I was just reading the owner's manual for my A6 and it says:

"To avoid unnecessary engine wear adn to reduce exhaust emissions, do not let your vehicle stand and warm up. Be ready to drive off immediately after starting your vehicle. Maintain moderate speed until the engine is completely warm. Remember the engine performs best at operating temperature."


The way I have always done it is wait until the coolant temperature gauge goes above the 'C' and then drive off, should I just wait for the RPMs to drop (when I first startup the car if its cold the RPM idle speed is higher than when it's warmed up) and then drive off according to what the manual says? Or should I continue warming up the car before I drive off?


Just curious.

 

Theres no need to warm up the engine. Your only wasting gas. Just dont beat on your car untill its up to temp. The engine also warms up faster driving normally then it does while your just sitting idleing.

 

I have noticed on my A6, and when I had my celica before I got the A6, that when I let the engine warm up the transmission would shift a little bit smoother then driving off after starting. When I drive off after starting in colder weather on both cars, even after the engine warmed up, the shifting isn't quite as smooth as when I let it warm up a little before driving off. I do the same thing you do, and haven't had any problems. My celica was 6 spd and the a6 is a tip, and both shifted better after warming up b4 driving.

 

^^Mine does the same. It runs very sluggish as well.

 

Transmissions always operate smoother once they get up to operating temp. That goes true for most every car, both stick and auto. There is no danger of damaging anything in the trans, more of a shift quality problem than anything else.