Engine slow to warm up.

[JayWorm]

Hi every one, I have been searching around and have found similar problems but none quite the same.

I have a Golf Mk4 diesel that has been unused for the last 3 weeks.

I have noticed that its taking ages to go up to 90 degrees, after driving for almost 6 miles at 60mph in 6th gear less then 2000rpm with the out side temp at -2. I know its cold out but surly my car should be able to regulate it temp a little better than this?


When I idle the air from the heater inside the car goes cold,.
My coolant temp drops when I accelerate.
The heater in the car cools the engine when I turn it on. (idle)
Its does not overheat.


Things I have tried & tested:


No Mayo in the oil
Coolant has no trace of oil
Anti-freeze is 1 year old, and at correct strength.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jason.

[kite]

Sounds like a open thermostat.

[JayWorm]

How much is a replacement going to cost fitted? or how long shoud it take?

Jay

[JayWorm]

Happy New-year!

The other day I dropped my girlfriend off at the shop’s and waited in the car to watch my temp dial.

The shop is only round the corner so by the time we got their the engine was still quite cold, any way; I was in the car for 50mins with the engine idle. I played with the heater and found:


When the heater is on #1 full heat - the temp stays still.
When the heater is on #2 full heat - the temp goes up and down by about half a bar.
When the heater is on 3 or 4 the temp drops to the last of first 3 bars.
If I turn the heater off the temp rises to 90. But takes 20mins.

Please help, I have the car booked into a garage tomorrow (01/02/09) and will write the findings. It would be nice if I can help them help me.


Happy new-year to you all.
Jason.

[FLENG2008]

Happy New-year!

The other day I dropped my girlfriend off at the shop’s and waited in the car to watch my temp dial.

The shop is only round the corner so by the time we got their the engine was still quite cold, any way; I was in the car for 50mins with the engine idle. I played with the heater and found:


When the heater is on #1 full heat - the temp stays still.
When the heater is on #2 full heat - the temp goes up and down by about half a bar.
When the heater is on 3 or 4 the temp drops to the last of first 3 bars.
If I turn the heater off the temp rises to 90. But takes 20mins.

Please help, I have the car booked into a garage tomorrow (01/02/09) and will write the findings. It would be nice if I can help them help me.


Happy new-year to you all.
Jason.

my car also takes a while to warm up on tick over, but when you drive it seems to warm faster that on idle. and if i drive it slowly it takes a while to warm up, i find with a bit of boosting from the turbo helps warm the car
i think my temp drops very slighlty if the heaters are on when idling from cold
does the car go cold when you drive?
cause if so i would go with thermostat

ps i have a slight water leak, and when the coolant level drops even a little bit it makes the heaters cold when i stop at traffic lights etc. then i get an air lock and all sorts of problems arise

[JayWorm]

Hi FLENG,

i have noticed the temp drop when driving a few times on shorter trips. (5-10 miles) and i have had to add more coolent. but when i checked the other day my coolent level had increased.

also when i loosen the header tank cap i can hear hot air escaping and coolent rushes back into the header tank from the small pipe at the top.

[FLENG2008]

Hi FLENG,

i have noticed the temp drop when driving a few times on shorter trips. (5-10 miles) and i have had to add more coolent. but when i checked the other day my coolent level had increased.

also when i loosen the header tank cap i can hear hot air escaping and coolent rushes back into the header tank from the small pipe at the top.


yer i would go with new thermostat and fresh G12 and a bleed, i think thats the cheapest option first

[v6dub]

this is going to sound really stupid to you guys, i have been having problems with my v6 4motion heating up since about last winter, only plays about when it is below 5C takes for ever to heat up sometimes more than 20miles it would still be cool, had two new thermostats fitted, still did not fix it, i had new temp sensor just incase it was that, found out the other day i had two broken lambo probes, had them changed now it heats up in 2-3 miles, my garage said it is all to do with the engine being fuelled right, might be worth looking at that.

[JayWorm]

well, its now time for that trip to the garage :(.

thanks for all the ideas that have been thrown into the pot! Ill let you know the outcome later.

[JayWorm]

When i got to the garage i told them all about the suggestions and they were not surprised at all.


Right here are the findings the findings:



The garage had the car the complete day (08:00 - 17:00).
They completed a number of test/benchmarks.
The trip computer recorded 55Mins running time.
Air temp was -1 to 0 Degrees.
conclusion:

TDi engines run cooler any any and with the unusually cold weather this should be nothing to worry about. All test came back as OK.


Advise:

Keep an eye-out for further changes and wait for the warmer weather until further investigation.


Cost:

£0


Thanks for the help ppl.

[FLENG2008]

did your fan cut in and bottom hose get warm?
are the heater still going cold or is it sorted now?

[JayWorm]

HI,

The temp still drops when I turn the heater on as I'm told from the garage and friends.

"when the heater is turned on your adding an extra fan/rad to the system, and this is not uncommon"

This drop in temperature does stop when the engine is well and truly at 90.


The top hose does get hot and the bottom stays cool, that for the fan, I have never witnessed this working but I'm sure the garage tested for this.

Hope this helps.