200tdi t'stat question

OK so apologies if this is a dumb question (no doubt Ill find out soon enough) but Ive looked all over the forum and cant find the answer.

This is the first diesel Ive ever owned and I know they take a while longer than petrol to warm up but I suspect the t'stat is chuffed as this un takes an age, something like 20 miles to get to full temp on the guage, which is with the needle still just in the white part of the dial. Thats where I set my kenlow to come on when I fitted it and so far it has never gone over that even after 1 1/2 hours at 65 - 70 on motorway.

Is this slow warm up normal on these engines ? I would expect the t'stat to allow the temp to get up at least within 5 or 6 miles. Holding the top hose it seems as if there is a slow gradual warming of the water going into the top of the rad.

Anyway I'll oik the little booger out and have a look to see how itgoes in a pan of water with a thermometer, so if it is knacked can I replace it with a 88 deg one that works that I took out of me V8 disco?

sorry for the long post but I do understand when you guys get peed off with lack of information.

frog hopper said:

Something like 20 miles to get to full temp on the guage, which is with the needle still just in the white part of the dial. Thats where I set my kenlow to come on when I fitted it and so far it has never gone over that even after 1 1/2 hours at 65 - 70 on motorway.

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Too long, sounds like the stat is jammed open. However, the fan should never really come on though, maybe in traffic on a hot day or offroading, so don't expect it to.

frog hopper said:

Is this slow warm up normal on these engines ? I would expect the t'stat to allow the temp to get up at least within 5 or 6 miles. Holding the top hose it seems as if there is a slow gradual warming of the water going into the top of the rad.

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Yes, certainly sounds like it's jammed open. I would expect it to be warm (not middle of the dial but warm enough to let the heater blow warm) after about 4/5miles.

frog hopper said:

Anyway I'll oik the little booger out and have a look to see how itgoes in a pan of water with a thermometer, so if it is knacked can I replace it with a 88 deg one that works that I took out of me V8 disco?

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If it fit's I guess so, check that it has the same setup as the one you take out, i.e. for the bypass or you could end up cooking the engine.

Or get a new 92° one which will be good for the winter.

thanks for that discomania, the 92deg t'stat sounds like a good option, i take it that would be ok year round??