Technical Engine very slow to warm up

[Stuart444]

Hi all.


I have a 2008 Ducato 2.2l converted into a motorhome. We bought it 4 years ago and immediately noticed it took a long time (maybe 20 miles) for the engine to reach "normal" temperature. I had the radiator thermostat changed, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I figured this must therefore be normal for the vehicle. However it leads to lousy demisting performance, especially in winter.


I've just been told that some vehicles have an EGR valve which has a cooling water feed which also has a thermostat in it, and if this fails open, these same symptoms appear.

Please can you tell me if this engine has a valve like this, and where it is, and (this would be brilliant) how to change this thermostat.


Thanks

 

[corcai]

Hi all.


I have a 2008 Ducato 2.2l converted into a motorhome. We bought it 4 years ago and immediately noticed it took a long time (maybe 20 miles) for the engine to reach "normal" temperature. I had the radiator thermostat changed, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I figured this must therefore be normal for the vehicle. However it leads to lousy demisting performance, especially in winter.


I've just been told that some vehicles have an EGR valve which has a cooling water feed which also has a thermostat in it, and if this fails open, these same symptoms appear.

Please can you tell me if this engine has a valve like this, and where it is, and (this would be brilliant) how to change this thermostat.


Thanks

Sounds normal to me, efficient high pressure diesel engine doesn't put out much heat, then your heating:

• 6.5l oil
• 11l of coolant (huge heat capacity)
• 120kg of engine
• 10kg of aluminium radiator and heater matrix

While simultaneously blasting it with high speed cold air while driving.

If you're using the blower while waiting for it to heat then 20mins sounds right.

Same engine in the transit, same issues.

 

[blaven]

Pretty normal. On the plus side, they never seem to overheat up Norwegian mountain passes that go on for ever. I only had the fan come on once after many miles of heavily laden second gear work.

 

[digger58]

Mine can take even longer as it has an extra heater matrix in the living area with separate circuit all fed from the cooling system,

 

[Stuart444]

Thanks for your replies. Yes, there's the block and its fluids, but we shouldn't have to heat the rad if the thermostat is working. I've also been reading other threads here and see it's not uncommon for Fiat diesels to be as slow to warm up and for thermostats to fail after a year. Disappointing really. All I can say is, my BMW 520d warms up in about 3-5 miles even in winter, doesn't have a thermal storage system, does 50+ mpg, and rarely has a misted window. Design, perhaps? Maybe our next motorhome will have to be a north European design.

 

[oigle]

Interesting group of comments. I have no experience with earlier Fiat setups but my 2013 180 multijet with a MH on the back is super quick to warm up - maybe 5km at most. My Benz ML, in contrast, takes a long time. Both have good thermostats. Perhaps Fiat have improved their setup. Mine, as stated is quick to warm, but never overheats even in Aus summers.

Ian.

 

[oigle]

One other aspect that should be looked at in cold weather. Always set the air flow to recirc until engine reaches a reasonable temp. Blasting fresh cold air through the heater matrix only serves to slow down the engine warm-up process. You will also heat the cabin much more quickly when using recirc.

Ian

 

[Mohojo]

My Trannie 2.2 used to warm up after a couple of miles but my 2.3 2015 Ducato can take 25mins on a cold morning to heat up and the blower is rubbish with very little air blowing on your feet. I to have wondered about the thermostat but once it gets warm it never strays from a central reading on the gauge.

 

[CDK]

Common rail diesels are very fuel efficient, so the amount of thermal energy available to heat the block and related fluids is less than some of us would like.
My Kia Sorento has a small Webasto water heater tucked away behind the air filter. Its sole purpose is to assist in reaching optimal engine temperature when the ambient air is 5 C. or less.
The engine is comparable with the Ducato one both in size and power output, but the Kia needs less than 2 miles to warm up, where the Fiat needs approx. 5 times longer.
The penalty of course is an increase of fuel consumption during the first minutes, but Kia claims it doubles the engine life.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks for your replies. Yes, there's the block and its fluids, but we shouldn't have to heat the rad if the thermostat is working. I've also been reading other threads here and see it's not uncommon for Fiat diesels to be as slow to warm up and for thermostats to fail after a year. Disappointing really. All I can say is, my BMW 520d warms up in about 3-5 miles even in winter, doesn't have a thermal storage system, does 50+ mpg, and rarely has a misted window. Design, perhaps? Maybe our next motorhome will have to be a north European design.

Interesting outlook,
I cannot comment on thermostats failing..maybe people are just changing them in the HOPE of getting heat quicker,
my JTD estate is off the road over the winter as it also takes 20 mins to clear a screen ,
perfect for the other 10 months when the air is +10'C.

you are comparing a passenger car ( costing a LOT of money) that's destined for LOTS of cold starts

with a commercial vehicle that may well be doing an 8 hour drive between cold starts,

Incidentally - many "cars" have built in coolant heaters to combat this efficiency - however the commercials tend to be pared back for cost.

 

[cosminman]

It is a big engine, it takes a while for it to warm up. In colder days it needs to move, if you let it idle it won't warm up quickly.

 

[Ocwobio]

I woud say it is normal; my Burstner i821 is the same. I do have extra coolant for the hab heating assist on the Alde system tho.

 

[Mohojo]

We're in the Alps at the mo and have a slow warm up but I've noticed that it warms up a lot quicker if it's on a fast or motorway section.
How can the Transit with the same engine size warm up in a couple of miles?