Interested in experienced mechanics view.

On warming up an engine and for how long.

It is said the an engine experiences the most cylinder wear at warmup, ie; from cold start to start of engine running temp.

So, warming up engine at idol, would take longer to warm up so thus would experience more cylinder wear.

If the fuel droplets are cold at start up, they would condense on cylinder walls and wash the cylinder causing wear to cylinder walls and rings for longer as fuel is washing oil lubrication off cylinder walls.

So could it be said, that after start up and say 10 seconds, would an engine cylinder experience less wear if you rode off and warmed up engine under a light running load untill engine warmed up thus warming up engine quicker and resulting in less engine wear, The richer fuel at start up and warm up would lean back quicker thus resulting in less cylinder wash.

Does the fuel droplets reduce condensing on cylinder walls as engine warms up.

Doesnt an engine experience its least wear at running temp..

Would the right grade of oil work better than heavier grade oils as lighter grade would heat quicker thus helping with warmup cylinder fuel wash.

So thus question is, would it be better to warm up engine at light running loads with correct grade of oil  than warming up at idol. Is idol warmup promoting increased engine cylinder wear.

Most people generally warm up at idol as has been done for decades. But  are we actually thinking about warmup in reverse.

Interested in your view.

Don't turn it off keep it running problem solved

I thought warming while its idle went out in the 80s? I was always told to start it, wait 10 seconds, and ride safely till it warms up - sitting there is supposed to do more damage.

no worms in that can

My bike was made in the 80's so i guess im doing the right thing...lol

I start mine up and just ride her, But I don't go thrashing her or hitting the redline until the motors warmed up, around 15 / 20 minutes.

It is true that on carby models with a choke or enrichener that its warm enough to ride when it can idle with the choke or other off. Nice and easy is best for the first few minutes.
And with fuel injected models you can ride straight away basically, but still take it easy for a couple of kays first. I've never had issues with my carby or efi bikes in the past.
The reason we take it easy is to allow for the different rates of thermal expansion of aluminium/alloy/steel/chromium/cast iron/plastic/rubber/nylon all of which is in your engine, to heat up and catch up with each other, and then when at operating temp, the clearances and tolerances are at their optimum for a running engine.
lighter oils generally are for race or new/tight motors untill worn and bedded in as there is less friction in them.
Heavier viscosity oils are generally for worn or older engines with bigger tolerances that need taking up. The "sheer" strength of the oil is greater leaving a thicker bed of oil on the surface before its spun/wiped/crushed/scraped off, as opposed to lighter viscosity oils that are generally for more higher revving, tighter modern motors. Hope this helps.
(disclaimer- this info has a 4 beer rating so may not be entirely accurate)

i will always keep it at 1,500rpm & wait for it to warm up & expand b4 i ride off, whats the hurry? EFI still have alloy heads Alloy barrels with cast iron linner they still need to expand to get to full toque. bloody old design motor. look at it this way a carb is like a roast dinner & EFI is fast food LOL

cheers

in a room full of 100 mechanics you will get 100 differnt ways that they will swear by.

besides "correctly" warming up a motor is only one factor in the longevity of a motor .... now then , lets talk about what brand of oil should be used .

Now don't start that again! That WILL open up that stinking can.

I push the bike down my drive into the street.

Start the bike , wait for the Revs at Idle to drop from the cold start cycle ( a very short while !)

During this time I put my gloves on , ( that's all the time it takes ! )

Then I ride off , with low revs and gentle gearchanges for the first 3/4 k's

I have always used Synthetic oils on my Harleys since the mid 90's , and have NEVER had any oil burning/consumption issues .

I was taught to always idle a cold motor for 15 seconds to build up oil pressure, geriatric riding until the cylinders have reached operating temperature expanding in length and sealing the gaskets under the correct torque, then ride it like you borrowed it, 1 rpm below valve bounce is the sweet spot

 

 Interesting responses, but on going back over posts, something i forgot to add, Im asking opinion based on motors longevity at 100,000 kays.

Thats were my interest in this topic lies. Say 100,000, 125,000, plus kays. Im hoping a shop mechanics or dealer sponsor might allow there mechanic to place there experience up. Of course, im not referring to modified motors except high flow, exhaust basic mods. Engine wear at these kays interest me and i would presume an experienced , maybe 10 to 15 plus years harley mechanic would have an insight in to air cooled motors, particularly, there varying running temps from cold cimates to the tropics, and thats why im wondering about posts warming up for a while and if thermal expansion is really an issue, This is a subject that come up over a few beers. 

I ask these questions cause i ride daily and allmost everywhere I go.I ride my bike to the shop to get milk to ridig a round trip of 500 kays regularly, to a number of 2 to 3 thousand kay trips maybe 5 times a year. Only drive a car when nessasary. Its warmup engine wear verses motor longevity that a mechanics view does interest me in .

cheers.