Short Trips - Extra Care?

[Jesterarts]

Hey everyone,

I have a 2005 R8 with a 23*/23* cam.

Just need some advice about anything special I will need to do driving short distances.

At the moment, every morning I drive 17km to work and 17km back. So the engine has plenty of time to warm up, etc.

But, in about 2 months I am moving and I will only be driving aboiut 4km in the morning and 4km in the afternoon.

Just want to know if there is anything I should do to ensure I am not wearing the engine prematurely?

I already use Castrol Edge 10-50W and I usually baby the car in the mornings, but what else would I/should I do?

Also, of topic questions, I have the centre binnacle guages. Now my oil presure guage sits between the the 1st and 2nd lines. So just under half when I am cruising.

Now, my mate has a 2005 Monaro and his guages sits pretty much bank on half way when he is cruising.

Thoughts?

[CLUBRED]

I don't have an answer for you but I do 3.6km trips every morning and the temp needle barely moves so I find myself either startnig the car then going back inside to pack the kids bags etc and going the long way around so the car is running on full operating temp for at least a little while. It's just what I do, haven't actually asked anyone this Q myself so I'm also keen on how this pans out.

[feistl]

Ever considered buying a daily driver? Apart from the extra wear it seems wrong leaving a nice R8 at a train station every day. The marks and scratches that will build up over time will really devalue the car.

A cheap run about can be purchased for like $3k, then will cost about $1000 a year in rego/3rd party insurance. Considering the fuel savings and wear and tear issues it will prevent the R8 going through, it might be worth considering.

The other option would be to walk/ride to the station, how far is it "as the crow flies"?

Cheers

[swingtan]

17KM, is not "plenty" of time to warm up. It's more "just" enough time to warm up, depending on the traffic. Your car will take at least 5min before the temp gauge reads normal running temp for the coolant, but the engine oil, trans and diff are all running cooler than the ECT at this point. It can take a good 20min in a Melbourne winter before the engine oil reaches it's optimal working temperature.

On short trips, the worst problem you get is engine oil contamination. Condensation from hot blowby gasses meeting the cold oil adds water and acids to the oil. Also, the overly rich conditions used to make the cold engine idle well when cold dilute the oil with solvents reducing its lubrication properties. Unless you get the oil right up to temperature, the water and fuel components keep adding up and destroy the oil prematurely. The hot oil will make the contaminants evaporate off, making the oil last longer.

So what you would want to do, even at 17KM trips is endure you did a really good trip ever week to get everything up to temp and have it there for some time. Don't forget to use the Aircon for a bit to lubricate the seals.

The other issue is battery charge. Starting the car consumes significant power from the battery and a 4km drive may not be sufficiant to replenish that charge. Over the course of a week, you may find the battery going flat and longer term, you may find that the life of the battery is reduced. Again, a decent trip will fix this, or you can hook the car up to a trickle charger each night to top up the battery.

Simon.

[73.RSR]

My wife and I work 3.3km from home (her new car that we bought at the beginning of June only has 420km on the clock).
I let my car warm up for at least 5 minutes before driving off, means shitty fuel consumption but worth it in the long run.

At least once a fortnight I will take my car down some back roads and blow the cobwebs out.

Before moving to this house I was doing 265km per day :bawl:

[gavlotic]

To the OP,

Might be better with a push bike if only going 4km :).

My current commute isn't far off 20km one way. Morning's I let it warm up bout 5mins b4 heading out.

cheers,

Gav

[steve_t]

I'm 3.6km work to home and being a fat lazy bastard, I've started running to work on some days and riding my mountain bike on others.

Gav, you're better off heading out straight away and taking it easy than letting it idle for 5 mins before you head out

[QldKev]

I've got the same issue <2km to work. But I need a car on hand in case I need to go out. I swap cars with the wife, but even her work it is still under 5km. Also sometimes on the weekend my car may not get used. I always try and go for a decent drive after work at least once a week to give it a good run. Don't foget with oil changes if you don't clock up the k's you still need to do them. Been doing this for the past nearly 3 years with no issues. I don't like to leave modern engine idling in the morning.

QldKev

[Jesterarts]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

Getting a daily is not an option, I got the R8 to drive is I'm not going to get another car and have it sitting in the garage.

Riding a bike is not really an option either. On account of the fact I catch the train in and out of the city and a bike on a peakhour train is pretty much the best way to be the most hated person on a train real quick.

Plus this is Melbourne, I'll ride with nothing but sun in the morning and the ride home will be in torrential rain. lol.

So far from what I read:

- Need to make sure I change the oil more often
- Go for a drive on the weekends.

[blair_355]

Is driving to a different train station an option? Something a bit further away.

[Jesterarts]

Is driving to a different train station an option? Something a bit further away.

Not really unfortunately. The issue being that the particular stations I choose to park at are the best on the line.

Any further and they become "unfavorable" in terms of car security and going even further would not me cost effective.

[Wonky]

As Simon said in post #4, even your current 17km trip is probably having your car running at full operating temps for only the last few km - see http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=1928135&#post1928135

It certainly won't be enough to burn off the crap that can start building up in the oil - only a good run will do that.

[NIXON]

I work about 2ks from home and drive everyday, but mine is just a bunky vzss haha. Not a nice r8, i would definatly think about a daily if i was you.

[black_friday]

I sold my VU SS 18 months ago as i wasnt using it and bought a daily. Worst. Move. Ever. The bloody piece of junk cost me an arm and a leg to keep on the road and i eventually had to sell it at a big loss after the head failed...Now I have a shiny VY SS

[Jesterarts]

I sold my VU SS 18 months ago as i wasnt using it and bought a daily. Worst. Move. Ever. The bloody piece of junk cost me an arm and a leg to keep on the road and i eventually had to sell it at a big loss after the head failed...Now I have a shiny VY SS

Yep, exactly. El'chepo daily's end up expensive.

Plus, instead of making my 4km journey in comfort and style, I will be making it in a POS... this doesn't work for me.

Wonky,

Very interesting read in that thread you posted. Looks like I will need to go for a nice long drive every weekend and give it the beans a few times on hat drive. :)

Next time I floor it and the missus goes "Is that necessary?" I will be able to say I have to do it because it's good for the car. :p