Slow Engine Warm Up
 

It takes forever...like 10 minutes for the engine to warm up to operating temperature. I am assuming that means the thermostat is stuck open...Any other possibility? I want to go in to repair knowing all options to fix. Also, Thermostat should be easy job, correct?

That's not unusual. The posts I've read recommend keeping the Rs under 3K until that needle really starts moving. ~10 minutes warm up isn't unusual in my 98.

Unless someone suggest otherwise, I wouldn't be concerned.

So you think 10 minutes is too long to get 22,5 litres of cooling fluid and 8 litres of oil warmed up?

Well…

Now that I think about it 10 mins seems normal, probably longer in the winter. There is a lot of fluid in these little cars

Sounds normal, mine warms up to just below 180F mark (= low-temp thermostat opening temp I got) after about 10-min driving from winter cold start, maybe 15 min top from -20F. I drive off and keep the rev 2 to 3K rpm during warm-up.

10 minutes is way too long. Use a stopwatch. Even in the dead of winter you should see it come up to operating temperature in less than 5 minutes.

5-10 minutes, depending on outside temperature, is completely normal in these cars.

My other cars warm up much faster....half the time or better.

No way these cars warm up in less than 5 minutes unless you are low on fluid. A reasonable time, driving reasonably slow to start (2 to 3k rpm) is anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes depending on outside temperature.

Mine takes at least 8-10 min. No way less than 5.

When you're judging how quick your boxster is warming up, are you judging by how quick you start feeling heat? If that's the case then the foam inside the venting system might have gone bad. My wife's car has that problem and it takes awhile for it to heat up inside the cabin. Luckily that's a problem easy to live with in south Texas

5-10 min is not abnormal at all to reach normal operating temperature. If your thermostat is stuck in the open or partially open position your engine temperature may not reach normal operating temperature specially while driving at speed. Observe your engine temperature while the car is moving versus while the car is at a stop. If your engine temperature rises while at idle and the engine temperature decrease while moving is a good sign the thermostat is stuck open or partially open.

I keep the rev's under 3k, or very close to 3k, until the car is at the 180 mark. Takes about 8-12 minutes, depending on the outside temperture. Most the variation occurs between zero and the middle mark between 0 and 180, after that it's normally less than 5 minutes to get to 180. Low-temp thermostat added maybe 1-2 minutes to overall warm up time, if that.

Good point, my warm-up time reported before is with perfectly working heater after fixing up holed blend doors. Without heater at work, I’m sure the engine warms up quicker. I feel heat within a few minutes after cold start in winter Michigan. It warmed up overnight and 45F this morning, and warm-up time was noticeably shorter on my usual commute, probably in 6-7 min with heater on.

If the thermostat is stuck open, then on cold days the temp will drop quite low when cruising along the open road.

Reviving an old thread.

Having the 986 S out of winter storage I decided to check the warm up time to full engine temperature (needle covering the 8 in 180). 40 degrees F and suburbian roads with little traffic, max speed 45 mph.

At 5 minutes the needle was between the second and third line, the third being the 180 degree line. At 6 minutes the engine was up to full operating temperature.

At higher ambient temperatures and/or higher speeds the temperature would have risen faster.

If you run a low temperature thermostat in the mistaken belief that it will reduce engine overheating (see Low Temp Thermostats: What’s the Advantage? | Tuner University), then the warm-up temperature will be longer and engine wear will be higher.

The logic of #8 sold me.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/621275-does-the-ln-low-temp-thermostat-help-prevent-cracked-heads-cylinders.html

Oh boy. First, your coolant gauge is absolutely useless. 2nd, do some research about low temp thermostats on these cars before making such comments.

Sounds about right for me. My car stays in my Garage, however similar to what Particlewave said, it depends on just how cold a engine is.

And #5, 5hp gain from cooler running engine!

And with a manual radiator fan switch at my fingertip, lower temp thermostat gives greater control to manage temp rise in heavy traffic in hot summer!