Engine warm up time

[jhwelch]

This is sort of an academic question, as I use my engine a lot and
it runs well: Don, would you recommend warming the engine up for
a certain amount of time?

In my case I get it started and let it idle as I pull the anchor up, which
may take 1 or 2 minutes, and then go off at cruising speed.

Thanks,

-jonathan

[Don Moyer]

Jonathan,

With almost 5000 hours on your engine, I'd be willing to make the assumption that your procedure is as good as gold!

From my own experience, and from the advice of the experts on whom we rely in this kind of question, it's apparently better to allow an engine to warm up at normal cruising power than to allow it idle until fully warmed up. A minute or two at idle to get the oil circulating (as in your procedure) should not be a problem.

Don