Avant Sport

you'd think they would last longer than 1 year.

audiqv8

It is cold outside so it might take longer to warm up. Once the engine gets to temperature does it cool down while driving on the highway? If the answer is no then your thermostat is most likely OK.

The thermostat is used to help maintain a set engine temperture, it doesn't help the car warm up any faster if it is working properly. Once the engine starts to cool down while driving the thermostat will close and keep the coolant within the engine block, as the engine heats up the thermostat will open to let the coolant pass through the radiator.

The only gotcha is the heater core which will bypass the theromstat. If you have the climate control set to high then the coolant will pass through the heater core (which act like a mini radiator, heat exchanger).

Quick test is to carefully touch the return hose to the radiator to see if it is warm/hot. If it is warm and the engine is still cold then the thermostat is stuck open.

Avant Sport

maybe a little rap on the thermostat housing is in order??

qpower

couldn't hurt, i just changed my thermostat car warms up quicker and temp stays more constant, at least its not too big of a pita