A4 2.7 TDI engine running "cold" for many miles

[ralx]

Hello,
New to Audi, new to Diesel engines - have a question to ask: this time of the year temps are quite low and I've noticed my A4 fails to reach normal temp for miles here's an example:
- leave Heathrow, reading for temp outside is +4C (+/- 0.5)
- join M4 at J3, head west, keep it steady (on cruise) at 70mph
- the engine coolant temp crawls towards 90C but at a snail's pace
- eventaully the gauge shows 90C - but only after 14 miles (!)

Sometimes in the cold and driving for 10+ miles at 50mph on average, the temp stays half way between 50 - 90C.
Even in Sept the engine failed to reach norm temp after driving for 3.5 miles at ~30mph.

My question, is this nomal behaviour for this engine or do have a problem that needs look at?

Previously I had a 2.0l petrol and it reached norm temp in less than 2 miles - even at -5C outside temp.

Thanks and regards...

[B19RAK]

Diesels are cold starting and do take longer to warm up. I would say with the wind chill factor at the moment, especially with the cold air on the motorway that this is normal.

I know my 2.0tdi takes a good 10 miles to hit 90c.

[2.7 S-line]

I've noticed mine takes ages to warm up too 10 miles + on a cold morning

This makes quite a difference to the fuel consumption on my car using cruise control for the 15 miles of motorway on my run into work I find the mpg drops by about 5mpg on a cold day compared with a summer day

[ralx]

Thank you both for replies.
OK if that's the norm, running cold for many miles in winter, how about burning the soot then? If commuting for 10miles (one way) or less one would have to schedule a good long run in S4 in order to keep the DPF "healthy". Is my thinking correct or I'm completely paranoid.

[2.7 S-line]

i've done 24000 miles in mine - never done anything special other than drive the car - no problems to date (most of my trips are 15 miles or less )

[MFGF]

I've noticed the CR engine in my car takes much longer to warm up fully than the PD engine in my previous car. I've been watching the temp gauge closely during some of my recent in-town crawls first thing. In stop-start traffic, my car takes around 20 mins to get to 70 degrees, then (I assume when the thermostat opens) the needle jinks back down to around 60 then crawls slowly up from there to the 90 mark - sometimes taking 35 mins to get there.

MF.

[ralx]

Thanks all for replies - seems like the engine behaves same so I worried for nothing. I'll have to take the car to the dealer for a checkout, I will ask them and will get back here with their opinion.

[robtt09]

Been minus temp all week here in N Yorkshire and car left outside .It is a 3.00tdi and I watched this morning how quickly it warmed up (whilst waving at all the stuck BMW owners!) and 3 miles for the first heat and guage started to move up after about 4 miles.

[porty]

Before my current Audi, I had a BMW and it took ages to warm up (10 miles +). My Audi warms up after just a few miles. Glad I've got my quattro and not my old BMW in the current weather conditions!