Engine warm up time??

Steve195

Member
Jan 15, 2016
314
Richmond, VA
Boat Info
2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tri-toon
Engines
Yamaha 150 Outboard
My friend and slip neighbor both own similar sized SeaRay Bowriders (~20'). Mine's an 2008 Merc with a 5.0L V8 (carb) and his is a 2015 Merc 4.3L V6 (fuel-injected). When I get ready to go, I start my engine and let it warm up for a couple of minutes before backing out of the slip, then stay at no wake speed until I see the temp climb past about 130 and on the way to normal operating temperature.

My friend starts his up, immediately backs it out of the slip, and since our no wake zone is only a few hundred yards, has it up on plane within a couple of minutes of first starting the engine.

I'm just curious how others treat their engines. Obviously I'm babying mine much more than he is and wonder if either behavior really makes any difference in the long term health of our engines.
 
Time spent warming up your engines is the best use of gas I know. If you race out of your slip you can also miss a hundred other issues that could cause real problems. Ensuring engine water pumping, gauges are green, lines arent dragging, depth sounder and gps working, electric lines from dock power and panel switches dealt with and ...the list goes on.

Remembering it all during a deliberate launch can be difficult. Keep doing what your doing. Taking your time will save your boat, and maybe save your life.

I use a checklist. Its the old Navy Pilot in me. Make yourself one and give a copy to your friend. Could be the best gift he gets this season!
 
i start the engine, then take a look in my engine bay if everything sounds and looks good , then leave the dock and stay below 2000 rpm for at least 10 minutes .

gunning a cold engine increases wear since the cold oil does not lubricate perfectly and further the engine heats up abruptly with thermal tensions on the components , so head gaskets and heads may crack after time.

not a good idea in any combustion engine.
 
I'm like you, let run for a couple of min. before I pull away from the dock - even with my little boat I have a routine and a mental checklist. I have about 1/2 mi no wake zone leaving our marina / cove so usually been running and fully warmed up before taking off. In warm summertime weather I don't think it really makes a difference, you wouldn't want to go from a cold engine to WOT immediately. I have just always allowed the engine to reach operating temperature before speeding up. It also allows you to detect any thing wrong - that's when I notice any new noise, things like that. If my boat is idling from a cold start, I can even hear the exhaust sound change when the thermostat opens. Have always heard that most wear in an engine occurs in the first minute or two after each startup.
 
I let mine warm up to normal operating temps before leaving. Our Marina is only a few hundred yards from the Safe Operation zone so when we leave we're on plane a few minutes later. I'm babying these old 454's just to see if I can hit the 2000 hour mark before a re-power.
 
I bring mine up to temp before we leave. Consequently this allowed me to locate my wife's left deck shoe which was somehow mysteriously trapped between the top of both engines in the engine bay. I was correct when I told her I had searched the entire cabin and cockpit of.the vessel and could assure her that it was nowhere that she claimed it to be.
 
i let mine warm up to about 140*. then i have about 200 yards of no wake to get through so my temps ar good by the time i'm on plane. i was only letting it run a minute or so after firing it up figuring the by the time i got through the no wake zone my temps would be fine but i had issues with it stalling a few times. now that i let it rn a little longer i have no stalling issues at all
 
I usually end up at or close to operating temp before I get out of the slip. My routine is to fire up the engines, then check to see water pumping out the sides, climb down into bilge and peek around for any leaks/squeaks/pings/dings/etc., close the hatch, then disconnect all power/water/cable lines, check all gauges/smartcraft for normal readings, then brief the admiral on what I want her to do (i.e. plan for which lines first, tend this side or that, etc based on the wind and current), then get ready to head out. By then I'm usually at 150-160 and we're ready to go.
 
I don't pull out of my slip until both engines are at normal operating temp around 170*........the vast majority of engine wear comes when it is first cranked up from a cold start.....this is due to lack of lubrication throughout the engine and there is some degree of 'metal-to-metal' contact between moving parts.....IMO to keep the engine wear to a minimum during a warm-up cycle the rpm's need to be kept to a minimum.....less engine rpm's equals less wear during the warm-up cycle....I understand that the lubrication system will flush oil throughout the engine quickly once the engine is started but that brief period before this happens has a lot to do with the amount and rate of wear on the engine.....when a cold engine is first started the engine control system is in 'open loop' mode which means the computer is ignoring signals from the various sensors on the engine....the engine is being controlled by pre-set parameters in the computer until the engines reach normal operating temp.....if the engines are forced to perform above idle when they are in 'open loop' mode the computer is not making adjustments to run the engine at maximum efficiency so fuel is being wasted.....once the engine warms up and the computer goes into 'closed loop' mode the computer is accepting signals from the sensors and making adjustments accordingly and the engine is operating at maximum efficiency....

if the engines are going to overheat for some reason I would prefer they overheat while I am at the dock....if you don't let them warm up before pulling out you may be a couple miles from the dock before you discover an overheating issue....

