I warm up my Pete car for engine longevity.
[1]https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/files/pub61263.pdf
As far as the material, at one time engines had components of various materials. Blocks of cast iron, heads or intake of aluminum. Now as you state, they are mostly aluminum. While it may expand more than steel, the majority of the components are going to expand at the same rate, unlike in the past.
I mentioned the aluminium mainly because piston slap came to mind. More slop, more slap. It's better than everything twisting though.