What is your scheduled 911 driving "exercise" routine?

[billh1963]

I've always heard that you should drive the car long enough to get the oil up to operating temperature. Of course, in colder weather that takes longer. However, I always make sure I get my cars up to temperature before I park them.

I have three typical routes I take when "exercising" the cars.
The first route is 20 miles round trip. The second (usually taken) is 50 miles round trip and the third is 100 miles round trip. I try to drive all my cars EVERY weekend barring really bad weather. Of course, sometimes I take them on a trip (PCA event, vacation, car show, etc.) which is not counted as part of the "exercise" routine.

It appears that I am taking the 100 mile loop more frequently of late. With the cooler weather the ride is enjoyable. But, more importantly, the car really does seem to run better when it is is taken on a long drive. These drives are mostly secondary roads with some hills, a few curves (or, what passes for curves in this part of South Carolina) and a few stop signs. Average speed is around 60 mph. My 911's and other cars are all driver's (not garage queens); so, mileage isn't an issue. The only concern I have on the longer drives is the prolonged level of dumbassery I encounter on every trip.

I'm just curious for those who drive regularly what you consider a typical drive and what is optimal to really exercise the car?

[wildthing]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.2502218,-121.6849404/37.2303616,-121.7468075/37.2729979,-121.744405/1163+Metcalf+Road,+San+Jose,+CA+95138/@37.2558659,-121.8050857,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m11!4m10!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x80 8e289208bb9495:0x1f91c6030fe5c92d!2m2!1d-121.6848517!2d37.2500924!3e0

[Franks89-911]

I usually do around 50 miles RT on the weekends, mostly highway speeds. Out to the Zaxby's and back. That seems to be the right amount of time and speed to get the cobwebs out and keep everything running smooth. Takes me about 10-15 minutes to get up to 194 F, agree that ambient temps affect this warmup time. At the last mile or 2 of the drive, if there are no Po-Po around, I see if I can get her up to 3 digits on the Speedometer. Just for fun's sake.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/3900+Woburn+Dr,+Tucker,+GA+30084/Zaxby's+Chicken+Fingers+%26+Buffalo+Wings,+Pleasan t+Hill+Road,+Lilburn,+GA/@33.8726433,-84.1943083,12z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x88f5a7d55cd43 ca7:0xeb0bdc0700a04653!2m2!1d-84.2287328!2d33.8405934!3m4!1m2!1d-84.0201145!2d33.8574719!3s0x88f5ba213048aa2b:0xbe3 ef1eae28de333!1m5!1m1!1s0x88f5a4a677ac1dbb:0x97a68 3bb8b97d558!2m2!1d-84.11444!2d33.9192438!3e0

[wildthing]

Here's another one but I've only driven this once: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/18001-18139+Bear+Creek+Road,+Los+Gatos,+CA+95033/37.2054847,-122.048251/37.1890828,-122.0312562/37.1656676,-122.0160018/37.1903907,-121.9936229/@37.185224,-122.0382275,14.25z/data=!4m12!4m11!1m5!1m1!1s0x808e49df9dac3f99:0xa2b 62cf3799f27c6!2m2!1d-121.9935764!2d37.1903804!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

So my memory might be a bit off... I know I took parts of it going to Los Altos Rod & Gun... Narrow roads, trees lining one side and rock walls on the other in some areas, also no GPS due to trees, no cell signal either.

[GH85Carrera]

In the summer the engine can get to full temp in short order.

If the temp outside is 40 or lower, I can't get my engine about 180. The engine oil cooler will keep it cool enough to to never open the thermostat to send oil up front. Oil does not have to be at 212 to purge the water. Water will go away fast even at 170 degrees.

I drove my 911 a few years back when it was zero and dropped to -1. I could not get the engine up to 140 with the heaters blowing on max to keep me warm and driving on the highway for over an hour.

[steenkamp]

200Km run North of Berlin https://www.google.com/maps?daddr=Oranienburg+to:Liebenwalde+to:Templin+t o:Lychen+to:F%C3%BCrstenberg/Havel+to:Menz,+Stechlin+to:Rheinsberg+to:Kremmen+t oamkitzstra%C3%9Fe+23,+Berlin&ftid=0x47a8550c362436cd:0x5da7c5b3352c392&dirflg=d&saddr=52.613003,13.240826&shorturl=1

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Awesome thread guys and one that I think other members would be really interested in, feel free to submit it to our Forums Contest!


-Dmitry

[billh1963]

My long drive route:

Long Drive

[Randy_L]

My long drive.

[inthedoghouse]

annual exercise run - leaving this week

https://goo.gl/maps/X5ydkacofL22

[billh1963]

Some of you have very scenic drives!

[unclebilly]

Get in, drive, don't talk about it.

Unless you are racing, then warm up, drive fast, turn left and right, cool down lap, talk to fellow competitors with big smile.

[lpsalsaman]

On weekends, I get up early start the car let it warm up then take it out for at least 1 hour drive or more. From where I'm at in Frederick MD, I have a few routes I can take. If I feel like driving fast I can go I70 to Baltimore or towards West VA, or I can take scenery routes with plenty of curves and hills around this area. I could also go on a long trip out to the Poconos via I81, but I have not done that one yet.

[Trackrash]

Optimal? Hmmmm..... Here is my take.