Impressed with MKVI-A6 warm-up time

[6DOF]

With the recent cold snap I am impressed with just how quickly these new MKVI-A6's produce heat. The old 03 ALH would not warm up at idle and took 10-15 minutes driving time to produce heat. The 2 new A6 Jetta's will warm up at idle and only take 3-5 minutes to blow hot air, nice.

 

[ChiTownPilot]

Yea the electric aux heater works wonders. Perhaps your 03 didn't have one? Although "cold" can be relative when you live in MS...

 

[TDiSkater]

IIRC our cars are equipped with electric cabin heaters to assist with what you are experiencing

 

[jmarshall]

Just how cold does it get in MS?

 

[Bigwhitebeast]

Are you F'ing kidding me??? Seriously? I mean really you are just jerking me right? These cars absolutely suck for heat even with the stupid aux heater!!! OK yeah so they are cool because they get good mileage but seriously the heat sucks buttocks...

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Guess it depends on what you're used to. I think my '12 Golf makes heat pretty quickly, even this morning when it was -2 outside. However, it does spend nights in an insulated garage: even this morning the garage was 38 degrees. That's got to help. But my B4 in the same garage doesn't make heat nearly as soon as the new car.

 

[6DOF]

Are you F'ing kidding me??? Seriously? I mean really you are just jerking me right? These cars absolutely suck for heat even with the stupid aux heater!!! OK yeah so they are cool because they get good mileage but seriously the heat sucks buttocks...

Calm down dude, maybe a Prius is more your style? Compared to my first TDI, the 03 ALH, the heat in the new A-6 is much improved.
I does get cold here in MS, forecast low is 8 for tomorrow night. Please don't start the old "it's colder than that here" thread. I am originally from Canada and experienced -62C once. Been there done that.

 

[jmarshall]

I just didn't realize that it got cold all that often in MS. Ps, the high here on Tuesday is supposed to be -5 with a wind chill of -45. lol.

 

[Locnar]

I was just thinking about this today as I crawled into the Jetta for a sub-zero morning drive. True...my wife's gasser gets warmer faster than mine, but only by a few minutes. Even after a few short trips running errands, I found the car pretty comfortable. I guess everyone is different though...like why some people are always cold.

With the heated seats, I really don't think heat is a problem, but then again...I hate being overly warm unless I've been skiing all day and need to thaw out my toes!

 

[ChiTownPilot]

I think the heat works really well. When it's super cold I initially start with full @$$ warmer and level 2 (I'm told that's the lowest fan setting that will trigger the aux heater) fan speed. Once the car is warmed up, even when bitterly cold, I end up having to turn the temp knob to the 2 o'clock position (away from max heat) even on fan speed 1 or the car is too hot for me. My drive to O'Hare is mostly highway though so it probably keeps the engine at a very consistent temp throughout my drive.

 

[Minners]

-35F (ambient) for Monday morning. I will be interested to see how she performs as I drive from Central MN to Chicago!

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I've yet to turn the seats on in my Golf. I loathe heated seats. That's why I like cloth, it's not as cold. But I only have the heat on full for a few miles, then turn it back. And I have yet to put the fan past 2. I don't think I'm especially warm-blooded. The only time I've been dissatisfied with heat from the TDI is coming off the mountain at Killington VT in my Jetta wagon after a day of snowboarding. It's all down hill, so the engine isn't using any fuel and consequently, making any heat. With 4 people in the car the windows ice up and it's not pleasant until you get to the level and get on boost. But it's only for a few minutes. The FE is worth it.

 

[japedo]

Are you F'ing kidding me??? Seriously? I mean really you are just jerking me right? These cars absolutely suck for heat even with the stupid aux heater!!! OK yeah so they are cool because they get good mileage but seriously the heat sucks buttocks...

Maybe the aux heater isn't working properly in your car. Our tdi heats up faster then our 2007 Altima. So I can honestly say that I am impressed!

So to answer your questions, i don't think he was F'ing kidding you...
I believe he is serious, I am
And I don't think he is jerking you... Is that something sexual? :$

Anyways, good use of English language, quality post

 

[Bigwhitebeast]

Maybe the aux heater isn't working properly in your car. Our tdi heats up faster then our 2007 Altima. So I can honestly say that I am impressed!
So to answer your questions, i don't think he was F'ing kidding you...
I believe he is serious, I am
And I don't think he is jerking you... Is that something sexual? :$
Anyways, good use of English language, quality post

You quite possibly could be right about the aux heater not working, I would think the headlights should dim a bit when it's turned on. I have no signs that it works.

