Race motor warmup

[Chunke1]

Hey Eric,

I remember your posts before about how you warm up your bikes prior to going out on the track. Could you post that info here for us guys who want to make sure we do it the right way? Thanks.

[Ed Who?]

chunke1..ill try later tonight, sorry been working 70+ hrs these past two weeks....CRAZY busy!!! :-)

[Chunke1]

No worries, whenever. I know you're busy :yipi:

[ddnuts]

Well???

[Nicegy525]

put the shovel down DD LOL!

[ddnuts]

Well, as I'm kind of new to the site there are very good questions that I would like answered. This just happens to be one of them. I like this site. No drama and very informative. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong section. lol

[Ed Who?]

ok....short version.

1. OIL TEMP OIL TEMP OIL TEMP! Our bikes dont have that, but yet ALL the TOP sports/race cars do..why? its the #1 most important thing. Sure your bike warms up (water) FAST in under 1 min, but thats cause its a. water and b. has a thermostat to help it warm up. The oil temp does NOT.

Oil temp is SO critical its hard to state enough. ANY of my racers will tell you how often i yell if i see someone cold reving an engine!! I will BITCH SLAP anyone of my guys that does that!

When oil temp is low, the water could be fine, racers hurry and rip it down the track..thick oil/low temps cause or can cause a lot of bearing wear. 90% of bearing wear is at start up/low oil temp!!


2. Oil temp/Engine temp is critical on race engines due to Piston to Cylinder head clearance...seriously, my 06+R6 ss motors WILL/CAN hit the pistons on head if you rev the shit out of them when cold! the engines block/cases/cylinders need to HEAT UP and GROW!! We have done a TON of testing in ovens (not home) to see just how much more clearance you gain once the motor is fully warmed up...its pretty surprising!! the point is that in order for me to give you 100% the best i can, we must push the boundaries, and as such there are certain things i MUST INSIST on!

3. Just take it easy on 1st lap..even once warmed up, treat motor like cold tires..give it a lap or two..whats the goddamn hurry?

4. Finally. best thing to do, is what i am SUPER anal/critical in doing. EVERY time 1st thing in the am (weather the Ducati 848, my MV street bike, or even when i had my NSX) i will start them in am, and let IDLE to warm up..watch water temp...climbs to up 200degs....then shut off...water temp will drop slowly down like it should and yet the best thing is the oil temp will CONTINUE TO CLIMB! Heat soaking hte motor is such a good thing!! SO now when you start for the ride/drive/race and water temp jumps to 180...your oil temp is 180+ TOO...not 80 like 1st time!!

So there ya go....dont warm up the oil and :88:

:)

[Nicegy525]

so if we warm em up and shut it off, how long till we should start it up again?

[ddnuts]

See, very detailed answer and news to me. Now I will put my shovel up. lol ED, thanks for the info. Very informative and helpful.

[Nicegy525]

when we goin riding? with my new 750 I may actually be able to keep you on the horizon this time!

[TommyBehindTheDuece]

Good info - thx for taking the time for the write-up.

[CuStOm]

Eric - You got any recommendations for oil temperature gauges or don't bother?

I watch oil temp like a hawk on my turbo cars before hitting it, I'd kinda like one on my race bike.....

[Ed Who?]

dont bother. not easy to plumb on bike. my temp gauge for oil temp is my right hand on the clutch cover!! warm=go cold=wait!....ohhh but dont try on ducati dry clutch..ouch