cold bloodied V6

[mx3_ryder]

Anybody else's V6 cold bloodied?
I always find I have a little hesitation when accelerating until engine has reached full temp; then all is fine... Hold On!!!
I also noticed this when I had my K8 and now the same on my ZE with different ecu and throttle body. So is this normal for K series engines?
Anyone else experience this?

[mitmaks]

Actually my k8 runs great with cold air. Almost feels like I've done major engine upgrade, it loves that cold air.

[mx3_ryder]

Actually my k8 runs great with cold air. Almost feels like I've done major engine upgrade, it loves that cold air.

I am referring to a cold engine vs. warm engine, not a cold air intake

[mitmaks]

That's what I meant, it does seem to run great once started up in morning. It gets cold here in mornings 36-40F.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Up until the combustion chambers (and especially the cylinder and piston heads) reach full operating temperature, if you step on the throttle, the extra fuel injected into the cylinder can have a(n over)cooling effect in the cylinder, and can cause some hesitation. That's normal of all engines, but especially of all aluminum engines, being that, due to aluminum's much better heat transfer ratio over iron, it takes longer for the engine to reach operating temperature, and more so in cold weather.
So, it's normal, don't worry about it. I'd strongly suggest you do a proper warm up before driving, though...

[RX8SE3P]

Proper warm up before driving? You mean just take it easy right? Hopefully not one of those people who sit in their driveway waiting 5 minutes for it to warm up...

Mine used to be sluggish, hesitant etc in cold weather and every cold start... then I fixed a faulty knock sensor, a faulty coolant temp sensor, faulty O2 sensor, checking my codes all the while also. It really loves cold weather now and doesn't feel crap on a cold start. Check your codes

However, I don't push too hard when it's cold and been sitting all night so I wouldn't know what cold full throttle felt like compared to correct operating temp full throttle.

[mx3_ryder]

I always let the engine reach full operating temperature before going WOT.
The problem is now noticed at all operating temps and is cutting out/bucking only under load though... Boy does this sound familiar.
I have no codes, so I feel my distributor maybe on it's way out.
I am going to be changing out the VAF for a spare and if that doesn't solve it I will be on the hunt for a tested and good working distributor if anyone can help.

[RX8SE3P]

Doubt it's the VAF. If swapping it doesn't work then I say yeah maybe get a cheap second disty and if that solves it, start getting parts for the HEI mod then it should never happen.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Doubt it's the VAF. If swapping it doesn't work then I say yeah maybe get a cheap second disty and if that solves it, start getting parts for the HEI mod then it should never happen.

+1 on this.
A VAF problem would give you a CEL, so that's not it. If you're planning on doing an hei conversion, now would be the time.

@RX8: yes, I'm "one of those" who take proper care of their engines.

[RX8SE3P]

@RX8: yes, I'm "one of those" who take proper care of their engines.

So you let it warm up in the driveway completely before taking off?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-tr ... z2gERFl01Y
http://www.jsonline.com/business/79023122.html
http://antranik.org/the-myth-of-warming-up-your-engine/
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_co ... ition.html

I think 10-60 seconds is ok but letting it idle for longer is useless. I probably let it idle for over 10 seconds when I'm getting the music/radio etc ready for the drive. Anything longer than a minute is wasting time and fuel. Just my 2 cents

[Sleeper6]

So you let it warm up in the driveway completely before taking off?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-tr ... z2gERFl01Y
http://www.jsonline.com/business/79023122.html
http://antranik.org/the-myth-of-warming-up-your-engine/
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_co ... ition.html

I think 10-60 seconds is ok but letting it idle for longer is useless. I probably let it idle for over 10 seconds when I'm getting the music/radio etc ready for the drive. Anything longer than a minute is wasting time and fuel. Just my 2 cents

So let me guess, its better than to drive your car with a fogged over windshield b/c it cant be properly defogged due to the cold coolant circulating in your heater core? Personally half those green articles also lay praise on such cars as the Insight, prius and other hibrids that cause more of an enviromental impact from production than most cars will in a lifetime of use. Also feel free to look at this from the manufactures point of view, working at Honda they have a TSB 12-087 due to drivers as yourself that makes me a pretty penny in commission replacing pistons and rings on Honda Accords due to excess oil consumption, word for word:

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Under certain specific circumstances the engine may
create deposits on the oil control rings, which may lead
to increased oil consumption when all of the following
conditions occur simultaneously on a regular and
prolonged basis:
• The engine is cold (not warmed up to operating
temperature)
• Hard acceleration while the engine is cold

