How to keep the engine happy?

[san]

Hi,

I have a 2006 Coupe with close to 98k miles...

I live in a small city called Columbus, IN and commute to usually work using my ZHP... The problem is my work place is only a mile away... I usually car pool with a friend and try not too use my ZHP at very low ambient temps, but some days I just have to take my car (I wish I could walk, my its freezing cold now)...

I know I am harming my engine by driving it only a mile each way, but is there something I can do to keep my engine happy? Should I try and take a longer route everyday, and if so what should be the minimum driving distance? Or should I just let it idle longer and not turn off the engine until the temp gauge hits 12 o'clock?

Thanks!!

[Hermes]

Every few days go for a long drive, at least 30min

[danewilson77]

Leave early and drive 5 Mikes put of your way. Turn around....go to work.

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[ELCID86]

I take the long way to the commuter lot sometimes just to warm her up.


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[BADCLOWN]

Get a bicycle.

[Vas]

Or moped.

[SoDelBMW]

Does it really harm your engine that much? I drive about 3 miles to school everyday an now its about 20 degrees every morning. Usually my temp gauge never goes above the first tick mark after blue. Im kinda concerned now.

[Vas]

You want to have the engine to reach normal operating temps.

[NoVAphotog]

Does it really harm your engine that much? I drive about 3 miles to school everyday an now its about 20 degrees every morning. Usually my temp gauge never goes above the first tick mark after blue. Im kinda concerned now.

Mason, read through my project thread, I had a spell of "lost" oil for a while. I switched oil from BMW 5W-30 to Mobil 1 OW-40 and stopped driving back and forth to the Metro (less than 3 miles). Have not lost a drop since (knock on wood). I follow the advice here and try to avoid short trips as much as possible. Short trips are bad for any car engine, it's just with the M54, there are some components (the CCV) that just are not designed to tolerate it. These cars were built to be driven. If that commute is your day to day, so be it. Just try and get out after school or on the weekends for an Italian tune-up on some backroads, hammer on her, show her a good time, slap her around and burn off whatever build up there is as best you can.

[Hermes]

Does it really harm your engine that much? I drive about 3 miles to school everyday an now its about 20 degrees every morning. Usually my temp gauge never goes above the first tick mark after blue. Im kinda concerned now.

The 'temp gauge' is measuring coolant temp. What we are talking about is getting the motor oil up to temperature. Non-M's don't have an oil temp gauge.