How long does it take your 12A to register anything on the temp guage when the outside air is in the teens?

I start mine up, let it idle 4-5 minutes while I fix my coffee. Go out and drive off, and it is at least 5 miles before the temp gauge even moves a hair. I'm wondering if I have a stuck open thermostat, because as I recall, it is not much better when its warm out, but its been so long since its been warm that I may be imagining.

thanks,

 

yeah check the t-stat. mine only takes a minute or two to move even in the low teens.

 

That sounds like a T-stat not fully closing. My truck does the same thing, but what can you expect with 217K on the original T-stat.
My 12A warms up much faster, and I have the intake coolant passages blocked off.

 

Anytime there is a doubt about the thermostat, replace it with a Mazda oem one only. Some of the Stant thermostats cause the exact problem you describe. Also check that the clutch in the fan is freewheeling when cold.

 

I use a fail safe. cost a little more but in my RX i got alot of money invested like most of us.

 

I'm not sure the condition of my thermostat but it usually takes a few minutes to start registering. It goes up to normanl operating temp though so I have no worries with it

RotorKopf

 

When it's warm outside I let it idle until it doesn't need the choke. By then the needle has moved. After a few km the needle is up another couple mm. After that it takes a several (10-15?) minutes before it has moved another mm or two and that is about as far as I have seen it move.

When it's cold out I let it idle until the needle is more than half in the lower line on the gauge. After that I drive with a bit of choke. At each stop light or sign I check and if the RPMs are higher than normal idle I close the choke a bit. I was thinking maybe I should rich the idle a bit for the winter but I'm not sure.

Update: If by "teens" you mean +10 to +20 F. That fits into my description of cold. Also when driving it until it is warmed up entirely I keep the RPMs under about 3.5k.

 

Let it warm up with the choke on till it goes off 10-20min then drive it. Thats what i do everymorning. Or sometimes it helps to start the car till it idles periodically throughout the night. they take a long time to warm up and little time to cool down.

 

No need for that long of a warm up. All you are doing is wasting gas and building up carbon. If it takes that long to warm up, fix it.

 

With weather in the low teens lately, it takes my 1985 GSL just a few minutes for the temp gauge to move. Choke will shut off in about 9-10 minutes.

 

I usally crank up my 12a, and let it run for one minute. Then the other minute it can be driven just under 4000rpm. It will warm up 10x faster and it wont hurt the engine if you are easy.

 

mine takes about 7mins for the chocke to go in. itd probly be better if i replaced the hot air tube from the manifold to the air cleaner though