MkV GTI Cold Melbourne Mornings - Warming Engine Up

[9 iron]

how long does it take your car to warm up now with colder mornings?

is 25-30 mins too long?

Me thinking thermostat is stuck open.... especially as temp seems to be coming back from 90 on the freeway, to around 75-85.

[wokwn]

Are you looking at the temp gauge or the HVAC diag channel 19.2

The temp gauge is more of an idiot light, mine points to 90 from actual 75 - 95+ degrees.

But yeah, i'd expect heat from a petrol engine in under 5 minutes with normal driving. Idling, much longer.

[Idle]

Strangely, a stuck open/corroded away/missing thermostat can also cause overheating — the coolant circulates so fast it doesn't have time to cool properly.

[doink]

Once the engine warms up, my temp gauge on dash always indicates 90 degrees regardless of outside ambient temperature (40 degree ambient differential between summer/winter). Either the cooling system does a fantastic job of regulating temperature to 90 degrees, the ECU does some adjustment to give the driver piece of mind or my temp gauge is busted and doesn't go past 90 degrees. Is this normal?

[Idle]

Once the engine warms up, my temp gauge on dash always indicates 90 degrees regardless of outside ambient temperature (40 degree ambient differential between summer/winter). Either the cooling system does a fantastic job of regulating temperature to 90 degrees, the ECU does some adjustment to give the driver piece of mind or my temp gauge is busted and doesn't go past 90 degrees. Is this normal?

Seems to be — Mk6's do the same thing.

Probably a way to use a cheaper gauge. Presumably it'll go up if the coolant boils.

[Maverick]

Seems to be — Mk6's do the same thing.

Probably a way to use a cheaper gauge. Presumably it'll go up if the coolant boils.

It's there because there are so many stupid owners that would worry if the gauge moved and you'd have posts all over the forums with people comparing their temperature with someone else's and so on. If people weren't so stupid and understood a little more about cars in general it wouldn't be a problem.

[manol]

It's there because there are so many stupid owners that would worry if the gauge moved and you'd have posts all over the forums with people comparing their temperature with someone else's and so on. If people weren't so stupid and understood a little more about cars in general it wouldn't be a problem.

Well put!!

[number 2]

Once the engine warms up, my temp gauge on dash always indicates 90 degrees regardless of outside ambient temperature (40 degree ambient differential between summer/winter). Either the cooling system does a fantastic job of regulating temperature to 90 degrees, the ECU does some adjustment to give the driver piece of mind or my temp gauge is busted and doesn't go past 90 degrees. Is this normal?

On a really really cold night if i sit in my car with the heaters on and at idle for an hour or so the temp gauge will go down. They (1.9TDI) dont make much heat, and after a hard acceleration the heat coming through the vents even with a hot motor is noticebly hotter.

[Marcotto]

My GTI will hit 90 with in 2-3 minutes of driving.

I always thought this was to quick. starting to think i am right.

[isaw]

no boost, 5-10 min, 50km/h with a little stop start.
boost = 3 min. tops. try to let the oil move around first before hitting 4k or above.

[Creniac]

Gone are the days of warming up engines unlike my old mans Kenworth truck back in the early 80's........ technology has advanced!!!!

Step 1: Get in!
Step 2: Start engine.
Step 3: Drive the bl*ody thing.... of course no rediculous revving for at least a few short minutes!

Done.

[Hilly]

Here in Canberra with mornings around zero degrees, I just start it up and drive gently until it indicates it has warmed up - and yes, gentle driving it takes 5 minutes + to get to (indicated) 90 degrees (2.0 TDI). The TDI thermostat is rated to start opening at 85 degrees, and moves to fully open at 105 degrees, but I must say mine sits at 90 summer or winter.

My Haynes manual has specs that show that some 1.4 and 1.6 petrol models have two thermostats, the first opening at 87 degrees, then second only opening at 103 degrees.

[audi-tone]

i had the same problem (albiet my mk4 gti) for the past couple of weeks (wouldnt even get to temp during a 30min drive to work on a cold morning). installed a new thermostat today and it got up to temp in about 4-5mins tops and stayed on 90 without drama; my idle also has calmed down and is noticeably smoother now.. not the easiest job but very glad i did it.
hope that helps

[9 iron]

i had the same problem (albiet my mk4 gti) for the past couple of weeks (wouldnt even get to temp during a 30min drive to work on a cold morning). installed a new thermostat today and it got up to temp in about 4-5mins tops and stayed on 90 without drama; my idle also has calmed down and is noticeably smoother now.. not the easiest job but very glad i did it.
hope that helps

yep... this is my problem exactly, although i figured out that with the heater off, and left to idle for 5-10 mins it would get to 50-60, but then would generally still be there after a 20-30 min drive to work, with heater on.

All my other cars have been audis and regardelss of ambient temp, they would register temp within 3-5 mins, and then get to 90 within another 3-5 mins of slow driving, and then STAY THERE!!! Never budged.

This is my first VW, but the last audi (A3 with the same turbo engine) behaved the same, therefore i would expect this car to do same.

[audi-tone]

Definately sounds like the thermostat then. Mine was only $35 to replace so not much at all.
If you can do it yourself you'd save a bunch too. Not to harder job on the 1.8t. Not sure about the 2l turbo engine though. Can't be that hard I'd imagine?