TDI ENGINE WARMUP IN WINTER
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Bay City, Michigan
TDI ENGINE WARMUP IN WINTER
I have read so many things on this, and have gone back and fourth on it so many times. So I figure, lets see what the TDI heads at AudiWorld have to say about it. Do you guys let your TDI warmup before take off during the winter months? If so, how long? If not, why?
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
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Let me preface this with I DO NOT OWN A DIESEL but from what I have read on the subject what I find does make a lot of sense.
Diesel engines tend to have a larger oil and coolant capacity so they will take longer to come up to operating temps. From what I have read from several sources you really only need to let them idle 30 - 60 seconds to get the engine lubed and start warming up before taking off. Be gentle on the throttle until then engine come up to temp and then you are golden. If you have an engine block or oil heater you can plug in then that will be very beneficial in the winter time as well. The sources I have read all recommend against initial prolonged idling because then engine will take a LONG TIME to warm up in idle mode since it is not under a load yet.
The big semi engines can take 20 - 30 minutes of driving until they get up to operating temp conditions.
Diesel engines tend to have a larger oil and coolant capacity so they will take longer to come up to operating temps. From what I have read from several sources you really only need to let them idle 30 - 60 seconds to get the engine lubed and start warming up before taking off. Be gentle on the throttle until then engine come up to temp and then you are golden. If you have an engine block or oil heater you can plug in then that will be very beneficial in the winter time as well. The sources I have read all recommend against initial prolonged idling because then engine will take a LONG TIME to warm up in idle mode since it is not under a load yet.
The big semi engines can take 20 - 30 minutes of driving until they get up to operating temp conditions.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
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From: Toronto, Canada
Cold Canadian winters.
I get in the car, start the engine, turn on steering wheel heater, put on the seatbelt, put on rear window defroster, turn on seat heater, check if rear view mirror defroster is on and turn on the windshield defroster. All this takes the better part of a minute. Then I drive away.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Warwickshire
They do have auxiliary heaters but the ones fitted currently just use an electric element to heat the air for windscreen defrosting etc... it does nothing to help heat the engine.
The answer is simply treat it just like a petrol engine, drive it fairly gently until it's warmed up. Because diesels generate less heat, it will take long to warm up anway.
The answer is simply treat it just like a petrol engine, drive it fairly gently until it's warmed up. Because diesels generate less heat, it will take long to warm up anway.
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jan 2014
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I agree with everything you said about warm up procedures except:
The engine in my semi could take 20 to 30 minutes if I just let it sit there and idle. When you start driving while the engine is still cold, that 15 liter engine is a full operating temperature within 5 miles.
Back on topic, I agree with what you said. Start the car in the winter, let it idle for a minute or so to get the fluids moving then set off. Keep the engine under 4,000 RPM until it's warmed up. This is generally thought of as the quickest and preferred way to warm up the engine on cold days.
Back on topic, I agree with what you said. Start the car in the winter, let it idle for a minute or so to get the fluids moving then set off. Keep the engine under 4,000 RPM until it's warmed up. This is generally thought of as the quickest and preferred way to warm up the engine on cold days.
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AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
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From: Toronto, Canada
I agree with everything you said about warm up procedures except:
The engine in my semi could take 20 to 30 minutes if I just let it sit there and idle. When you start driving while the engine is still cold, that 15 liter engine is a full operating temperature within 5 miles.
Back on topic, I agree with what you said. Start the car in the winter, let it idle for a minute or so to get the fluids moving then set off. Keep the engine under 4,000 RPM until it's warmed up. This is generally thought of as the quickest and preferred way to warm up the engine on cold days.
The engine in my semi could take 20 to 30 minutes if I just let it sit there and idle. When you start driving while the engine is still cold, that 15 liter engine is a full operating temperature within 5 miles.
Back on topic, I agree with what you said. Start the car in the winter, let it idle for a minute or so to get the fluids moving then set off. Keep the engine under 4,000 RPM until it's warmed up. This is generally thought of as the quickest and preferred way to warm up the engine on cold days.