Can the engine really be warming up that fast?

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 10:38 AM

I did some searching and really did not find any threads on this...

I'm at 1,100 miles and I'm amazed at how fast the engine temp raises on this big 5.6 V8! I'm not saying my truck is running hot, I'm saying it goes from overnight cold to operating temp, according to the engine temp gauage, in something less than 2 miles.

My old Nissan Hardbody with the little cast iron 3.0 V6 took forever to warm up. I'm thinking now the Titan is going to be the best winter vehicle I have ever had, I should get quick heat. I know it is warm outside, I know this is an aluminum engine not cast iron; but I have driven lots of cars/trucks and I have never seen anything come up to operating temp so fast.

Anybody else notice this?

TitanJB · 07-25-2005, 10:43 AM

My Tundra will have heat (and it's only a 3.4 L V6) by the 2nd stop light from my house, which is less than 2 miles, and the guage starts rising about 1 mile from the house. Really, I've found it takes about 3 or 4 accelerations from stop to about 35-40, and the usually get's it to start warming up. It'll also warm up idiling in probably less than 4 or 5 minutes, it's pretty quick. So I'd imagine the Titan would be just as fast.

I have noticed our QX56 will be up to operating temp very quick as well, and it's essentially the same engine, the only vehicle that I had that didn't warm up was my itsy bitsy corolla. The way to heat up the corrolla was by talking more.

GETSOMZ28 · 07-25-2005, 11:00 AM

Welcome to the world of all aluminum engines! All of my cars (LS1, Accord V6, and Titan) warm up pretty quickly (nice in the winter), since they are all alum.

GETSOMZ28 · 07-25-2005, 11:02 AM

Funny thing I have noticed, the temp of the Titan engine gets to operating temp quickly, though the tranny takes much longer (~10-15 min).

titanwild · 07-25-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad T

I know this is an aluminum engine not cast iron; but I have driven lots of cars/trucks and I have never seen anything come up to operating temp so fast.

Anybody else notice this?

Same experience, engine coolant up to temp in just a couple of miles, at first thought the temp gauge was broken. Mine is an '04, and it is the best winter vehicle I've ever owned.

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GETSOMZ28

Welcome to the world of all aluminum engines!

I suspected as much, but you have to consider my 240 horsepower car is only a 2.0 in-line 4-cylinder, and I would expect that to warm up quickly.

After all the Titan is almost three times larger...

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titanwild

Mine is an '04, and it is the best winter vehicle I've ever owned.

No kidding! Very cool, er, I mean hot.

My old Hardbody would just be putting out heat when I got to work, it seems the Titan will be putting out heat by the time I pull out onto the road.

jeffs05SE · 07-25-2005, 01:38 PM

yeah i start my truck up in the morning and come back in the house, brush my teeth and out the door. thats all the time she needs to be up to almost operating temp. when i leave work i let her idle for atleast 30sec and then im on my way. by the time i get to the end of the industrial park she up to operating temp. my 04 maxima was the same way with its 3.5

Austin · 07-25-2005, 01:46 PM

Yes, aluminum engines heat up quickly, but you also need to remember that the "temp guage" in the dash is really more of an idiot guage. It has a very non-linear response. I haven't monitored it in the Titan with an OBD2 scanner, but I have in quite a few other cars. It reaches the normal indication (the exact position of which is different for every truck) while still well below normal running temperature, probably 135 or 145, and it stays at the normal indication well above the normal running temperature, probably until 205 or 215.

GETSOMZ28 · 07-25-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad T

I suspected as much, but you have to consider my 240 horsepower car is only a 2.0 in-line 4-cylinder, and I would expect that to warm up quickly.

After all the Titan is almost three times larger...

You mean the Titans bore and stroke is bigger/longer, not externally 3x larger than your 2.0L.

Justintoxicated · 07-25-2005, 01:51 PM

yea I let mine idle untill the gauge starts to warm up because the freeway entrance is only about .4 miles from my house.

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GETSOMZ28

You mean the Titans bore and stroke is bigger/longer, not externally 3x larger than your 2.0L.

Okay, technically got me there

But having never owned a V8 in my entire 29 years of driving, every time I open the hood of the Titan I'm amazed at the size of the thing...

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin

but you also need to remember that the "temp guage" in the dash is really more of an idiot guage. It has a very non-linear response.

Ahh-ha, very good point Austin! I noticed this too but I was just not putting 2 and 2 together. I have noticed the same "temp" reading on a cool 60 degree morning into work on a flat raod at 35 mph as I have seen standing on the gas running up a long steep hill on a 90 degree day.

I guess the point here is if I ever see that guage go above that point I need to take the overheating issue very serios right then and there.

Thanks all!

GETSOMZ28 · 07-25-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad T

Okay, technically got me there

But having never owned a V8 in my entire 29 years of driving, every time I open the hood of the Titan I'm amazed at the size of the thing...

The engine isnt really that much bigger (externally) than any other engine, however, since it has dual over head cams, the heads are enormous!!! They make the engine look much bigger than it really is. They are twice as big as the heads on my 5.7L LS1.

Quad T · 07-25-2005, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GETSOMZ28

The engine isnt really that much bigger (externally) than any other engine...

Sorry bud, there is no way in hell you are going to get me to believe that. I happen to own a '90 CRX-SiR, 16-valve SOC, 1.6 I4, and there is no way anyone would conclude that it is only a little smaller than the Titan's 5.6.

I'm sure this is just a case of relativity, and what I see as big is not necessarily what you would see as big. Have you looked at the engine in the back of a Smart car? Well let's just say that thing would sit on the Titan's front passenger seat if it were folded down flat, clearly the 5.6 won't.