[Vwdiesel] thermostat? (fwd)

[Val Christian]

Possibly the Turbo, but my 91, NA even with a high temp thermostat can run 
for miles at lower power levels and not get warm when it's 5F outside.
Drive it at 65, and it warms right up, though.

I've owned almost a dozen VW diesels since 1976, and they pretty much don't
warm up until higher speeds, or high alternator loads, when the temps are
down near 0F. In 77 and 78, I went to north country (NY) and at -40F, with
a custom cardboard radiator insert, it managed to keep the windshield frost
(almost) free, but not  the inside toasty.  Back then, I ran 50% #1 kero at
those temps.  At -40F the heat worked OK at 55 MPH or faster.  But not
flatlanding it at 40 MPH.

Let's define "easy driving":  If 40 mph, in 4th or 5th gear, flat land, at 
about 0F, it won't warm up.  If stop/start traffic, no wind, it will warm up.
If 55 to 65 MPH expressway, it will warm up quickly.  

And if idling with a light (10 mph) breeze, it will not warm up much at 0F and
with the same wind at -20F, with the hood up, it will not warm up much at all.
Keeping the cold start out, at lower temps, raises the engine temp faster
when RPMs are <2500 RPM.

> 
> The 1.6TD I drive, 92 Eco Diesel, gets heat very quickly, maybe 5-6 miles o=
> f easy driving at the most, I wonder why.=A0 no coolant glow plugs for sure.
> humm?
> =A0
> 
> Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :<)
> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel, 5sp -- running :<)
> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :<)
> 70 Type 1 stock Elm Green Beetle -- Under Restoration :-)
> 
> From: Val Christian <val at mongo.mongobird.com>
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com =
> 
> Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 5:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] thermostat? (fwd)
> 
> Pretty Typical.=A0 I can run around with no heat, until I hit the expresswa=
> y,
> then it climbs.=A0 It will also use alternator power because it runs the =
> 
> coolant glow plugs.=A0 When doing the timing best, swap in a 87C thermostat.
> IDI car was worse...lower power, no glowplugs in coolant.=A0 With the 91, I =
> 
> could drive my daughter to school, and no real heat until I hit the express=
> way
> 25 miles later. =
> 
> 
> There are reasons why a 6 cyl gasser might be better in the winter.
> 
> I just can't think of them.=A0 =
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Forwarded message:
> > =
> 
> > Chris - my apologies if I'm stating the obvious, but if you like a warm c=
> ar
> > you might consider a frostheater.
> > =
> 
> > http://www.frostheater.com/
> > =
> 
> > On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM, Chris Geiser <cfgeiser at gmail.com> wrote:
> > =
> 
> > > Hi all;
> > >
> > > Here in WI it dipped down to 5 degrees (F) this AM.=A0 This is my first=
>  cold
> > > weather with the new-to-me 04 TDI. Car sits outside at night.
> > > I did a bunch of city-type driving initially this AM dropping kids at
> > > schools, then I was on the highway for about 20 minutes before I got to
> > > work.=A0 The car did not reach full operating temp during the 30 min of=
>  easy
> > > driving (30-45 mph) - temp gauge needle made it about 1/4 of the gauge,
> > > when it usually sits dead center once warm.=A0 It only reached full ope=
> rating
> > > temp (center of the gauge) once I got on the highway.
> > > I believe the gauge to be accurate from feeling the heater output, which
> > > got warmer as the needle rose.
> > >
> > > Anyone else in cold climates -> Is this normal for these cars to have
> > > trouble warming up, or should I think about changing out the thermostat?
> > >
> > > TIA;
> > >
> > > Chris
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Vwdiesel mailing list
> > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > =
> 
> 
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