Advice - drove a cold ls3 hard - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Gachavez · 01-06-2022, 09:06 AM

I am well aware that a cold engine with cold oil should never be driven hard. Although very sadly, I am urged to ask for advice in this topic. My ls3 has 115k miles and has been taken care of very well. Long story short, the car was warmed up for about 5 minutes. Coolant temp was up, however oil temp was not. I was forced to speed up from a turn very quickly to avoid an accident. I floored it from first into second, hitting about 6k rpms in both gears and 4k in 3rd. I immediately went into neutral and coasted the rest of the ride. Should I be worried about any possible damage I could have caused? Car still pulls strong as ever and I do not foresee that ever happening again. Thanks in advance.

Y88 TA · 01-06-2022, 09:19 AM

No worries, if your coolant temperature was up, won't hurt it a bit.

TheButcher · 01-06-2022, 10:19 AM

Typically it would let you know right away if you did anything.

NoDakZ/28 · 01-06-2022, 10:28 AM

Oil can be moved at very low temperatures, if the car was warmed up for 5 min you have no worries.

hrpiii · 01-06-2022, 10:34 AM

You are good... carry on with your enjoyment of the car.

hudson773 · 01-06-2022, 10:57 AM

I am afraid you will have to try MUCH harder to screw up an LS3

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 01-06-2022, 01:23 PM

I’m sure it’s done… I’ll gladly buy it from you at core pricing!

KenKat · 01-06-2022, 01:27 PM

When I was a kid, my next door neighbor’s father in law had a mint green, late 60’s Plymouth. I think it was a Belvedere. He’d go out after visiting and start that thing up and run it at maximum rpm for a couple of minutes to “warm it up”. As a car guy, my dad used to have a fit about this! But that thing kept on running and outlasted the father in law - our neighbors continued to drive it for a number of years after!

You should be good I think - these engines can handle a lot.

Badbubba · 01-06-2022, 03:45 PM

You'll be fine. I usually give vehicles 10 minutes after water temp hits operational temp before getting on it. Allows everything to expand and oil to be at op temp.

Rock-It Man · 01-06-2022, 03:57 PM

You car is toast; send it to me!

Seriously, what you did was not optimal but it wouldn't cause any damage, just maybe 30 seconds worth of wear for the 10 seconds you were hard on the throttle.

And it's insignificant compared to starting a car in winter weather conditions here in the northeast, which has never caused a failure or even premature piton ring or valve guide wear for me. I'm accustomed to engines that retain normal oil consumption for 200,000 plus miles.

ADVMax · 01-06-2022, 05:13 PM

Hell I hope it didn’t hurt it? Thats how I leave the house about every day.

KenKat · 01-06-2022, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

…just maybe 30 seconds worth of wear for the 10 seconds you were hard on the throttle.

This is a good way of describing the impact.

EMB135Driver · 01-06-2022, 06:43 PM

It does beg the question how big an accident you were avoiding, as hitting 6000 rpm in 1st and 2nd, then 4000 in 3rd is probably seeing you accelerate from 30 mph or so to over 80….you cover a lot of distance doing that. Glad you made it

Tony-8 · 01-06-2022, 09:03 PM

After running for 5 minutes, the oil was probably warm enough to protect what needed to be protected. The fact that it bothers you is an indication of how well you maintain the car, so I'm betting it'll be around for a long time. ;-)

I'm a little OCD about this too. I try not to go above 2000 rpms until the oil temp hits 180-degrees.

01-06-2022, 09:06 AM	#1
Gachavez Drives: 2010 camaro 2SS Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 4 View My Garage	Advice - drove a cold ls3 hard I am well aware that a cold engine with cold oil should never be driven hard. Although very sadly, I am urged to ask for advice in this topic. My ls3 has 115k miles and has been taken care of very well. Long story short, the car was warmed up for about 5 minutes. Coolant temp was up, however oil temp was not. I was forced to speed up from a turn very quickly to avoid an accident. I floored it from first into second, hitting about 6k rpms in both gears and 4k in 3rd. I immediately went into neutral and coasted the rest of the ride. Should I be worried about any possible damage I could have caused? Car still pulls strong as ever and I do not foresee that ever happening again. Thanks in advance.

01-06-2022, 10:19 AM	#3
TheButcher Drives: 2012 2ss stick. Boosted 45th! Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: So Cal Posts: 44	Typically it would let you know right away if you did anything. __________________ 45th Anniversary.stick. Boosted!

