temp moves past 150 degrees. Your milage may vary.<p>Cris<br>5 degrees C this morning.... *burrr*<br>

Safest to wait till oil temp conmes up - then you know that metal components in contact with oil (rings, pistoons, bearings, etc) are also heated up to normal temp.