I use the warm-up time to monitor the engines (visually and listening) while they are running and to take a look around the engine room to see if anything is leaking or otherwise not right.....usually I will also start the generator during this time to insure it is OK and to let it run under load for a few minutes to keep it in good condition....

just my $.015 worth......

cliff
 
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I agree wit Sous - can only add that I run my blowers first (I know nothing to do with Temps) and then everything you read below.

I usually end up at or close to operating temp before I get out of the slip. My routine is to fire up the engines, then check to see water pumping out the sides, climb down into bilge and peek around for any leaks/squeaks/pings/dings/etc., close the hatch, then disconnect all power/water/cable lines, check all gauges/smartcraft for normal readings, then brief the admiral on what I want her to do (i.e. plan for which lines first, tend this side or that, etc based on the wind and current), then get ready to head out. By then I'm usually at 150-160 and we're ready to go.
 
I run the blowers from when I get the canvas off until I am ready to start up. The blowers run while I am storing gear, turning off shore power, unplugging and getting things ready. Mine don't burn oil so I don't tend to check fluids unless I am going for a multi-day trip. Then, when ready to leave, I fire up the engines (love that 454 burble for the few seconds before the water muffles the sound). They warm while I untie the lines and get ready to leave the slip, so not very long. I am then at idle out of the slip and its a bit of a long idle out of the marina and before I can get on plane. Maybe 10 minutes or so, but they are fully warmed by the time I hit the throttle.

The only time that I run them longer (with the hatch open) is the first trip in the spring after dewinterizing. That's to make sure that there are no issues, and the fact that the storage oil fouls the plugs a bit and there is a risk of stalling until it burns off fully.
 
LOL...
I remember in the early 90's Slick 50 had a trademark and used it in a commercial that said:

"Starting your engine is a terrible thing to do"

With that said...I let my idle stabilize before putting it in gear...and 130 or so before going on plane.

Jeff
 
We have 45 minutes of slow no wake to transit before reaching the waters of Lake Michigan.
 
I agree wit Sous - can only add that I run my blowers first (I know nothing to do with Temps) and then everything you read below.

Ah yes... the blower. Forgot that part. I've got a switch at my main electrical panel where the ignition keys are, so that is part of the process... blower on / keys on.
 
I have read in Consumer Reports many many times that "warming up" a car is a waste of fuel and time. Don't know if boat engines react differently(?)

I just googled "warming up an engine" and found a piece from Popular Mechanics and another from Road and Track stating that it's not necessary. I have no problem with the concept of "warming up." Just letting you know what the "experts" say.

By the time I get the water and electric and lines off, I'm all warmed up.
 
I start the boat with everything still hooked up. Dock lines and shore power. The breaker is off at that time. By the time I start it, look to make sure water is flowing. Then untie everything it is close to warmed up. By the time I am out of our marina it is warmed up. But I idle past our sea wall and then start giving it a little gas. Like 1600/1700 rpms.
 
I was wondering the same. Do all of you "warm up" your vehicle motor when going anywhere? Yes, I allow motors to warm as I ready to leave, but was never concerned about getting to 168. I get in my truck at -20 and start it and get moving pretty quickly. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, and obviously don't boat at that temp, but at 80 outside, wouldn't fluids be pretty lubricating right away? Are marine gas engines that different than regular? I know nothing about diesel, so just being curious.
Mike
 
Modern lubricants "adhere" to cylinder walls unlike times of old. It's more of getting everything up to operating temps, not just the fluids pumping through the engine.
 
I only let my SUV warm up for 5 seconds or so before I drop it in gear and go. If it's really cold, I'll remote start it but that's to give the heater and heated seats a head start before I get in.

Boat engines are different though and run a lot harder than car engines. If my boat is running, it's most likely running constantly at 3,000 RPMS or greater. My car rarely is running that high, even at 70 MPH. Plus there's a lot of coasting on cars, not so much on a boat!
 
The difference is your car is not going from stone cold. to a steady 3000-3500rpms. Unless you are pulling out of your driveway and straight onto the highway at 70mph your car is running a relatively low and fluctuating rpms. Maybe letting the boat warm up is not all that necessary. I just have always heard you should and it makes me feel good, plus, I am not in much of rush to get anywhere with the boat.
 

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