to increase mpg what is the normal engine warm up time ?

[andrewparker]

It actually states in the handbook that when starting the vehicle, drive off straight away but do not rev the car above 4k rpm, i think it was, untill OIL is up to temp. Dont go off of the temp gauge in the car as that is water temp.

....I've always said that VW are wrong not to have included an oil temp gauge on the GTI.

You're 100% right, it's daft it doesn't have one as standard.

[bigmig95]

It actually states in the handbook that when starting the vehicle, drive off straight away but do not rev the car above 4k rpm, i think it was, untill OIL is up to temp. Dont go off of the temp gauge in the car as that is water temp.

....I've always said that VW are wrong not to have included an oil temp gauge on the GTI. I think the GT has one.

I don't like the DSG clunk if I engage gear before the revs settle, so I'm going to continue as I have done and drive off after the revs have automatically settled, which only takes a minute.

Agreed.  The engine coolant heats up significantly faster than the engine oil so judging your vehicle is up to temp by a coolant gauge is misleading.  

[RedRobin]

^^^^
The Mk6 GTI doesn't have an oil temp either. I wonder if the Mk7 GTI does, but I ain't holding my breath!

[RedRobin]

.
What are people's views here about the DSG oil 'warm-up'? - In particular respect of experiencing a relatively heavy clunk if engaging gear (reverse) before the revs have automatically settled after ~1 minute.

Thanks 

[bigmig95]

Can't input much into this Robin having a manual.  From what you've written though your approach to letting the cold start revs drop then driving off under light load, low rpm unit the car has warmed sufficiently seems to be the most mechanically sympathetic method.  All things being equal it should give your engine and gearbox a prolonged life, however to quantify by how much is a little tricky to predict 

[Panthera]

.
When my engine (Mk5 GTI K03) first starts up the revs are just over ~1000. I wait for the revs to drop below 1000rpm and for the engine sound to settle before I engage gear. This can take as long as a couple of minutes.

It's kinder to the DSG gearbox and allows fluids to circulate and automatic processes to happen.

I'm not aware of mpg being effected by this at all and wouldn't expect it to be.

Obviously it's also good practice not to use higher revs until at least the temp gauge is centred - Unfortunately the GTI doesn't have an OEM oil temperature gauge.

I am glad I am not the only one who does this - allowing the engine rpm's to settle before moving off. I look at it this way, I don't work well when cold and stiff, but allow me to worm up and I am fine, perhaps being rather tall don't help matters. Anyway back on topic.  In the first few minutes, about 10/15min of careful driving, not going over 2500rpm, do I start giving it more right foot.   As for MPG, it all depends on the outside temperature; is it -15deg or +30deg, also if you have the A/C on or the heater on/heated seats on, carrying excess weight, tyres inflated correctly etc, etc....  all play a part in your MPG.

[Duke]

I think it is better to drive the car (not revving too high right away), as it will warm up quicker than sat there idling with no load on the engine.

[Squeeguk]

Robin, are you sure there is not a fault with your DSG? I start up, engage reverse immediately and have no clunk from my DSG. The only time I have had this was when I engaged Drive without having my foot on the brake, and even then it wasn't bad, just surprising.

[Tortaruga]

So does anyone know how approximately how long I need to drive at low revs before the OIL is up to temperature?? I always knew that using the coolant temperature gauge was not correct, but in the absence of any other information I think a lot of us use it as a guide.

It sounds like people (who are deeply in love with their GTI's  ) should be installing Polar FIS+ which provides an oil temperature reading.

[Tortaruga]

a fault with your DSG?

Ker-ching!! ££££$$$$$€€€€€
Manual conversion??

[RedRobin]

Robin, are you sure there is not a fault with your DSG? I start up, engage reverse immediately and have no clunk from my DSG. The only time I have had this was when I engaged Drive without having my foot on the brake, and even then it wasn't bad, just surprising.

....I'm not 100% sure but fairly sure my DSG box of tricks is ok. My DSG has had more services than the Handbook states as needed and fortunately shows no signs of other problems. However, I leave my car in the garage in 'P' and with the handbrake lever down/off. This is to stop my pads sticking to the discs if the car gets garaged when wet. I don't know if this is a factor or not. I rather think that if this was a DSG problem it would always clunk when engaging reverse.

[mad_pete]

I think careful starting and stopping is all well and good but 20 minutes later we ask the engine to rev to 7,000 and the drive train to sort out 230 BHP ++ I think given it stands that it might not mind too much one way or other if it's idling or mild driving for the first minute. 

I know autos take the oil temp in the gearbox and change the shifting pattern until it's warm.

[RedRobin]

So does anyone know how approximately how long I need to drive at low revs before the OIL is up to temperature?? I always knew that using the coolant temperature gauge was not correct, but in the absence of any other information I think a lot of us use it as a guide.

It sounds like people (who are deeply in love with their GTI's  ) should be installing Polar FIS+ which provides an oil temperature reading.

....I wish I could install a Polar FIS+ but I only have Midline on my GTI and it requires Highline.

I think that in the absence of an oil temp readout, the coolant temp gauge is a reasonable guide to follow and then add a bit more time for good measure - It's better than nothing. Fortunately, where I live obliges a couple of miles of under 30 mph driving anyway, which I do in D-mode, and that naturally takes care of warming up a bit.

I'm not going to be dipping above 4,000 rpm for a few miles anyway.

[Hedge]

If the Mk6 is the same as my Octavia you will find an oil temp gauge available via the MFD.

[RedRobin]

I think careful starting and stopping is all well and good but 20 minutes later we ask the engine to rev to 7,000 and the drive train to sort out 230 BHP ++ I think given it stands that it might not mind too much one way or other if it's idling or mild driving for the first minute.  

I know autos take the oil temp in the gearbox and change the shifting pattern until it's warm.

....Interesting about the shifting pattern being influenced by the DSG oil temp.  

As for revving to 7,000 and using the full bhp after say 20 minutes, I very rarely rev above 5,500-6,000 rpm anyway.