Ferrari Mailing List: 308 (or any) drive-off procedure

[Rick (rolindsay]

Clyde wrote,

> When I had a 308 I would let it idle for 1 min. I would not push it until the

> oil temp came off the bottom peg, around 140 degrees if I remember

> correctly. I put over 110K on that engine. No issues 

That's about the same procedure I have used for decades; Start the car, let it stabalize for up to a minute, then drive off mildly until warm. Ages ago, a motorhead told me that letting a car 'warm up' sitting stationary only warms the engine, leaving all the other bits stone cold. Better to drive off gently and warm everything together.

With my 308GTB, I do exactly the same as Clyde reported. Specifically, until the oil temp lifts off of the peg I stay below 4000 rpm and don't pull hard (or bog down) in any gear. After that oil temp gauge moves - which takes quite a while in a dry sump car - I drive any way I please.

Just sharing. YMMV. Keep in mind that the bulk of my experience before buying the 308, was with old British sports cars. Tolerances there are looser than with F-car engines, and being iron, warmup is slower.

-rick

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