I think there is merit to your idea. And the faster the engine gets to operating temp, the sooner it achieves optimum emissions.

 

Question on heat up, I heard that there is an electric resistance heater in the cabin heater to give instant warm air when starting out in extreme cold to offset the time it takes the engine water to get up to temperature so you don't get frosted windows. Anything to that?

 

Those are two separate topics, but yes they incorporate an electric heater for cabin heating.
I don't remember which thread it is contained in but maybe use the search for "electric heater".

 

My Passat has a liquid cooled EGR and while it warms up a little quicker than my older Jetta - it still takes forever when it's +5 F. I'm glad you are indicating a quicker warm up time.

 

Yes, for the most part the EGR cooler is making the diesel warm up a lot faster than older models pre EGR. On my 2007 LMM it would heat up fast, until i deleted EGR/DPF, then it would take slightly longer to warm up.

 

What year is your VW diesel? If it's a TDI, every TDI in the states has EGR unless it was deleted, so that's not why it warms up faster than your VW. But, a main reason behind not physically deleting EGR in TDI's, is to help regulate coolant temps during cold weather idling, after the car has already reached operating temp, so EGR does help a noticeable bit there. EGR does not speed-up warm-up because it is not even enabled/flowing/hot below a set intake air temp value (17 or 23F in LMM's) and also not enabled if engine coolant temps are below a certain value (134 or 140F in LMM's). Once those parameters are met, the truck is basically warmed up already.

 

My Jetta was an 2009 Sportwagen. Did it have an engine anti-freeze cooled EGR cooler? I am not that familiar with the VW engine.

The difference is warm up in the Colorado this morning starting at 14 deg, the temp needle moved off the 160 deg peg at about 1.7m - which is from my house to I-75. My Jetta typically would need to do this and then run from Tylersville Rd to I-275 on I-75 at 70 mph (about 5 more miles) before it moved the needle.

The Colorado is about what my 6.0L Silverado would do.

 

So the electric heater doesn't work well?

 

I don't think we have really discussed the electric heater. My sense is the engine warms up quickly enough it is not an issue. I have not noticed it coming on.

 

The auxiliary heater is enabled only when the cabin temperature is set to MAX, the engine coolant temperature is less than 80°C (176°F), and the outside air temperature is below 12°C (54°F).
When engine coolant temperature rises above 80°C (176°F), the temperature control is moved away from the MAX position, or the outside air temperature is above 12°C (54°F), the auxiliary electric heater is disabled, and cabin heat is managed only by the coolant-based heater core and temperature door position.
If the auxiliary electric heater is activated and then turns off, it can actuate once again if the engine coolant temperature drops below 75°C (167°F), or the outside air temperature drops below 8°C (46°F).

If I'm not satisfied with the heat, I plan to install a winter front: http://www.gofia.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=70_69&make=749&model=52&year=2016

 

The auxiliary heater is enabled only when the cabin temperature is set to MAX, the engine coolant temperature is less than 80°C (176°F), and the outside air temperature is below 12°C (54°F).
When engine coolant temperature rises above 80°C (176°F), the temperature control is moved away from the MAX position, or the outside air temperature is above 12°C (54°F), the auxiliary electric heater is disabled, and cabin heat is managed only by the coolant-based heater core and temperature door position.
If the auxiliary electric heater is activated and then turns off, it can actuate once again if the engine coolant temperature drops below 75°C (167°F), or the outside air temperature drops below 8°C (46°F).

If I'm not satisfied with the heat, I plan to install a winter front: Custom-Fit Winter Front & Bug Screen Combination

Browsing Diesel Supplement it says do not use a winter cover with the 4 cylinder. After a few days th e heat is acceptable to me, a little more variable than I'm used to in my Tacoma gas, but not significant.

 

So does anyone have feedback on how well the electric heater works? Is it instant defrost?

 

I thought the EGR vavle was post EGR cooler on the 2.8L,therefore the exhaust gasses are always flowing thru the cooler . Then directed into intake when EGR valve opens.

 

That would mean there is a bypass?

Air wouldn't really flow through the cooler if the valve was post cooler and closed without another route for it. The hotter air would thermally rise to the highest point but I wouldn't really call that true "circulation".