Got a 71 plate Karoq with fairly low mileage (don’t think it’s above 40k yet). 
Recently I feel like my oil/engine temp gauge is slow to rise to the 90 position, maybe 10mins before it actually gets there. I’ve no idea if this is normal or not but it seems slow. Car sits at around 2500-2750 revs at 70-74mph. Again unsure if this is normal. Didn’t really pay much attention to the dial in the past!

I can’t afford to put it in for a service right now unless it really really needs it so would appreciate advice on if there could be an issue needing immediate attention or not.

 

Some background that may be relevant:

A couple of months ago I got a low engine temp alert following my husband defrosting the car and also deciding to put on both heated seats to help it on its way. Anyway it resolved itself: I pulled over after 5mins, read the manual and when I switched the engine on again the alert was gone. No more alert issues until New Year’s Day when I had a coolant level warning. I drove the car home (20min) gingerly (no high revs) parked up and the next day found the coolant to be waaay below the minimum level. Surprised it had got so low before the alert.

 

Anyway I topped up the coolant with the approved stuff (I hadn’t driven the car again until then). And the level seems to be holding since, although I will check it again soon and continue to for the forseeable.

 

So I don’t know if something is not right with the engine or if I’m just being ultra paranoid since the New Year’s Day incident? I certainly seem to have become an anxious dashboard watcher since! 
 

I’d also be interested to know how long it takes other owners’ car temp needle to come up to 90 (or whatever your normal is).

 

 

What engine. What gearbox?.     Anyway. The oil temp would be right to take that time to get to an indicated 90 degrees C, ambient temp and speed dependent.      The coolant should not take 10 minutes to show 90 degrees C if driving even if the temp outside about freezing.  

Edited 22 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

? When was it serviced , oil changed, time or miles ago?  When does the service indicator say due an oil service? 

Sorry should have specified it’s a 1L engine and the car was serviced at the end of July. I checked the oil level after topping up the coolant and it’s within range.

 

For clarity it’s the coolant dial which is taking a while to get to 90, not the oil.

The outside temperature will make a large difference. On my 1.0l the engine reaches 'normal' within about a mile of home in the summer, but during the last cold snap i did about 8 miles before it got anywhere near 'normal'

5 hours ago, Smokeyjoe said:

The outside temperature will make a large difference. On my 1.0l the engine reaches 'normal' within about a mile of home in the summer, but during the last cold snap i did about 8 miles before it got anywhere near 'normal'

Thank you, that’s helpful to know!

On 23/01/2025 at 04:21, U32ng said:

issues until New Year’s Day when I had a coolant level warning. I drove the car home (20min) gingerly (no high revs) parked up and the next day found the coolant to be waaay below the minimum level.

20 min with low coolant alert. You're game.  I think it's maybe a better idea to stop and check it (top up with water if needed).

 

What was the temperature showing? With coolant low?

 

Sometimes, if coolant is too low, the temp will also read low, as the sensor is no longer in coolant.

 

Probably not the case here but plenty of motors have been trashed by drivers pushing on after overheat and suddenly a lower than normal temp reading. 

 

I'd be checking for any air locks and be cycling the heater on and off a few times with engine running to help remove any air.

 

Keep an eye on coolant level, but I'd be curious to know where the coolant went after it was low on NY day. Must have a leak right. You need to find the leak me thinks