Engine not getting warm

[rsterken]

Just bought a 2000 A4 1.8 SE with 109,000 miles, and my water temperature is not getting up to 90 degrees (remains at 65 on motorways) and creeps up to about 80 when stationary. The oil temperature seems not to shift above a quarter of the scale, although longest trip so far has only been 20 minutes.

Am I expecting the engine to get up to temp too quickly (previous car was a 57 plate Golf - company car - and without an oil temp gauge), or is there something else going on?

Thanks

Please note that the problem is not intermittent, as some of the some of the old topics on this forum. I have that before in a Golf and recognise that as a thermo problem.

[zollaf]

sounds like the thermostat.

[ratrodmog]

I also have this exact same problem on a '97 A4 1.8 SE. How would I go about checking/ changing it? Appologies for highjacking your thread rsterken.

[Simon@DTUK]

Check the temerature of you top and bottom radiator hoses, there will be a noticable difference in temps between them if the thermostat is faulty. One will be cold and the other will be very warm.This is due to the stat not opening as it should to allow water to circulate around the engine.

Or if you fancy getting the spanners out, drain your cooling system,remove the stat from its housing and drop it in a jug of boiling water. If its ok you will notice that it will open when exposed to the hot water. If it doesnt its broken and needs to be replaced.