I am using a Scanguage and wondering if any of you other cold weather drivers have any recommendations on engine warm up time or coolant temp before hitting freeway speeds? I was thinking at least a 100 degrees for coolant temp.
You may want to use Advance (Ignition) Timing instead of coolant temp. While ICE is warming up, Advance Timing is a negative value. When it is done, it becomes positive value. I am guessing you want to get ICE fully warmed up before merging into the highway. This way, battery is not used during acceleration.
I'm sorry I should clarify...I'm using a scangauge e. (less features). I don't think I have advance timing.
I see no reason for pre-warming. When hitting a ramp cold, neither the battery nor the engine are heavily stressed. Both strike a balance during the initial warm-up stage. All those winters climbing out of the valley just a block from my home showed how much flexibility the system has to offer. The highway is 3 blocks away. I fire up the engine just prior to the ramp so the engine RPM will be lower initially. Of course when you do get going, 1500 is pretty darn easy on the engine. It hasn't been a concern at all. Even dropping the pedal to the floor is restricted, a clear effort to prevent strain. 0W-20 synthetic oil is helpful as well. It's the way to go for cold protection.
yeah, pretty much all modern cars don't really need "warm up" cycles. just drive it. plus, since at highway speeds it will be spinning at higher rpm, it will warm up there much faster.
IGN wasn't an XGauge. It's built in to the SG II (ScanGaugeII : Linear Logic - Home of the ScanGauge). I wouldn't buy the Scangauge E (4 gauges at at time on SG II wasn't enough, I wouldn't want only 2) but ScanGaugeE : Linear Logic - Home of the ScanGauge says it has IGN.
