pd tdi 115 ajm takes ages to warm up

[cars1993]

Hi its averagely about 1 degree to about 13 degrees center grade in the UK right now and my car takes 6-7 miles to warm up. I've had the thermostat changed, put cardboard in between the radiator (80% of the way) to help warm up. I had a second hand temperature sensor put on but the car still takes a while + if i put the heater on then the temperature gauge goes down

Any ideas what this could be? my last tdi which was an AFN 110 took only 3 or 4 miles to warm up

thanks all

[Matt UK]

Not sure what all the engine codes are, but I had a 2004 130 tdi - and that took a while to get warm.

[trickywoo]

Sounds about right to me.

Diesel engines are much more efficient than petrol in not wasting heat in the combustion process.

[Laurel Green]

2Ltr TDI used to take about the same - once at temperature, if idling for any length of time, could see the temp gauge going back down again. Brrrrr...

[J4CKO]

Its between the size/efficiency of the engine and the size of the cabin, our Galaxy takes ages to get to a decent temp in winter, 350Z takes a lot less as its a big thirsty V6 filling a tiny space versus an efficient diesel filling a huge space.

Best heater ever was 944 cab, small space and it seemed to not use the coolant, just face melting heat from the combustion process.

[cptsideways]

The stats on these are always pants, fit a new stat & that should be loads better. Quick test, from cold drive 4-5m the top rad hose should not not be warm until the gauge reaches midway, if it does get warm the stat is foobarred.

[The_Burg]

115 in my old Passat was the same, 130 i have now in an Ibiza is slightly quicker but not much.

[cars1993]

cptsideways said:

The stats on these are always pants, fit a new stat & that should be loads better. Quick test, from cold drive 4-5m the top rad hose should not not be warm until the gauge reaches midway, if it does get warm the stat is foobarred.

only just had the stat changed. Weren't genuine tho it was a circoli or something?

[cptsideways]

There is a neat little trick you can do especially handy for cars with pants stats. Fit an inline stat into the outlet hose, ones for Renault 4's & old Clio's do the job perfectly.

Quite a common trick on Rover 75 CDT's where the stat replacement is a 4 hour job!

[Riley Blue]

My A4 with the AJM engine was about the same so I wouldn't worry about it.