Too Long To Heat Up... D4D

[Gabaunion]

54 D4D 2L

Takes ages too heat up. 20 minutes or more sometimes to get to operating.

Yes I know diesels take a while.

Yes I know this particular diesel is known for it, and I have read through the forum and this engine in particular is known for it, BUT.

WHY

Is it that the thermostat bypass has been set too high?..... I know this engine's relatives have had gasket issues, and I notice the stat's position on the inlet.

Could the thermostat just not work, well even when new.... ie alternative water flow 'short' circuit through the heater or oil cooler or somewhere, at low temp, then stabilising at working temp when the stat opens?

Or is it just a cold engine.

[Mistermena]

Mine takes a good 20mins or so (Especially in this weather) to warm up to! Not sure why the Toyota's take so long but they just do... My VW warms up in next to no time mate.

[Gabaunion]

When I get round to it, I will string a thermometer to the main hot hose to see if it is getting hot when it shouldn't.

I have a similar problem with an old mercedes, but I believe it was designed that way to avoid gasket blow out.

Does anyone know why thermostats are placed at the coldest part of the engine instead of the hottest.

[Cyker]

Diesel engines NEED to be hot to work so we get the cold shoulder

But yeah, because diesels are more efficient, they generate a lot less waste heat than petrols (Which is why diesel exhaust is much cooler than petrols) plus they need that heat to run efficiently (As you know, they feel awful when they're cold but as they heat up this changes dramatically!); It's a combinations of those two things that make it take ages to heat up :(

On a cold day, I can get half-way to work before the cold engine light goes out on my Yaris if I'm driving with a light foot!

[jedi134]

Have you seen this thread

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132875&st=15

Are your Taxis blessed with such luxerys?

[Jas16]

Different with me, even in this weather, after a few minutes I will notice the needle getting off the 'C' but then to the middle position it will take a while, but it also depends what loads you put on the engine, heavy loads will lead to engine warming up quicker but engine wear and tear will also be high, so not advised

[baba_metca]

The speed is also a factor. If i travel on streets with regular speed limit (30mph) the car heats pretty fast, but when I get to some boulevard that has a 50mph speed limit, it heats a lot slower.

[Cyker]

Wait, wat? Did you get those the wrong way round?!

Or is this 30mph in 3rd gear and 50 in 5th? (Which would be ~2000rpm vs ~1700rpm in my car)

At 30mph I'm normally in 4th which is ~1500rpm, and at that RPM it takes ages for the engine to heat up!

@jedi - Neat, I've only seen those in luxury cars with climate control :)

[jedi134]

@jedi - Neat, I've only seen those in luxury cars with climate control :)

I though the Avensis would have the same kit as a rav? If not better?

Do you not get climate control? All diesel ravs have this PTC heater apparently, is this not the same for your Taxis?

[Cyker]

Maybe us UK people don't get them... :S

[jedi134]

Uk diesel Ravs get them.......

[Jas16]

UK Avensis don't have the heater,

[jedi134]

Hmmmmmmmm not even top spec T180 variants?

[Heidfirst]

don't know but tonight with ~3C ambient my car was producing air at the vents that was detectably above ambient within 2 minutes of a very cold start (hadn't been used for 2 days including below zero overnighti).

Within 6 minutes & 1.5 miles the air was definitely warm whilst the engine temp gauge was still pegged at C.

By 3 miles air was hot & gauge was about 1/8 off C.

[jedi134]

Maybe you have this booster heater after all.....I didn't kbow I had it either untill some pointed it out.

[Gabaunion]

Thanks for all the answers guys

I haven't had the avensis long, I am just starting to learn my way around it.

The thing with the heat is, not that the heater isn't hot, it is that diesels are not as efficient at low temperatures, and they run rough.

For those who don't know, diesels have to be exerted to make much heat, they make very little at tick over. If you start one up and leave it running to melt the snow, you will be waiting a long time. Hence why it is common to put auxiliary heaters on them such as erbespasher whatever on Mercs.

Some engines that have a history of gaskets or over heating problems, are then 'refined' with high bypass thermostats, making them take longer to warm up.

I am not sure about the auxiliary heater on mine. The switch is there , and it lights up when you press it, but it doesn't seem to add much heat. They also usually make a turbo noise, but I cannot hear any thing. There is a cylinder with pipes coming out of it behind the engine, that could be to heat the water with the exhaust gases. I will have to look into it.