Car warms up too quickly

[awhoy]

With recent cold weather I noticed that my 05 GT warms up much quicker than normal from cold starts. Normally in cold weather it takes about 10 minutes for my car get warm air. The last couple days, within 2 minutes I can feel warm air from the vents and the needle for the temperature would be at 1/4 mark. Within 5 minutes car would be fully warmed up and the temperature gauge sits at the 1/2 mark.

Initially I was concerned with the engine overheating. I have driven up to Orillia couple time since and did not notice the temperature gauge go pass the 1/2 mark. However, I did noticed that the heat seems to bit hotter than before. Anyone know what the problem may be?

BTW, the mileage on the car is 240,000km.

[ROB_MAZDA]

Unless you see smoke out of the engine, I see no problem with a quickly warmed up car!!! Lotsa miles, where did u accumulate them?

[n00bMeiSter]

I wouldn't consider this a problem, I'd consider this a blessing in cold weather!

But seriously, there isn't any issue. Unless you are hearing weird sounds, or smell burning or there's smoke.

[Pillbox2010]

It could be a cooling system issue. I would check to see if the rad fan comes on at all in your travels.

I could see the cold winter air keeping your engine cold, but in the summer if it heats up that fast it can quickly overheat if you aren't driving and getting air into the grill, or have the fan blowing onto the engine.

[Booter22]

like the others have said i dont think this would be so much of a bad thing, however have you ever had your thermostat replaced, if not. it may be sticking and staying closed longer then before to allow the engine to heat up faster. then once the coolant is warm enough it opens it up. not so much of a problem now. could be an issure in the future. just something to keep in mind.

[Hyperion]

First person I've ever seen complaining about an engine getting warm fast.

[Harbour Rat]

A change to abnormally fast warm-up times can be a sign of a failed head gasket. But if the car is running OK, you are not seeing smoke, not losing oil or coolant, there is no cross-contamination between oil and coolant and the car is not overheating I wouldn't worry about it.

But at 6-7 years old and 240,000 km it is quite possible the head gasket is beginning to leak a bit so it is worth monitoring the oil and coolant to see if the levels change or if cross-contamination starts to show up.

It is also possible the thermostat is sticking a bit and not opening as soon as it should. This could cause overheating if it gets worse, though from the few thermostat failure threads I've seen it sounds like the thermostats in our cars fail open and make the engine run cold. I wouldn't assume this is 100% guaranteed though, Murphy's Law being what it is

[Flagrum_3]

Your warm up seems pretty normal to me! My car warms within 5 minutes (If your talking driving time) and hits the 1/2 way mark. IF your not getting a CEL, then I wouldn't worry about it too much, as, if there was an issue with the fan or thermostat you would get a cell, but do check your coolant level and strength to be on the safe side.
...and keep an eye on your coolant guage to see IF; it goes high then drops to half way during initial warm up.

_3

[Cab0oze]

Yeah, at -25C if i warm up for 5 mins and then ~2 mins of slow driving I'm getting warm air which is a blessing... my friends audi A4 can drive for an hour (no joke) and still be blowing cold air!

[n00bMeiSter]

It could be a cooling system issue. I would check to see if the rad fan comes on at all in your travels.

I could see the cold winter air keeping your engine cold, but in the summer if it heats up that fast it can quickly overheat if you aren't driving and getting air into the grill, or have the fan blowing onto the engine.

If it's going to overheat, it's going to overheat, the cold air isn't going to do that much to stop it.

[Rob23]

If it's going to overheat, it's going to overheat, the cold air isn't going to do that much to stop it.

+1 lol the cold air wont do anything at all.

[mounir]

If the 2 minutes and 5 minutes you talk about in the OP, are minutes of driving time, that seems completely normal to me...

[htc***]

my friends audi A4 can drive for an hour (no joke) and still be blowing cold air!


I think he need to replace the thermostat which doesn't work properly. Thermostat's main job is to allow the engine to heat up quickly, and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature. Or he doesn't mix antifreeze with water (100% antifreeze will take longer to heat it up too).

[awhoy]

If the 2 minutes and 5 minutes you talk about in the OP, are minutes of driving time, that seems completely normal to me...

Just to clarify... within 2 minutes of starting the car I would get warm air and by 5 minute mark from starting the car I would get hot air and the temperature needle would be at the 1/2 mark. This is with ~1 minute of idling and the rest driving easily.

I checked my coolant and oil levels and they both are good. My last oil change was 8000km ago and oil level is just above the MIN line, so it doesn't seem like my car is burning oil. I will get a co-worker to press the gas pedal for me this afternoon and check if there is excessive smoke coming out of the exhaust.

About 2 years ago the thermostat caused a CEL, I had it changed a Jimmy's. If anything is wrong I am just hoping it is the thermostat. I assume it would be much easier/cheaper to fix than a head gasket.

Thanks for all the input folk... I will just monitor the problem over the new few days and if it get worst I will have to take it to Jimmy to check it out.

[Cosmo77]

the expected warm up time for a mazda 3 engine is about 3 mins at 3500rpm in neutral. you seem fine.

[Flagrum_3]

Awhoy, if you want peace of mind, take it to Jimmy and have him do a "coolant system pressure check" and check to see if your coolant is 'good' not just level-wise; Too little glycol and too much water in the mix can cause the engine to heat up quicker also...If it was your thermostat you should get a CEL code.

Also think it's improbable that it's a head gasket.

_3

[boyracer]

Also, remember that the winter that we've had so far has not been overly cold. I would keep an eye on it, & if you are that worried about, take Flagrum_3's advice & head on over to Jimmy for a check.

[The Wolf]

If it's going to overheat, it's going to overheat, the cold air isn't going to do that much to stop it.

my old ford focus had a coolant leak and ran completely dry of coolant in the winter. car ran at a normal temperature (according to my gauges), but the hvac only blew cold air. in fact, the cold air was the only thing that alerted me to a problem.

[n00bMeiSter]

I checked my coolant and oil levels and they both are good. My last oil change was 8000km ago and oil level is just above the MIN line, so it doesn't seem like my car is burning oil. I will get a co-worker to press the gas pedal for me this afternoon and check if there is excessive smoke coming out of the exhaust.

Our cars all burn a little bit of oil. You are definitely over due for an oil change though.

[missourimazda17]

Same thing happened to my car and the temp gauge would go past the 1/2 mark. The thermostat was sticking, so had it replaced and it's been fine since. I know someone else here too who had the same problem.

[sol_searchin]

If your concerned about the cooling system do a pressure test, it will let you know if your HG is leaking, other wise it might your thermo not opening up/late, I also wouldn't let the engine oil get to the MIN mark, these engines are very sensative to low oil levels.

[SickoS2K]

A change to abnormally fast warm-up times can be a sign of a failed head gasket. But if the car is running OK, you are not seeing smoke, not losing oil or coolant, there is no cross-contamination between oil and coolant and the car is not overheating I wouldn't worry about it.

But at 6-7 years old and 240,000 km it is quite possible the head gasket is beginning to leak a bit so it is worth monitoring the oil and coolant to see if the levels change or if cross-contamination starts to show up.

It is also possible the thermostat is sticking a bit and not opening as soon as it should. This could cause overheating if it gets worse, though from the few thermostat failure threads I've seen it sounds like the thermostats in our cars fail open and make the engine run cold. I wouldn't assume this is 100% guaranteed though, Murphy's Law being what it is

i agree