Have new Fabia SE Plus with 1.6 105 bhp diesel. Done just over 1200 miles since new but am wondering about running temperatures. From cold it is taking about 5/6 miles open road running to reach working temperature. This is not a problem but just causing me to wonder if it is normal. Anyone out there with similar concerns? Thanks for your time.

Diesels do have a longer warm up time,and,yes it was a problem to me when I owned a diesel.

Up market diesels (eg Merc) have auxilary heaters.

Sounds about right. The daily commute to work is around 5-6 miles and the car has only just warmed up so water level is in the middle and oil temps in low 60s

Hi wot is your mpg in the 6 miles to work

Depends on my driving style and traffic conditions, but i'd easily say at least mid 40s - i'll do a reset on the trip computer when i'm back at work next to give a more definitive answer

Even in Australian temperatures, it takes about 15 minutes to reach 90 degrees oil temperature on to-and-from work traffic, or 10 minutes on a "clear" free/highway run.

In my 8km run to work, I get between 7.5 and 10L/100km fuel use (about 28-37mpg), depending on traffic conditions (15-30km/h range). Quite often I won't have reached 90 degrees by the end of that 8km.

Edited 31 March, 201313 yr by OzFabia

Oil temperature is different from Coolant temperature.

If the Coolant (water) is sitting at the same as ambient temperature or near, say 5*0C in the morning & so is the oil.

(so if its -3*0c,, or 5*0c or say 20*0c ambient when starting the car, it takes a diffferent time to raise the Coolant to 82, 88 or 90*0c indicated on the Water Temp Gauge)

The engine starts and the Thermostat is closed.

The engine starts to heat the coolant & the coolant circulates around rthe engine block only to around 88*0c- 88*0C and then the Thermostat opens and the coolant after that is trying to cool and not go too high.

that is why there are radiators and fans. To get air to cool liquid.

Or in Air Cooled vehicles, air to cool oil.

Also with an Oil Cooler, air is cooling the Oil for the gearbox say.

The oil then starts warming when the engine starts and runs, but is slower in getting hot

it is acting as a lubricant and also a coolant in engines.

Once it reaches operating temperature the Coolants trying to keep the Oil and Engine at best operating temperature

& also the coolant.

(Coolant, Antfreeze, summer coolant, antfreeze alters the freezing and boiling point of h20 when under pressure or even when not)

Sorry to ramble, but its sometimes important to go back to basics.

george