It sounds more like you still have air in the system. Was the correct
procedure used to purge air from the engine when the anti-freeze was
replaced? Did mechanic check engine temperature with an OBDII tester? This
will check whether thermostat is controlling engine temperature. Do you have
climate control or an LX with basic heating system? Is air conditioning
working? Air conditioning needs to work to dry air which clears windshield.
If it is not working the warm moist air will take forever to clear
windshield.


"Richard Koop" <rjkoop@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1136894629.872262.37790@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 2002 Honda Odyssey. Generally runs great but recently haven't
> been able to get much heat out of the vents even when I set the temp to
> 28 degrees C. It also takes forever to defrost the windshield.
> Recently, when I start up the van and it's idling, I can smell a faint
> gas/oil smell coming from the vents which I never smelt before. It
> goes away after I drive away though.
>
> My mechanic thinks it's the thermostat so I'll get that replaced first
> I guess. Coolant was recently replaced and it's topped up. Also cabin
> filter was replaced. Temperature gauge on the dash says that the car
> is in the normal operating temperature range. Could these be the
> symptoms of something else other than the thermostat?
>