slow warm-up

[foresthawk]

In this very cold winter, i.e. mornings about 5 above to about 5 to 10 below zero, the temperature gauge on my 2007 Dodge Caliber 2.0 engine takes about almost 20 miles to get up to its normal operating temperature, which is about one noth below midline. It warms up to that temperature a lot quicker in spring/summer/fall weather,I know, but seems like its taking a lot longer than it should, despite the cold temps.
Is this normal, or should the thermostat be checked. thanks.

 

[Kuato]

Sounds normal. It just takes longer to go from-10 to operating temp than it does to go from +60 to operating temperature.

 

[javacontour]

Is this idling or driving? If it's 20 minu idling, it's likely normal. If it's 20 min driving, then you may have a suspect thermostat.

 

[GreeCguy]

I would say it's because of the extremely cold temps you guys have been having up north. What you could try is a piece of cardboard covering part of the radiator. See if it warms up any faster. Keep a close eye on the temp gauge so that if it starts to run hot, you can pull over and remove the cardboard.

 

[foresthawk]

Basically, its driving along mostly w/o stops at from 35 to 65mph. I figure there must be quite a windchill factor on the radiator at highway speeds and low outside temperatures.
Will try cardboard in front of radiator and watch the gauge; I did that years ago on a Ford Ranger 4X4, V-6 and it helped a lot when the winter temps. got low.

 

[CourierDriver]

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/?n=windchill at 50mph and -10 degrees, your radiator is seeing about -45.

If you rode on the front of your car at 50mph, it might take you 2 days to thaw out, just saying..lol

 

[4D-56]

In England, I used to have a piece of cardboard behind the front grille on my car. Sometimes it would take forever for that temp gauge to move. Here in FL it aint far behind the rev counter

 

[oldhp]

2007, has thermostat ever been changed?
Blocking off 1/3-1/2 radiator will help at those temps.

 

[Warstud]

If you have to drive 20 miles before it's up to temp..... somethings not working right. Sounds like you may need a new t-stat.

 

[Garak]

Twenty minutes is a long time, but of course, that does depend a bit on driving conditions. I'd check with owners with similar vehicles (i.e. on a Dodge forum) and see what they're experiencing. I've never had a vehicle (assuming it's cooling system was in order in the first place) take twenty minutes of actual driving to warm up, even in -40.

 

[Warstud]

HE SAID 20 MILES NOT 20 MINUTES. It shouldn't take either one.

 

[foresthawk]

Got it as used car a few years back,and as far as I know its the original thermostat. Its always been a little cold blooded, but in a "normal" winter or other seasons don't usually notice it so much.

 

[fdcg27]

Give the cooling system a nice flush next summer or fall and throw in a new thermostat while you're at it.
Some folks report poor results with aftermarket 'stats, so OEM might be the way to go.
They're not that expensive and you'll likely never have to worry about it again.

 

[SrDriver]

Originally Posted By: foresthawk
Basically, its driving along mostly w/o stops at from 35 to 65mph. I figure there must be quite a windchill factor on the radiator at highway speeds and low outside temperatures.
Will try cardboard in front of radiator and watch the gauge; I did that years ago on a Ford Ranger 4X4, V-6 and it helped a lot when the winter temps. got low.


Windchill only affects warm blooded animals.

 

[gathermewool]

Is your heater on with the fan on high during most or all of this drive?

Wind chill takes into account feeling. Your radiator doesn't feel anything - heat exchange occurs based on the airflow, delta-T between the coolant and air, and the heat exchange area of the radiator.

Lucky for us, coolant doesn't flow between the engine and radiator at 100%, 100% of the time due to the thermostat. Partially blocking the radiator makes sense, but if your thermostat is allowing excessive cooling then the cardboard may not be entirely effective.

As mentioned before, check on a dedicated Caliber forum. I don't know that car, nor do I have enough experience in Temps that low to give you a reasonable comparison.

 

[eljefino]

If you're cranking the heat it can take too much away from the engine.

My saturn is like that, a design flaw/feature, and "they all do it".

Wind does get at your oil pan and take some heat out, but the biggest source of wind is going 65 MPH. It shouldn't be a factor worth measuring.

Cardboard in the grill does help in wicked cold; the thermostat will open wider for a given run time/ ambient temp, and that heat will make it to the radiator where it will then get to the air intake, battery, windshield fluid, and other peripherals.

 

[babyivan]

Originally Posted By: foresthawk
Got it as used car a few years back,and as far as I know its the original thermostat. Its always been a little cold blooded, but in a "normal" winter or other seasons don't usually notice it so much.


T-stat is the likely culprit.

I had the same issue arise last winter. I pulled out the t-stat and it was stuck partially open.

Get a good t-stat like a Stant Superstat, they are great in extreme cold (the heat motor is larger as well as the spring) and the design of them also reduces cycling (Weir valve).

BTW, a car with a good t-stat won't need cardboard in front of the rad. IMO, that's just a band-aid for shoddy car maintenance.

My car now puts out GREAT heat doing 70 mph in bitter cold weather and heats up from the cold rather quickly.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: babyivan
Originally Posted By: foresthawk
Got it as used car a few years back,and as far as I know its the original thermostat. Its always been a little cold blooded, but in a "normal" winter or other seasons don't usually notice it so much.


T-stat is the likely culprit.

I had the same issue arise last winter. I pulled out the t-stat and it was stuck partially open.

Get a good t-stat like a Stant Superstat, they are great in extreme cold (the heat motor is larger as well as the spring) and the design of them also reduces cycling (Weir valve).

BTW, a car with a good t-stat won't need cardboard in front of the rad. IMO, that's just a band-aid for shoddy car maintenance.

My car now puts out GREAT heat doing 70 mph in bitter cold weather and heats up from the cold rather quickly.


Exactly!
I can't imagine where people saying that it's normal get their ideas from

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
HE SAID 20 MILES NOT 20 MINUTES. It shouldn't take either one.

Miles is worse!

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: babyivan
Originally Posted By: foresthawk
Got it as used car a few years back,and as far as I know its the original thermostat. Its always been a little cold blooded, but in a "normal" winter or other seasons don't usually notice it so much.


T-stat is the likely culprit.

I had the same issue arise last winter. I pulled out the t-stat and it was stuck partially open.

Get a good t-stat like a Stant Superstat, they are great in extreme cold (the heat motor is larger as well as the spring) and the design of them also reduces cycling (Weir valve).

BTW, a car with a good t-stat won't need cardboard in front of the rad. IMO, that's just a band-aid for shoddy car maintenance.

My car now puts out GREAT heat doing 70 mph in bitter cold weather and heats up from the cold rather quickly.


Exactly!
I can't imagine where people saying that it's normal get their ideas from

Granted, it's not the best way to maintain an automobile, but it's a temporary fix till the weather warms. Of course, OP does have the option of flushing his system and replacing the thermostat in sub-zero temps. That sounds like "fun, fun, fun till frostbite eats your fingers away."