Warm Up

[wiltok]

What is the general concensus on warm up? Like most here, I take care of my boat and want it to last a long time. I know that the modern boats do not allow high RPM operation unti the motor is warm. I personally don't go into gear until I hit 140 and don't pull a skier (which is mainly how I use my boat) until I'm close to 160. Takes a long time to get to this point though - don't want to put on unncecessary hours at idle. Opinions?

[JEREMY79]

I let mine idle until my driver gets back from the parking lot. Then we ride. If it breaks I will fix it.

[Laurel_Lake_Skier]

You are better off putting a little extra time on the meter than putting the hammer down on a cold engine. While warming up, the engine clock is running but you really are not putting much in the way of wear on the engine. I start mine, then go and bring stuff down to the dock while the boat is warming. Mine temp gauge never goes much over 140 but I let it get to normal operating temp prior to pulling skiers. Another way to do it is idle out to calm water if things are choppy near my dock.....I think it is important to warm the engine well before putting it under load.

[André]

I wait at least for the temp to go up on the gauge before leaving dock and almost to normal temp to pull a skier.

[Cary K.]

By the time the driver gets back from parking the truck, the ballast fills, rope out, rider has vest, bindings on, finished BSing, I'm lucky if it doesn't overheat. J/K, but mine is usually good to go by then.

[SkySkiSpokane]

You should try some February skiing up here in the great northwest. When the water is sub 40 degrees I don't think my LT1 ever sees 140 on the temp gauge. :D

[SkySkiSpokane]

Staying on the subject. I don't make it a point to warm up but it happens when we are getting ready to ski or ride. There is not a certain temp that I start at. I have put 400 hours since I have owned it and have never had engine trouble (knock on wood!!!) I think as long as you aren't starting it and "hitting it" you should be ok. Just at least get the oil flowing. :twocents:

[lakes Rick]

If I boated in cold waters, I would use Mobil one synthetic oil.. It is supposed to have superior flow characteristics to dino oil.... Just a thought.....

[SkySkiSpokane]

Nice call!!! :)
I use Mobile One year round. A little more money but piece of mind is cheap.

[JEREMY79]

By the time the driver gets back from parking the truck, the ballast fills, rope out, rider has vest, bindings on, finished BSing, I'm lucky if it doesn't overheat. J/K, but mine is usually good to go by then.

I'll second that

[Leroy]

I don't try to warm mine up, but by the time I go from lift to ski cove it is always at 140 by end of idle zone and 160 when I ski.

[USC8791]

I run mine at idle until it hits 160, then I run at speed through the course to scare away any snakes.

[east tx skier]

Ditto. No wake speeds until at least 140. No significant speeds until it hits operating temp (around 158). Only takes about 6 minutes.

[Tom023]

I wait at least for the temp to go up on the gauge before leaving dock and almost to normal temp to pull a skier.

With the water temp in my lake in the mid to upper 80s, my temp gauge is already reading the second I start it up. By the time I get the lines undone and out of the no wake zone, it's warmed up all the way.

[Jorski]

Read something sometime ago, where Porsche engineers did not like the engine idling under no load for extended periods of time. The article suggested that driving slowly was the best way to warm up the engine...so if it's good enough for the engineers at Porsche, it's good enough for me. I idle out and then cruise at low, non-planing speed until it warms up, then it's off to the races.

[Liquidfire]

On the research I have done in the past. Amsoil puts Mobile One to shame.