Just some food for thought, and yes I always will warm up my engine but maybe its just because I've torn a few apart. Its not always about wasting fuel, but resources in general on a grand scope.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

So you let it warm up in the driveway completely before taking off?

http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-tr ... z2gERFl01Y
http://www.jsonline.com/business/79023122.html
http://antranik.org/the-myth-of-warming-up-your-engine/
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_co ... ition.html

I think 10-60 seconds is ok but letting it idle for longer is useless. I probably let it idle for over 10 seconds when I'm getting the music/radio etc ready for the drive. Anything longer than a minute is wasting time and fuel. Just my 2 cents

I always find it amusing when somebody comes up with some cockamamie theory about a scientific truth, because they always follow the same structure:

1. They start with some dismissive comment (very cute with the smilie, btw).

2. They "support" their theory with a number of links, of essays written by either anonymous people, or people that are not qualified at all to make such statements (why can't you guys seem to ever manage to come up with an engineering paper, supporting your ideas? Let me guess: engineers don't know anything about engineering, right?) , and that always, and I mean ALWAYS want to change the subject into something that has nothing to do with the real issue.

Warming up your engine is not a "myth". It's neither a "tradition" nor a "legal issue" either. It's a scientific truth. Sorry you don't like it, but I don't see any physicysts getting overly worried about that fact.
I'm not gonna take the time to "defend" the reasons why an engine should be warmed up before driving. Over the last century, that position has been explained (by engineers, physicysts and the like, not by personal trainers and "columnists") clearly and repeatedly. You do, of course, have the right to follow whatever advise fits your fancy (look it up, I think I saw a paper about the subject, written by a dog whisperer), but you do NOT, however, have a right to offer misleading advise on an internet forum. At least you don't have a right to do it, and claim good faith.

Finally, what you (and the "experts" who wrote those papers) are doing has a name. It's called the "Dunning-Kruger effect"
Here's a link about it (sorry it's wikipedia. I couldn't find any psychology paper written by a cook, or a janitor...):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E ... ger_effect

[RX8SE3P]

1. Mazda manual itself says not to idle for excessive periods of time.

2. Some people have a garage. I totally understand the whole defrosting reason, but there's a HUGE difference between having it even simply under cover than on the front lawn away from shelter.

3. Inodoro Pereyra - Show me some articles supporting your belief, if you have some good articles I might change my mind (unlike most people on the internet).

4. Sleeper 6 I don't think anyone is doing what you posted, and we all agree:

POSSIBLE CAUSE
Under certain specific circumstances the engine may
create deposits on the oil control rings, which may lead
to increased oil consumption when all of the following
conditions occur simultaneously on a regular and
prolonged basis:
• The engine is cold (not warmed up to operating
temperature)
• Hard acceleration while the engine is cold[/i]

That equates to hard driving when the engine is cold. None of us are doing that I would hope!

[Inodoro Pereyra]

3. Inodoro Pereyra - Show me some articles supporting your belief, if you have some good articles I might change my mind (unlike most people on the internet).

Like I said already, I don't need to show you anything, and this is not a "belief". Do you understand the concept of "science"?
Talk to an engineer. I mean, a REAL engineer, not the Internet variety. Or even better, if you can find one, talk to a physicyst, so you can learn about it on a deeper level. Or read one of the countless books that have been written on engine mechanics (by real engineers, not by personal trainers), and all your doubts on the matter will be answered.

Meanwhile, I never expected to change your mind, nor I cared if you did. I'd be happy with you just not giving that kind of misleading, unsupported advise in a place where people who don't know a thing about mechanics might be reading. If you want to damage your own engine, by all means, feel free. But don't make other people do so, just for having trusted you.

[RX8SE3P]

I could easily start personally attacking like you're starting to, but I prefer to be civilized. No need to be a bunch of keyboard warriors here.

Everything I have read states that warming the engine via idling for long periods of time is just wasting fuel, potentially clogging catalytic converters, potentially causing more wear too since it's running the car in a richer fuel map for longer. Plus with the synthetic oils we have, wear levels are reduced even more so why sit there like it's the 1960's and warm the car up for 10 minutes?

Show me something scientific, a review or anything proving me wrong. Please, at least try. Refer me to these countless books you have read that say otherwise. I think if you have good information, share it. Don't claim that I am giving bad advice, when there is no proof currently that you have provided to support your opinion.

Motorists have been driving the way I have for the last how many decades and gotten many miles off one engine without issues. It's simple, drive softly until the engine reaches full operating temp. Prove me wrong.