Experiencing my first really cold winter with my A6 3.0T and it seems like it takes a long time for the LED temp indicators to move up. This afternoon with the outside temp at 14 degrees it took 8 minutes of driving at 40 - 50 mph for the LED to move up one notch and 14 minutes to go all the way up to normal 4 LEDs lit.

My question - is this normal for this car or should I be visiting the dealer for a new thermostat?

Thanks in advance, Joel

 

14 degrees is cold.

I dont know if i would blame that on the thermostat.
let it warm up in the driveway first.

 

It was 6 degrees a few days ago in western MA and it took about 10 minutes in my driveway to go up a few notches while running on full blast heat & heated front seats on.
Sound like something is wrong.

 

If the engine and the interior are not warming
that is a thermostat they make several heat ranges so cold climates and warm climates may adjust the ratio.

If the engine warms but interior does not.
That indicates a heating system malfunction, a gate is not opening

try leaving the fan on off, let the car warm up first
if you leave the fan on high you are actually cooling the system prolonging the amount of time it takes to warm up.

It is possible that your thermostat is partially open
That is what happens when they fail, they get forced open and don't close all the way, cause the spring gives out.