Calling all cdti owners...................

[Bigtee]

It's coming the very cold mornings and the many many Thermostat threads on here will be many a week, so before we get to that stage what about.............

Blanking off part of the radiator for a better warm up? Say about 35% of the radiator just behind the chrome plastic grill to see if this over cooled engine will heat up a little faster?

Seen a few vw's with cooking foil over grill on taxi's guess there like the vectra and poor in winter.

Im convinced the vectra (well 120 cdti) is like the sohc petrol Astra engine which is renowened for over cooling this year im blanking off part of the radiator only 35% as when stuck in traffic i don't want it to boil.

7 miles to work last year at -6 and just got to 83c by the time i got there and the thermostat is fine in the slightly warmer weather.

[UltraVec]

Was also thinking about doing this but I'd read to cover half the front rad?
My thermostat is working but takes 4 ages to heat up.
Does any1 know the optimal engine temperature? (is it just below 90?)
Also are there major problems of running cold apart from the oil not circulating great?

[tony-1977]

Since I changed the 'stat on my missus' 1.9 CDTI 150, it's up to 86 degrees within 4 miles of normal driving, even now with the colder mornings.

My (slightly older) 2.2 DTi takes about the same time.

That's without covering any part of the rad.

[Grumpy1954]

I hadn't thought about blanking, been through two winters as is. As far as temp goes, mine normally sits at indicated 85 degrees fully warm

[Hideous]

If engine doesn't warm up to operating temperature, thermo is broken.
Found this out for myself last year, and anyone else with this problem will find this out for themselves by changing the faulty part with a good one.
Guarantee it.
And to answer the question - the operating temperature should be around the 85-90C mark (some may differ slightly). Mine doesn't shift from 87C no matter what I do.

[GazVXLINE170]

Blanking up the radiator isn't the best of ideas. It may be an over cooled engine but it definitely climbs in temperature to about 92C on idle in standstill traffic. Blanking part of the radiator is only going to inhibit the cooling effect here.

The temperature on the CDTI should sit at 85-86C with a fully functioning thermostat, perfectly normal when driving. If it drops when driving the thermostat is on the road out or has failed. Normal for the temperature to rise within 5miles of driving from a cold start.

[john_k_sri]

Since I changed the 'stat on my missus' 1.9 CDTI 150, it's up to 86 degrees within 4 miles of normal driving, even now with the colder mornings.

My (slightly older) 2.2 DTi takes about the same time.

That's without covering any part of the rad.

IMO no need to blank off radiator. Just don't drive like you stole it until you have reached operating temperature. I went to diesel from a petrol, so I realise a bit of patience is required. LOL Mine sits at 83-84 degrees and sometimes drops a couple of degrees if I have been driving hard. As long as it starts rising at when the coolant temperature reaches just over 70 I'm happy.

[jokerscrowbar]

If you have two keys then go and start the car, leave it running, lock the door and go back in and have a cuppa. Mine takes at least 10 minutes to get to 85C. Diesel drivers have been doing this for years and years.

Really need a heated steering wheel though.

[Damo77]

Have been pondering for a while whether to install a "Kenlowe engine preheater" but not sure if it can be used with the type of anti-freeze that VX use??

My neighbour used to have one on his range rover and was always boasting about how he just sets the wall socket on a timer (hour before he leaves for work) and by the time he comes out in the morning the car is all defrosted and engine has been warmed up. No ice scraping and quite a nice warm'ish interior to get into.

The ones I've seen are admittedly around £350 mark but if it helps warm the engine this would surely ease wear and tear at the same time as save all the hassle of de icing the car

Only thing holding me back is, again whether or not I can use it with the VX type of anti-freeze, oh and cost

[Damo77]

Double post gremlins again