She Takes a While to Warm Up . . .

I drive a 2007 Accent GS (3-door hatchback). It's the first car I've eve
owned without an actual temperature guage; there is an indicator to sho
when temp is too low or I assume too high. My concern is that it seems t
take a long time to warm up the engine. On cool mornings (50's), even if
let the engine warm up for nearly 10 minutes, the indicator showing th
temp is too low almost never goes off before I've driven the car about
block or so.

Is this "normal" for Hyundais and really not a big deal? I'm concerne
the oil might not be flowing freely when I first get rolling.

Thanks

 

If you had an oil delivery problem you certainly would not see cooler engine
temperatures.

 

Does the manual give the temperature range? By too cool, they may mean it
is not warm enough for the heater to put out warm air. Any modern car can
be drive at least slowly once started.

 

It is not good at all to let an engine idle for 10 minutes when cold.
Let it idle 30 seconds or so to ensure decent oil flow and then drive
away on the slow side of normal (not full-throttle acceleration for
instance). This is the fastest way to get your engine to normal
operating temperature and also kicks off the catcon more quickly
minimizing pollution.

My Sonata warms up at about the same rate as my other vehicles, except
my cast-iron block Chevy pickup, but it doesn't heat or defrost as well
even when fully warm. That is a different issue though.

Matt

 

Those gauges are only approximations, get out and feel the engine,
see if it feels warm.

 

Sounds about normal to me. I forget the required temp to turn off the col
indicator, but what you post doesn't sound unreasonable. In fact, if i
takes too long to warm up, the check engine lamp should illuminate becaus
of a presumed thermostat problem.

Also, oil flow has little to do with coolant temperatures and everythin
to do with localized overheating and friction. If oil flow were an issu
you'd be having other symptoms.

And I agree with Matt on the warm-up. Just get in and drive

 

If the engine is just idling it does not take much energy to just turn
over = not much heat produced = low temp gauge. Put it in gear and
step on the throttle - what happens? ;-)