TD5 running temp

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that my 01 TD5 gets up to operating temperature in about half the time it used to take, on its first run in the morning. It now takes about 4 mins as opposed to about 7 - 8 mins previously. I have also had totop up the coolant a little over the past few months, sometimes not for a couple of thousand miles, other times after a couple of hundred?

Anything obvious to be wary about?

7-8 miles seems a little long to me, although it does vary with the outside ambient.

Our V8 is up to temp on the gauge in a mile or so, that's when the needle stops rising and the thermostat opens.

Might be worth changing the thermostat.

Peter

Diesels take longer, also depends how you drive it.

My 300tdi's can go about 5 miles before the guage even moves (stat etc... is all fine) but if I take it right onto the 60mph dual carrageway and go at 60 the needle will move within about 1 mile and up to temp in about 3/4.

Once it's up to temp does it stay there - it doesn't get to hot?

Once the temp is up, it stays there with no movement.

Initial post said mins, not miles.

Mine TD5 takes about 7 min to get to stable temp. Are you constantly losing water?

DaveJ. said:

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that my 01 TD5 gets up to operating temperature in about half the time it used to take, on its first run in the morning. It now takes about 4 mins as opposed to about 7 - 8 mins previously. I have also had totop up the coolant a little over the past few months, sometimes not for a couple of thousand miles, other times after a couple of hundred?

Anything obvious to be wary about?

Click to expand...

Topping up the coolant seems to come down to either a hole in the rad, or a Head Gasket (I think the 01 still had the plastic dowels?) or the head starting to crack (not uncommon).

The cooling system on the TD5 is pretty complex but I can't think of any reason it would warm up quicker, especially if it's not overheating, unless something that wasn't working has suddenly started to!

:doh: Change the coolant filler cap - look around the reservoir for signs of spillage. Could be it's not sealing properly??

Another symptom that I have discovered is that the drivers side foot well carpet is wet? Could this be heater matrix? Is that a big job?

Involves removing the dash on the 300TDi..... cost was in manhours (about 8!!!)

DaveJ. said:

Another symptom that I have discovered is that the drivers side foot well carpet is wet? Could this be heater matrix? Is that a big job?

Click to expand...

If it's heater matrix it will smell of anti-freeze, esp. when hot. It could be a leaking windscreen or maybe aircon, although I think that's passenger side??? (Don't know - haven't got it myself).