Thread: 2009 D3 SE TDV6 Slow Warm Up

Sounds abnormal. Two to three kms is what I'd expect

My petrol D3 takes about 3mins to warm up and blow warm air. My diesel i30 takes 10 or more on a cold morning. My old 300tdi would take about 10 too.

I just thought it was a diesel thing - cast iron blocks and whatnot

One of the problems with driving a very fuel efficient diesel. It needs to burn fuel to make heat and you just aren't burning much. Especially if you are heading down into Adelaide from the hills. I assume it is one of the reasons that my Vogue has a fuel burning heater.

I was going to ask the same question as my 2005 TDV6 does exactly the same thing. It takes a few minutes to get to the first "notch" on the gauge then can take an age (10-15mins?) to get to half way. Yes it happens in winter when cold and is terrible as I'm usually at my destination by the time the heater starts working . I put it down to being normal.

The compacted graphite iron metal used for the Lion motors' blocks has various superior characteristics, but a negative of the material is that it conducts heat worse than the typical grades of iron used in a diesel motor. Hence the block heats up slower. Add the fuel efficiency plus driving down hill towards Adelaide - it makes sense that the motor is taking a long time to warm up. I don't know if there is a thermostat issue though.

Another thing would be oil pressure and oil flow. With big diesels when they are cold, there can be thick oil and that may not do its job. The colder the motor at start, the more significent this issue. My understanding is with a big motor, the key is to ensure oil pressure is there, and then avoid load until close to normal operating temperatures. With a Lion motor, oil pressure would happen I hope straight away, and our oils are 5w-30 so they should flow at low temperatures. The next issue is that when the motor is cold, avoid loads. Going down hill means two things - firstly, you are avoiding loads. Secondly, being a diesel, it will take much longer to get to normal operating temperatures when you are providing minimal loadings. In theory diesels will not get to operating temperature at all if you start a cold motor and then let it idle (and doing so can risk the motor with "wet" areas of coldness which can cause diesel fuel to pass through the rings into the sump).

I'd reckon everything is OK presuming your engine thermostat is working normally.

I replaced the thermostat in my D3 a while after I brought it because it didnt seem to be warming up fast enough. New thermostat did nothing, still the same. Later when I got my IID tool I monitored the temps and the coolant is around 63deg when it hits that first lower mark for the "normal" range. Once around the half way mark I found the temp can change 20deg and the needle dosent move

Originally Posted by shanegtr

Once around the half way mark I found the temp can change 20deg and the needle dosent move

Which is to stop people on forums freaking out about the variable nature of the engine temperature of their vehicle and "is this normal" posts leading to forum diagnosis of terminal engine failure, needs an oil change, the coolant is old, you shouldn't have installed that roo bar, you can't drive it in over 40 degrees, and you should turn off the aircon

I never look at the temperature gauge but it takes a very long time to blow warm air. Probably about 10 minutes.

i have the same car 2009 D3 TDV6