How long do you wait before turning on your car heater?

[sunny2k2000]

I start the car from cold, idle for 30sec then drive softely until engine warms up which takes around 15-20mins, i then start the heating.
Is this normal, also is turning the heating on from a cold start OK?

Discus please...

 

[m0rk]

It's fine to start with the heating on...

15-20 mins to warm up isn't right though

 

[sunny2k2000]

It's fine to start with the heating on...

15-20 mins to warm up isn't right though

By 15-20mins to warm up i meant that it takes this long for engine temperature gauge to raise up.

 

[m0rk]

Yeah, that's still not right - unless you're not doing more than idling

 

[sunny2k2000]

Just out of interest what is the normal time for diesel car's to warm up?

 

[evo2345]

mines the same mate

 

[kezFR07]

mines a petrol and i turn heating on just after it starts rising, no point blowing cold air is there. It takes around 5 mins of steady driving to get to 90 Degrees. When i used to have the polo tdi though it was about 10 mins

 

[robin cur]

when to work last night 8 miles never got to 90 degrees

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Yeah my Ecomotive took a 10 mile journey and around 20mins to get up to temp yesterday. I think they're just cold running engines.

 

[HotHatchSteve]

The freezing weather dont help. Mines taking a lot longer compared to a couple of weeks ago (usally 5 -10 minutes now about 20). If you car is kept outside will probaly take even longer.

 

[Poverty]

diesels always take a hell of alot longer to warm up than petrols. Infact in my diesel van, if I allow it to idle long enough the temp gauge can go from 80 back down to a indicated 0!!!

 

[rödcupra]

all diesel owners should have webasto !

 

[Slimy]

Having my climate control set to auto means that it doesn't speed up until the engine is providing heat. That's usually at least ten minutes into the journey.

 

[/dev/null]

^ Same here, just leave the climate control constantly on auto.

 

[Wellsy]

I don't turn mine on for about 5 mins as it slowly blows cold when just started unless it's summer, takes about 5 minutes for the temp gauge to start taking a reading. And I don't go over 2k revs (ish) until this happens.

I live next to a motorway though and if I get straight on there from cold the temp will be up at 90 in less than 5 mins at 70 mph.

 

[tehguy]

I leave mine on auto low set to 20c and never touch it. As soon as it can provide warm air it does. My old car when set to auto wouldn't blow ANY air until it could provide the heat that you wanted.

 

[Nath.]

diesels always take a hell of alot longer to warm up than petrols. Infact in my diesel van, if I allow it to idle long enough the temp gauge can go from 80 back down to a indicated 0!!!

I seem to remember reading that diesel engines burn cooler, less of the energy from burning the fuel goes into heat than with a petrol engine.

 

[AL Cupra]

According to the manual it is supposed to be quicker to hear up the cabin if you have it on the setting where it only re-circulates cabin air and not outdoor air.

 

[Wellsy]

Ye that's so that it puts warmer air through the heater from the cabin rather than clap cold air from outside. But obviously the heater's need to be blowing warm air in the first place! Same with air con and cooling

 

[johnbev]

As soon as you switch on your climate control, the fan behind the radiator starts up and sucks cold air through the matrix. Therefore it will take the engine longer to heat up. Give it a bit longer to allow some heat in the engine first then put on your climate/heater fan. Works for me