01-06-2022, 10:28 AM	#4
NoDakZ/28 Drives: 2014 Z/28 CTF Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: North Dakota Posts: 625 View My Garage	Oil can be moved at very low temperatures, if the car was warmed up for 5 min you have no worries. __________________ 2014 1LE - Sold 2014 Z/28 #99008 CTF SIM

01-06-2022, 01:23 PM	#7
Aqua Blue RS/SS Drives: ABM #93 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Lotaburger Posts: 2,692	I’m sure it’s done… I’ll gladly buy it from you at core pricing! __________________ ABM #2399 2SS/RS:SOLD ABM #93 2SS/RS Black Rally stripes, Titanium Interior 4,000 miles: GM GFX side skirts and diffuser waiting on paint, GM dovetail, GM heritage, RPI ZL1 style splitter. ‘87 IROC-Z Iroc blue. all original unmolested with 50K miles.

01-06-2022, 03:45 PM	#9
Badbubba GrINned & JUICEd Drives: 15STI, 10Expy, 10 2SS/RS M6, 47KB1 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,247	You'll be fine. I usually give vehicles 10 minutes after water temp hits operational temp before getting on it. Allows everything to expand and oil to be at op temp. __________________ GPI SS3 Cam & stuff,N.O. Plate(dedicated fuel tank,progressive,fuel hose upgrade,remote opener,heater,console switches),LNC2000,CTAP,ARH 1 7/8" LTs/gutted cats/X pipe/mufflers,Jet Hot coated LTs,GPI HPT Tune,CAI, Scoop,Rx Catch Can,Gates heater hose relocation, Remote clutch & auto brake res,Metco loop,Momentum Tunnel Brace,TSW Nurb 18",555 & 05,Pfadt trailing arms & toe rods,Autometer WB,Fesler Pillar Pod,LED strips (int),Lloyds floor & trunk mats,LED DRL/front turn & license plate,DRL harness,VLEDs tail lights,Plasticoat Bowties. Ord: Oct 5, 2009 Rec: Nov 19, 2009 13.17@112.6 stock

01-06-2022, 09:19 AM	#2
Y88 TA Drives: 2010 RJT 2SS 6 Manual, 1978 Y88 TA Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Regina Sk. Posts: 55 View My Garage	No worries, if your coolant temperature was up, won't hurt it a bit.

01-06-2022, 10:34 AM	#5
hrpiii AKA "Beefcake" Drives: 2023 ZL1 Sharkskin Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 8,529	You are good... carry on with your enjoyment of the car.

01-06-2022, 10:57 AM	#6
hudson773 Account Suspended Drives: 2014 camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: nj Posts: 268	I am afraid you will have to try MUCH harder to screw up an LS3

01-06-2022, 01:27 PM	#8
KenKat Drives: 2014 2LT RS Summit White Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 622	When I was a kid, my next door neighbor’s father in law had a mint green, late 60’s Plymouth. I think it was a Belvedere. He’d go out after visiting and start that thing up and run it at maximum rpm for a couple of minutes to “warm it up”. As a car guy, my dad used to have a fit about this! But that thing kept on running and outlasted the father in law - our neighbors continued to drive it for a number of years after! You should be good I think - these engines can handle a lot.

01-06-2022, 03:57 PM	#10
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,031 View My Garage	You car is toast; send it to me! Seriously, what you did was not optimal but it wouldn't cause any damage, just maybe 30 seconds worth of wear for the 10 seconds you were hard on the throttle. And it's insignificant compared to starting a car in winter weather conditions here in the northeast, which has never caused a failure or even premature piton ring or valve guide wear for me. I'm accustomed to engines that retain normal oil consumption for 200,000 plus miles.

01-06-2022, 05:13 PM	#11
ADVMax Sporting Foole Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Alabama Posts: 500	Hell I hope it didn’t hurt it? Thats how I leave the house about every day.

01-06-2022, 06:43 PM	#13
EMB135Driver Jedi Master Drives: Boeing 757/767+2010 IBM 2SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor, ME and Palm Coast, FL Posts: 1,121	It does beg the question how big an accident you were avoiding, as hitting 6000 rpm in 1st and 2nd, then 4000 in 3rd is probably seeing you accelerate from 30 mph or so to over 80….you cover a lot of distance doing that. Glad you made it __________________

01-06-2022, 09:03 PM	#14
Tony-8 Drives: 2014 Camaro RRM 2SS RS, M6 LS3 Vert Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 234	After running for 5 minutes, the oil was probably warm enough to protect what needed to be protected. The fact that it bothers you is an indication of how well you maintain the car, so I'm betting it'll be around for a long time. ;-) I'm a little OCD about this too. I try not to go above 2000 rpms until the oil temp hits 180-degrees. __________________ Dream it - drive it!