Warming your engine?
Whats the best way to get the engine up to temperature?
I went flying with another group member last weekend and he was careful to ensure that the oil temperature was starting to creep into the bottom of the green before taking off.
Normally, I just do power checks and then leap into the wide blue yonder, but it got me thinking.
I have a book that states 'a cold engine will deliver only deliver 90% of its rated power' which means that on take off, I've only got 90% of my horses working for me, when I really coudld do with all of them.
So what is the best way to warm the engine, do you sit gently at idle and run the risk of the plugs foulling or rev the nuts of it at 2000rpm and risk increasing the wear rate due to lack of lubrication from thick oil.
The best way to warm a car engine is to drive it, as normal urban driving involves varying the revs until the engine has reached operating temperature.
Suggestions please.