Good morning all,
I am hoping you can answer a long question. I have spent this morning searching the forum, but I can't find what I need. In 0 to 25 degF or colder, does your coolant temp gauge rise into the normal range at all, and if it does how long does it take, block heater use, and what kind of driving are you doing?
Thanks, Dave

 

My coolant temp gauge consistantly moves to exactly mid postion within 10 or so mins of me driving it to Karate practice, no block heater in use 20 degrees out. When it is 60 out still sits at mid position. Why? Do you think yours is heating up slowly?

 

I believe a thermostat is stuck open, it takes driving on the highway at 65 to 70mph for 15+ miles just to get into the normal range, around town I can drive 17 miles at 35 to 45mph and never reach the cold side of the normal range. This is at 0 deg at over 20 it is quicker but not much.The dealer gave me a tsb showing slow build of cabin heat at idle and gave it back. No fault found. I am curious as to the normal function of the trucks befre I really rattle some cages.
Thanks Dave

 

Put your command center into the Diagnostic mode and read the coolant temp. Mine is usually within 5-10° of my engine oil temp.

Of course the easier way to do is to buy an Edge Insight Monitor and have the coolant temp in one of the displays.

 

It's a diesel so they do take longer to heat up. You have intercooler for air, turbo, a heavy block and lots of water and oil to heat up. I would look at the digital temps but I doubt this is a problem, you may want to try a winter front to help speed it up and a block heater on a timer at the colder temps. You can see the digital temp, block heater should get you around 100 to 130 f. To start. My oldie warms up much faster that way.

 

Your primary cooling system has a dual thermostat. Each of the two devices opens at a different temp. Staggered by design. The first opens at 194° the second at 201°

So your truck has to be fully warmed up before they open.

I can let my truck remote start and high idle at 1100 rpm and at the end of 5 minutes I still have coolant below 80° and have my rapid heat running.

I can drive a couple miles over to the c-store and run in to get a morning drink and still not be 150°

So it doesn't surprise me that you are not seeing the thermostats open for 10-15 minutes after you start driving.

 

Can you describe how to do that? Thanks.

 

I went to the 6.7 Tech Folder and found it for you here.

 

That's cool, I'll have to check that out.

 

These things really take a while to warm up. I do not have the rapid heater and my temp gauge will barely be off cold when I get to work in the morning if it is in the low 20s. It is about a 10 mile drive and I'm usually in moderate traffic (about 20 minutes). Thank goodness for heated seats or I would freeze.

 

X2. I find using M mode and starting in second helps warm things up faster. With this level of power and low 1st gear the truck gets rolling with so little effort this helps load the engine better.

 

Keeps the RPMs lower too.

 

What produces heat the fastest is to get your turbo boost up. idling along at 5 psi boost doesn't create much heat in the combustion chamber. Push it up close to 20 psi and your EGT temps will jump up around 900° Which in turn heats your block and coolant much faster.

 

Thanks so far for the insight. I was just looking to compare this truck to other 6.7s to determine if it was normal or defective. My 7.3 warmed up in about 1/4 the time this one takes, same routes. I am not talking cabin heat, actually attaining normal coolant temps.
Thanks again for all replys so far, Dave

 

I have the same experience with my truck with a similar drive to work. When it's cold, the truck is slow to warm. I have the rapid heater but it still takes a good ride to get the truck warm.