2000 V70 SE base slow to warm up - bad thermostat? Topic is solved

Post by **scot850** » 27 Jul 2017, 13:25

I have to go back through the piles of receipts on the 'project' to check if I replaced the thermostat. I have replaced so much I can't recall although I was sure I had with a Volvo unit to get the right temperature range for opening (many of the aftermarket open at 87F but the Volvo ones here open at 90F).

Today it was 90+F outside, yet it took a long time for the engine to get to temperature. With an NA with the thermo valve in the air-box I would have expected it to warm up much quicker. It took as long as the 'R' does. The 850's (both NA's) took way less time to get up to temperature than this does. Even if the thermo warm up flap has failed, how long does this engine normally take to get up to temperature?

Is there anything else that can cause slow warm up? Nothing that I can think of. Car has Volvo coolant just replaced.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Jul 2017, 15:58

Looked through the mountain of receipts and found the one for the thermostat, so it is new.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 27 Jul 2017, 18:34

It should be up to temp , midrange on gauge in 5 minutes, any temperature

How long is it taking?

Post by **precopster** » 27 Jul 2017, 18:36

Have you tried actually driving it Neil ? And planting the foot after about 5 minutes?

They tend to take forever to warm up if just sitting there idling.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Jul 2017, 20:28

Yes I have driven it. Today I did about 18km in 33C/92F and it took way more than 5 minutes. Our old 850's used to be almost hot by the time I got to the first set of traffic lights and sat for the standard 3 minuted waiting for the change to happen. This is taking about 3-4km to get warm in this temperature. Goodness knows what it would take at -30C!

Maybe it is just a P80 V/S70 v's the 850 is somehow different. Only other thing is I'm not sure if they had 87F v's 90F thermostats. How would that affect it? The main difference is I'd expect the engine to possibly show warmer sooner, but the ECT would still show the same operating temp once the thermostat is open. The ECT is on the same side of the thermostat at the top pf the engine. I'll time the warm up cycle next time I'm out. Even if the warm up valve is stuck (it was fully open when I had the air-box out) it should warm up almost as quick due to the high ambient temperature.

I'll take it for a run to the store tomorrow and write back.

How do you test the operation of the air thermostat valve in the air-box? I know they can be temperamental. Just pull the air-box and hit the engine side with a heat gun and see what happens?

Thanks again.

Neil.

Post by **precopster** » 28 Jul 2017, 02:30

Never had an issue with my warm up time on my 2000 V70 though never timed it. It was always tolerable. I wouldn't turn on my heater unless the gauge was at mid-point. Just like you I had a Wahler OEM in there at 90 degrees and a new ECT.

When engine is hot remove the fresh air intake and see if the flap is fully deflected taking air from the air cleaner. If not it's still sucking hot air from the exhaust. Even a small gap is too much.

I rammed a self tapping builder's screw through mine the first week I read about it on MVS. I was sure I picked up and extra couple of horsepower after the mod as mine was still allowing air from the exhaust.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Jul 2017, 03:11

Intake Air Temperature is reported on my reader on the 1999. That would tell you if it's hotter than ambient. It might go up at idle due to heat soak but on the road it should be ambient

Post by **scot850** » 28 Jul 2017, 09:40

I will check the warm up time and when I get a chance I'll look at the air flaps when the engine is warm and photograph them.

Are the flaps combined and work from only one thermostat or are they independent on an NA motor air-box?

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 31 Jul 2017, 13:35

Well the update to this is that maybe (well definitely) I was expecting too much. In fairness the car is up to temperature in these warmer temperatures in about 3km of driving which is actually pretty good. I'll have to wait for winter to see what happens in colder temperatures.

Thanks for the inputs guys.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 16 Nov 2017, 16:46

Well I thought it was solved. Yesterday used the car for the first time in a week. It was -4C outside and the car was outside.

I started the car and left it running while removing some snow off it. ECC was set to Defrost.

Took a couple of minutes at least to remove snow and ice from windshield and rest of the car. Got in and drove about 1km to traffic light. Sat for 3 minutes. Drove to next set of lights (0.5km) and sat at lights for another minute or so. Drove for about another 2km and only then did the temp needle move off lowest point. Too another 3km or so and another set of lights before it was up to temp.

I suspect the warm air thermostat in the airbox is not working, but even so, my 'R' warms up faster without that anyway. Car has less than 1000km on new Volvo OE thermostat and Volvo coolant.

Once car was up to temp it was fine.

This seems a long time for the needle to even move off the lowest point isn't it? Almost suspect the thermostat is bad?

Neil.