Poor economy/engine not reaching temperature

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

Hi all,

Would appreciate please any suggestions regarding a symptom on my 2005 2.2 diesel 73,000 miles avensis T spirit.

For the last month I'm getting very poor fuel economy and have noticed that the engine is not reaching normal temperature.

Today travelled 10 miles and still didn't reach normal operating temperature. 

I've never had any problems with this car in over 10 years of ownership. It's serviced yearly at the dealership.

Appreciate any guidance.

Peter.

[m456an]

Was the coolant changed, it should be changed every 10 years. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Topic title changed to reflect subject of topic.

[Notoyboy]

I'd expect most engines to take a little longer to get up to temperature in the depths of winter.  Otherwise my first suspect would be the thermostat.

[Cyker]

What have you looked at?

Did it start doing this suddenly or has it been gradual?

 

Hows the oil? Any mayonnaise-like goop in the oil filler cap?

 

Any pink crystalline stuff anywhere in the engine bay?

 

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

Hi all,

Thank you for responding To my question. 

Firstly, the car has done less than a 1,000 miles since its oil change.

This problem has seemed to occur before Christmas. The radiator cap has never been changed to my knowledge and it's been years since the coolant was changed. The thermostat is a good suggestion. It maybe stuck partly open. When you've had a car for year's you get to know all its foybles!. There is no coolant loss and the car drives ok. I did notice that when the car was idling at the traffic light the engine revs suddenly increased without any physical input by me. This has happened a couple of times.

I do appreciate all the correspondence and suggestions. I will have a look under the bonnet when it stops raining.

Peter

 

 

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

No mayonnaise on the oil filler neck or cap. I noticed the poor mpg on a regular long trip and know how much fuel I use.

Peter

[Cyker]

Might be the EGR needs cleaning out?
 

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

No mayonnaise on the oil filler neck or cap. I noticed the poor mpg on a regular long trip and know how much fuel I use.

Peter

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

I cleaned out the erg valve last year. Pretty gunked up inside. I would be surprised if it was blocked, I don't do that many miles. appreciate the suggestion.

Peter 

[Cyker]

If you are only doing short journeys, it would be worth checking it again. Things like the DPF, EGR, injectors etc. tend to get gucked up faster when then engine is only used for occasional/short runs because it never gets hot enough to burn the deposits off.

Esp. with the EGR, check the valve itself as well as the channels it feeds it all the way back to the turbo throttle-body as soot can build up all the way along.

With my old Yaris, I had EGR-related issues when I bought it; On inspection, the EGR valve was sooty but still working ckay. However, the throttle-body connected to the turbo intercooler was so sooted up that the air channel that went to the EGR valve was so solidly blocked with soot we didn't even realise it was there until we carb-cleaner'd the hell out of it (That stuff is magical for cleaning baked-on soot!!)

It might also be worth putting a few tanks of V-Power diesel, or BG-something-something or whatever cleaning additive your local motor factors sells through the engine.

And/or taking it on a sunday joyride hoon italian tuneup 

When I bought my first D4D I noticed it was losing performance - This was due to me only driving it urbanly for work. Since then, I would put in a tank of V-Power diesel ever 3-4 tanks and take it on a good a motorway/A-road thrash and get the engine good and hot, and this has kept the engine in good health since!

 

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

Thank you Tyler.

Excellent suggestions. I will certainly look at the throttle body.

I shall also do as you suggest, to put some v power diesel through it. I don't think I have a DPF filter on my

Car but will look again at the ERG valve.

Much appreciate your help. 

Peter 

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

Just to let you know that I run my heater flat out as suggested by Peter Wilkes. It seemed to have primed the coolant system. The temperature has markedly improved. However, after reaching operating engine temperature at idle the temperature starts to fall. I don't ever remember the temperature dropping before at idle? But is soon goes back to normal when driven. The outside temperature was plus 3 and of course drops when driving due to the wind chill. I'm going to carry out a coolant change + new thermostat as soon as the weather improves.

Again, appreciate all the help given. Will also look into the benifits of a Teraclean treatment clean on the old girl.

Will let you know how it goes if I have it done.

Peter 

[Amateurtorque]

Hi Peter, I just thought I would comment on your fast idle you mentioned. My 2006 2.2 d4d ticks over at about 1.25k at the moment with the cold weather, in the summer about 0.8. If I have driven the car in the cold for 500metres after just starting up the tick over is the same however if I switch of the lights and heaters the tick over drops. Does this happen with yours?

[peter.ling24@gmail.com]

Hi Matt,

Thank you for your info. I will try it and see. After purging the the coolant system the indicated operating temperature is back to normal. Still poor MPH though!

[Amateurtorque]

Hi Peter, does your operating temperature stay the same now, or does it still fluctuate?