My original post while semi serious was written with a smile on my face I mean if you search "heater" in this forum you will come up with many people complaining about the poor or slow heating in these cars.

 

[R-1150-RS]

With the recent cold snap I am impressed with just how quickly these new MKVI-A6's produce heat. The old 03 ALH would not warm up at idle and took 10-15 minutes driving time to produce heat. The 2 new A6 Jetta's will warm up at idle and only take 3-5 minutes to blow hot air, nice.

Not good to idle our diesels to try to warm them.

As you pointed out they really don't burn enough fuel at idle to warm the engine. All you really wind up doing is getting more combustion generated water to condense inside your cold engine.

Also the high compression pressures of a cold diesel engine are hard on the internals at idle speeds. The best and recommended method of warming any engine is by driving it at moderate speeds.

Gary

 

[Scoutx]

Maybe burning fuel at idle won't heat our cars....but the electric coolant heater certainly will and the draw on the alternator will boost fuel burn at idle. I can see where doing so might be nice if you're going icing on the windows, but normally I just start wait about 15 sec for oil to circulate, head temp to go up a bit and then I go.

Tested mine the other day running an outside temp of 16F. 5 miles I was at 90% of operating temp and by 7 miles I was at full operating temp. About 1/2 as fast as my old gasser, but then it only got 26 mpg. Now, if you start off with max heat and full fan then it could well take nearly forever to get the car warm....but as in most things moderation is key to ultimate comfort.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Not good to idle our diesels to try to warm them.

As you pointed out they really don't burn enough fuel at idle to warm the engine. All you really wind up doing is getting more combustion generated water to condense inside your cold engine.

Also the high compression pressures of a cold diesel engine are hard on the internals at idle speeds. The best and recommended method of warming any engine is by driving it at moderate speeds.

Gary

True they don't burn much fuel at idle and won't warm quickly, but harmful? I doubt it.

 

[andyman7931]

My '12 is taking 12 miles and 20+ minutes to get up to operating temperature in the 20 degree mornings. However, it produces heat in the passenger compartment in about 2 minutes of driving which is just fine. I just gotta wait a long time for my rev limiting pulls

 

[oilhammer]

Anyone who experienced winters with air-cooled Volkswagens will think any TDIs heater is just fine, LOL.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Anyone who experienced winters with air-cooled Volkswagens will think any TDIs heater is just fine, LOL.

You got that right. Local driving? Nothing. My ride in our VW Bus to high school included 20 minutes on the highway, but my feet were still numb when I arrived.

 

[TDwhIte]

We dont need no heaters here in Texas y'all
=)

 

[aja8888]

We dont need no heaters here in Texas y'all
=)

Maybe in Laredo, but here in Houston it was 23 F last night. Love those heated seats!

 

[jmarshall]

Maybe in Laredo, but here in Houston it was 23 F last night. Love those heated seats!

It hasn't been that warm here in a week or more.

 

[aja8888]

It hasn't been that warm here in a week or more.

I'm glad I left Connecticut when I did.

This is the worst winter we have had in a long time and this Saturday I probably will be cutting the grass.

 

[oilhammer]

It was -18F at my house this morning. Yikes. (that is REALLY cold for Missouri).

 

[jmarshall]

Our HIGH today is supposed to be -4F

 

[TDwhIte]

Maybe in Laredo, but here in Houston it was 23 F last night. Love those heated seats!

you sir are right, but 23f is nothing compared to what our Canadian peers are suffering, hence my comment.....
I bet that a Canadian living in TX would never use them heated seats.

 

[Racewalker]

2 days ago here it was -38C with a wind chill of -50C. I love my heated seats and my winter front.

 

[mac5155]

Had -6F readout today on the MFD with -25+ windchills. She fired right up, but took nearly 25 minutes to get warm air. Idled for only about 30 seconds and drove 35-45 on back roads for 10 miles.

 

[mac5155]

It hasn't been that warm here in a week or more.

lol, i hear ya, i'd kill for 23 right now.