Hi all, have been a member for a while and used the site constantly, reading posts and such. (keep up the good work)

Currently have an issue with my Occy TDi VRS 57 plate. Over the past few weeks the running temp does not raise above 55 C.

My daily commute is anywhere between 20 and 40min, and safe to say I don't drive slow. Within 10mins or so the needle starts to move but only as far as 55.

I accept the fact that the weather (-5 to -10 C) is partly to blame for this but surely once the temp starts to raise it should continue to the normal running temp of 90C?

This wouldn't be much of a concern other than it has a knock-on affect with the heater, lukewarm air is not much use when sat shivering in a coat, hat and gloves.

I previously owned the Fabia Tdi VRS and during similar conditions it provided plenty of warmth.

Anyone else experiencing the same or any comments?

That's not right - sure, mine sticks at around that for a bit but always gets to 90. Until I get stuck in traffic and then it can start to drop again as there's not enough heat being produced at idle to keep it warm. :(

The car's a 57 plate - how much mileage? Doubt it's the stat - more likely the sender/ gauge to me.

When we had the week of warmer weather about 2 weeks ago, was it ok then? Is it just whilst it's bonkers cold outside that it plays up?

It should reach 90 degrees after 40 minutes of spirited driving, even in these temperatures.

It is worth noting that the thermal effieiciency of modern diesel engines means that there isn't much heat left over for the interior.

Saying that, my 2.0 TDi PD was up to 90 after 20 minutes of 50mph + in -15 the other day.

Quite a common complaint on the Octavia however.

Check out this other live thread, lots of interesting thoughts and comments...

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/184328-octavia-warm-up-time/

Funny enough I was going to post about this complaint. I cannot remember having owned a car previously with such a poor heater or, for that fact, rear window demister. This cold spell is unprecented and having to drive slowly on slippery roads means that the car is not getting up to proper running temperature.

A few weeks ago we had a severe overnight frost and my car just would not defrost properly. there's just not enough warm air to the screen. We had to drive about 15 miles away to collect my wifes 95 Corsa.( a few drinks too many, Taxi home the previous night) It defrosted in about 10 minutes after starting. On the way home there was very heavy snow and my windscreen frosted up. I abandoned my car in a farmyard 5 miles form home. The Corsa took the snow in its stride!

This past week we have been constantly in temps between -8 to -14 with about 8 to 10 inches snow. I haven't even started the Skoda, it would only annoy me too much. We're making do with the Corsa until the thaw..

I had the thermostat checked earlier in the year because of the poor heater, will probably try replacing it next.

You can get something to blank off the radiator like the black cabs do, that might help. Or even fix some cardboard to the grill.

Possible faulty thermostat?????????

Thanks for the replies, have just read the other live thread as well.

Its got about 62k on the clock.

Seems like a common complaint, so no longer a worry, more of a nuisance.

Will just have to man up and accept the cold... afterall my first car (clio) the heater never worked, resulted in frost and ice in the footwells and all over the interior.

Cheers

Thermal efficiency of a diesel engine is good but that probably only means around say 30%, the remaining 70% is either going out down the exhaust or heating up the block/turbo.

You can get something to blank off the radiator like the black cabs do, that might help. Or even fix some cardboard to the grill.

Bad advice, do not do this.

Grill shields are only for environments where it is regularly -10 or below during the day.

This is what your thermostat is for. No water will flow through the radiator until the engine has warmed up.

Restricting air flow will just mean once the engine has warmed up and the water flows through the radiator the engine will overheat as it cannot get the colder air it needs.

Bad advice, do not do this.

Grill shields are only for environments where it is regularly -10 or below during the day.

This is what your thermostat is for. No water will flow through the radiator until the engine has warmed up.

Restricting air flow will just mean once the engine has warmed up and the water flows through the radiator the engine will overheat as it cannot get the colder air it needs.

I have used a sheet of cardboard in the past to cover PART of the radiator on previous cars, but I watch gauges anyway, so would notice if the car overheated. If, in the unlikely event, I had to turn down the heater I would certainly check the temp.

I found that it was a help as the cooled area was restricted. Now that I'm reminded, I will certainly try it with the Skoda when the thaw comes.

The fan is there to control temp in any case. If you consider the really warm summer weather (I wish) and traffic jams, the fan can handle a lot.

I certainly wouldn't advise covering the radiator if there are other drivers.

Edited 22 December, 201015 yr by kenbo

My car is a bit like that, it takes an age to warm up in these conditions, though it will eventually reach 90 on the guage, as your car of the OP's is a 57 plate, i.e. pre-facelift there is another way to double check the temperature using the climatronic. Press the econ and windscreen button next to the recirculate button(not the one in the dial) at the same time and the displays will change. Turn the left dial until you get the number 19 with a small 0 appear. Turn the middle dial until it changes to 19 with a small 2 and the right hand display will show the current engine temperature. I have tried this a few times and found it interesting. The temp guage will have reached 90 but the climatronic will say it is only 70-75 degrees, the guage will stay at 90 but the display will gradually creep up to 90.

The good thing about blanking off part of your radiator in this weather is that if the engine does start to overheat, all you have to do is turn the interior heater onto full heat and full fan and hey presto, temperature controlled.

The best diesel engines in the world are now approaching 45-50% efficiency, the best petrols are barely approaching 25-30%, that is why they take so long to warm up and use less fuel.

Ian

Bad advice, do not do this.

Grill shields are only for environments where it is regularly -10 or below during the day.

This is what your thermostat is for. No water will flow through the radiator until the engine has warmed up.

Restricting air flow will just mean once the engine has warmed up and the water flows through the radiator the engine will overheat as it cannot get the colder air it needs.

So what is to stop a car in such an environment overheating as it is getting no airflow the same as if I fitted on in -2C? Its neither here or there. I don't think covering the rad is going to cause the engine to overheat in this weather when it is designed to cope with 40C temps in the summer. Besides which you have the fans and other air inlets to the engine bay which is also going to keep things cool.