Technical 1.3 Multijet heater longtime to warm up issue??

[bugsymike]

Quite normal for this engine especially in cold weather.

I appreciate if in a colder area it doesn't help, but my example photo earlier of my 2014 Vauxhall Combo 1.3 MJ (badge engineered Fiat Doblo) easily reached normal 90 degree Centigrade in under three miles yesterday when picking up my daughters from train station as an example.
When tested I have often found thermostats that either stay open or open early.
One of my daughters recently bought a VW Golf Plus 1.6 Diesel which shortly after had error codes re Regen etc. Whilst doing the work necessary, mostly fuel additive, good fast 30 mile run and code clearing, I noticed the temp tended to stay around a third up the gauge making the problem worse when car mainly used for short journeys to work.
So now I have fitted a new thermostat (pain in the ar*e behind the alternator) car temp gauge quickly goes to 90 degrees Centigrade centre of gauge as intended and problem has disappeared, although I did advise her to use the DPF additive at a reduced rate on fuel fill ups.
If car at correct operating temp fuel economy is improved also, so well worth sorting the issue.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I think later cars with DPF fitted also had an EGR cooler which helped heat up the coolant quicker, the older bare bones multijet which would fit with a 2007 grande were more basic and had no such additions.

My old Mk2b Punto could warm up in around 4 - 5 miles if you thrashed it a bit, its also going to depend on the use, you and I both live in fairly rural places but in a city with slow moving traffic you might struggle to get the car off idle which can mean it takes even longer to warm up.

 

[AnthonyH]

I checked the temperature coming out of the vents in my EVO today. Along the motorway the temperature was a steady 37 degrees C with the engine temperature gauge on the dash at 1/4. Around town the temperature coming out of the vents was 40 degrees C and the engine temperature gauge on the dash was at 1/2.

The engine temperature is more variable than with my GP, the heater is not as hot overall, and takes longer to warm up.

37 degrees C is ok i think, sure it can be cold getting into the car in the morning and waiting for the engine to heat up, but i have a coat on!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I checked the temperature coming out of the vents in my EVO today. Along the motorway the temperature was a steady 37 degrees C with the engine temperature gauge on the dash at 1/4. Around town the temperature coming out of the vents was 40 degrees C and the engine temperature gauge on the dash was at 1/2.

The engine temperature is more variable than with my GP, the heater is not as hot overall, and takes longer to warm up.

37 degrees C is ok i think, sure it can be cold getting into the car in the morning and waiting for the engine to heat up, but i have a coat on!

Coolant temp will still be around the 100°C mark, as pointed out by bugsy

The sealed pressurised system prevents the water turning to steam which therefore keeps the coolant at a fairly constant temp.

The temperature at the vents is going to reflect the efficiency of the heat exchanger in the dash blowing cold air through the hot heater matrix. There is probably some formula to work out the surface area and how much the temperature will be lifted for any given air temp coming into the car

 

[AnthonyH]

Coolant temp will still be around the 100°C mark, as pointed out by bugsy

The sealed pressurised system prevents the water turning to steam which therefore keeps the coolant at a fairly constant temp.

The temperature at the vents is going to reflect the efficiency of the heat exchanger in the dash blowing cold air through the hot heater matrix. There is probably some formula to work out the surface area and how much the temperature will be lifted for any given air temp coming into the car

This all sounds right. It's possible there is something to fix here, but its not worth the effort. This car is getting fairly scruffy, although it is mechanically sound. It's 15 years old and over 110k now, I will probably repair anything up to around 120k and then let it go the next big thing that goes wrong. We'll see!

It's been an interesting topic to talk about.

@43576 , what are you going to do?​

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[varesecrazy]

I believe my car's coolant temperature is normal. There is nothing else wrong with the engine. It is just warming up weirdly slow for a small engine. I remember my old 2.0HDI 306 warming up quickly in less than 10 minutes. Thanks for suggest.

They often had a booster fitted at the factory (since the 307..)

That old hdi was a good motor,

but not as efficient as the 1248mj

 

[varesecrazy]

I believe my car's coolant temperature is normal. There is nothing else wrong with the engine. It is just warming up weirdly slow for a small engine. I remember my old 2.0HDI 306 warming up quickly in less than 10 minutes. Thanks for suggest.

How does it compare to BEFORE the thermostat was swapped?

It sounded as if this is a new fault..

Now I am not sure?

 

[43576]

Now I have blue smoke out of my exhaust on a cold start that never happened before, and it goes away in 60 seconds no smoke, not in relation to the coolant? Very frustrating!

 

[AnthonyH]

Thats usually some oil being burnt. I presume you're topping up regularly? With 170000 miles on the clock it'll be using a lot more oil than when it was new.

 

[varesecrazy]

Now I have blue smoke out of my exhaust on a cold start that never happened before, and it goes away in 60 seconds no smoke, not in relation to the coolant? Very frustrating!

Could be a cold cylinder..

They burn clean once heat is in there.