Ever since new, my Octy II 1.4TSI DSG has been extremely slow to warm up from a cold start. Even in mild weather, it takes approximately 5-6 mls and during that time, the lack of demist/heating is most annoying, even with the air-conditioning on. Compared to all other marques of cars I've had, it is at least twice as long, and four times the latest Honda Jazz.. The comment from my local Skoda service-shop is that it is normal and the engine is designed to be thermally efficient. To my antiquated thinking, the quicker an engine/oil/coolant reaches it's correct working temperature, the less friction/wear and lower the fuel consumption. I have tried the old technique of blocking off a clear section of the radiator but that seems to have little affect. Perhaps a temperature sensor/sender is at fault, and that would explain a dismal fuel consumption as an 'iffy' sensor would affect the ECU. Does anyone else suffer from this problem?

In the general case, you're correct. The faster a general engine warms up, the better. For a specific engine though, there is the factor of what sort of heat rejection it was designed to have.. The Jazz engine is years older than the TSI unit so could have a very different designed heat rejection profile. And low heat rejection (hence high efficiency and BMEP) will trump "fast warmup" in overall fuel efficiency.

The radiator doesn't get waterflow until the thermostat opens, so unless you'd managed to reduce airflow though the engine bay and hence direct block cooling, blanking a modern design engine bay will make no difference. I suspect that you've proved the thermostat is ok. With a car this new, if you genuinely suspect a sensor fault, tell the dealer directly that you think the engine temperature sensor is faulty, and ask them to read the fault codes.

Along a similar line, quick question.

Being new to these new fangled cars, excatly "How warm" should an engine be before you give it some serious beans? My CR takes about 6-9 mins to reach the std 90 degrees, ambient temperature dependant. Is this the point you sohuld wait for or is it ok to get going once the needle starts moving off the 0 marker.

My little Peugeot used to get the arse ragged off it form the get go and lasted 16 years

My petrol vRS warms up quite quickly in comparison to diesels, but I still tend to err on the side of caution.

When the engine is cold, I tend to be quite gentle, avoiding using many revs or putting the engine under high load. I tend to wait until the needle is in the middle for 'normal driving' (about 3 minutes if that), and a little while after that (probably 10 mins from home) until I give it a proper thrash.

Remember, the temp gauge on the dash is coolant temperature, not oil temperature. It takes much longer for the oil to heat up and provide good protection for the moving parts of the engine than it takes for the coolant to warm up to operating temp.

I also tend to calm my driving 2 or 3 minutes before I reach my destination, if I've been driving hard. It gives the engine a chance to cool down a bit before it's turned off.

Edited 14 April, 201016 yr by naxtek

My petrol vRS warms up quite quickly in comparison to diesels, but I still tend to err on the side of caution.

When the engine is cold, I tend to be quite gentle, avoiding using many revs or putting the engine under high load. I tend to wait until the needle is in the middle for 'normal driving' (about 3 minutes if that), and a little while after that (probably 10 mins from home) until I give it a proper thrash.

Remember, the temp gauge on the dash is coolant temperature, not oil temperature. It takes much longer for the oil to heat up and provide good protection for the moving parts of the engine than it takes for the coolant to warm up to operating temp.

I also tend to calm my driving 2 or 3 minutes before I reach my destination, if I've been driving hard. It gives the engine a chance to cool down a bit before it's turned off.

Cheers for that, similar to what I have been doing to date, cept I often leave the engine on for a couple of minutes idling when I get home if I have been driving in a more spirited manner to let it all cool down

of course on a new vRS with maxidot you have a oil temperature gauage which is what I use before puttin my foot down. I'm used to diesels taking ages to warm up. On the fabia I let the need reach the 90 point and then let it run at normal revs for 5 miles or so and then I'm happier to give it some beans.

The oil temp on the octavia takes a long time to build up so even when the water temp is at 90 the oil may only be at 50.

Ever since new, my Octy II 1.4TSI DSG has been extremely slow to warm up from a cold start. Even in mild weather, it takes approximately 5-6 mls and during that time, the lack of demist/heating is most annoying, even with the air-conditioning on. Compared to all other marques of cars I've had, it is at least twice as long, and four times the latest Honda Jazz.. The comment from my local Skoda service-shop is that it is normal and the engine is designed to be thermally efficient. To my antiquated thinking, the quicker an engine/oil/coolant reaches it's correct working temperature, the less friction/wear and lower the fuel consumption. I have tried the old technique of blocking off a clear section of the radiator but that seems to have little affect. Perhaps a temperature sensor/sender is at fault, and that would explain a dismal fuel consumption as an 'iffy' sensor would affect the ECU. Does anyone else suffer from this problem?

What fuel consumption are you getting? Am considering getting the same car so if it is 'dismal' I may avoid as I do mostly short journeys and plump for the 1.6TDI and put up with the dpf.

My 1.9PD takes quite a while to warm up - like you, I find the lack of interior heat availability a pain, especially in the cold weather. My previous Peugeots were pumping out gobs of hot air within 2 miles of a cold start.

Modern engines are much more efficent than older designs, and as such do not waste as much energy as heat. A side effect of that is that they take longer to warm up. Diesel engines are very efficient so they take a lot longer than petrol. Both my current and previous diesel took about 6 miles to reach 90c, but my petrol vRS was quiet quick.

What fuel consumption are you getting? Am considering getting the same car so if it is 'dismal' I may avoid as I do mostly short journeys and plump for the 1.6TDI and put up with the dpf.

My 1.9PD takes quite a while to warm up - like you, I find the lack of interior heat availability a pain, especially in the cold weather. My previous Peugeots were pumping out gobs of hot air within 2 miles of a cold start.

I would have though on short journeys the diesel would not be that great on fuel either. When I had a rental Golf with the 1.4TSi it was actually fairly good on fuel, even raggin it on the motorway it returned a rather impressive 48.5 mpg.

On both my diesels short journeys really dont return great mpg either will get near the claimed figures on short trips around town, if it was me I'd go for the 1.4tsi

I would have though on short journeys the diesel would not be that great on fuel either. When I had a rental Golf with the 1.4TSi it was actually fairly good on fuel, even raggin it on the motorway it returned a rather impressive 48.5 mpg.

On both my diesels short journeys really dont return great mpg either will get near the claimed figures on short trips around town, if it was me I'd go for the 1.4tsi

My run in to work is 20 odd miles and my MPG can vary from 42-53 depending on how many "less enthusiastic drivers" I have to overtake and how many I get stuck behind.

I am getting 46-48 overall on trip 2, and I have a lead foot.

Dont know if that helps.

Hi

just a quick reply, have you got a engine bonet pad? A graysh black sound pad that goes under bonet. It makes the car warm up quicker, Skoda use to fit them to all octavias until about 2007 then only the dev ones had it

Cost about £25 from you dealer and 2min job to fit, my car warms from cold in 2.5 miles now rather than the 5 or so without.

James

Hi

just a quick reply, have you got a engine bonet pad? A graysh black sound pad that goes under bonet. It makes the car warm up quicker, Skoda use to fit them to all octavias until about 2007 then only the dev ones had it

Cost about £25 from you dealer and 2min job to fit, my car warms from cold in 2.5 miles now rather than the 5 or so without.

James

Hi James,

My car does indeed have this beastie.