Hey,
I have a Skoda Octavia Mk3 1.4 TSI EA211 (CHPA), manual. 2013, 111k km driven. The car has winter tyres (studded), no fault codes.

In winter conditions (ambient approx –10 to –17°C), I’ve noticed that according to Maxidot oil temperature rarely goes above 80°C, even after longer (50km+) continuous driving. During brisk acceleration it can easily reach 90°C+, but then settles back to 79-82°C. Car needs to be driven around 20-30min of highway (60-100kmh) to reach 80C.

Speed doesn’t seem to play a factor: Both at -17°C and -10°C oil temps stay around 80-82°C regardless wether driving 80km/h or 100km/h on cruise

I know VAG coolant cauge isn’t definitive, but coolant cauge reaches 90°C relatively quickly, around 8-15minutes of driving. It doesn't drop at idle once fully warm. Car interior heats fast and interior temp doesn’t fluctuate even when deaccelerating in high speeds.

But:

• Start and stop is disabled due to ”operating temperature not maintained”.

• Consumption is relatively high: Mixed driving (includes short trips and continues 60km drives) ~6.5–7.2 L/100 km and steady highway ~100 km/h gives ~5.9 L/100 km

Is this normal or does it point to partially open thermostat?

Octavia's and Golf's can run cold; there is a solution from Kopacek which might help with really cold days:

https://www.kopacek.com/skoda/octavia-iii/octavia-iii-winter-grille-cover-in-great-oem-design-ki-r-glossy-black

IMHO - I've found that the cars can run cold. Two years ago, we had a -22C day - absolutely bonkers. I was in an Octavia Scout at the time and the car really struggled with the cold temperatures. Something like this will keep the windchill to the radiator down as far as possible and allow the car to heat up some more.

Update to everyone:

Now when temps have raised around 4-7C, the oil temps are normal around 88-92C.

I read via OBD, coolant is stable at 95-100C (measured at -5C and +7C)

So seem to be just a cold weather ”charm”.