Warm-up time
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75
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From: Pioneer, CA
Warm-up time
I bought this truck (96' f-250, PSD, 4X4, 5-speed) in september, and have noticed that it takes a considerable amount of time to get to operating temperature. (center on the dummy gauge)
I usually let it idle for 3-4 minutes, and i will drive about 10 miles before the needle comes up close to the center. Its not all that cold out here, maybe 35-45 in the morning. I'm thinking that the PO removed the thermostat, unless this is normal??
Also- I will be driving for a long time, maybe 20-50 miles, and if i stop at a light, or even hit traffic and slow way down for a few minutes, the temp will drop to nearly 1/4 below center.
is this normal?
thanks,
trev
I usually let it idle for 3-4 minutes, and i will drive about 10 miles before the needle comes up close to the center. Its not all that cold out here, maybe 35-45 in the morning. I'm thinking that the PO removed the thermostat, unless this is normal??
Also- I will be driving for a long time, maybe 20-50 miles, and if i stop at a light, or even hit traffic and slow way down for a few minutes, the temp will drop to nearly 1/4 below center.
is this normal?
thanks,
trev
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 246
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From: Loganville,GA
I usually Let me Truck Warm up for atleast 15-20 min on Cold Mornings. Unless I Plug it in, then only a few Minutes. Around Here the Past Few weeks it has been 25-35 Degrees in the morning. Even when I get in after letting it warm up the Needle has Barley Moved on the Temp Guage. I have to Drive atleast 5 miles After warm up before I get some real good Heat out of the Vents and the Guage goes up. Out of All the Diesels I have ever Owned I have Found out they do Not warm up Quickly Like a Gas Engine. I recommend Plugging it in if you like a Warmer Truck in the morning. If I was you I would Let it warm up for more then 3-4 min. My Truck Doesnt Even Go to a Normal Sounding Idle that fast. I think Esp. If it is still High Idling mode, its to early to drive it.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 368
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From: Ellensburg, WA
The low coolant temp and slower warm up is mostly due to the thermostat. Our stock thermostat is 195*, if you upgrade to a 203* thermostat you should see an increase in coolant temp and a little faster warm up. I always warm my truck at idle for 10-15 min on cold days and at least 5 min on warm days. Also remember to cool down your truck after a drive so you don't burn out your turbo bearings.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
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From: West Texas
Your truck sounds exactly like mine and my entire cooling system is brand new. I even took my fan off last week and I blanket the radiator on real cold days. It doesn't really matter. I have a motorcraft thermostat in it now and it still does it. I've had nearly every other brand in it and they were even worse. So... It's normal.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,795
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From: Rogue River, OR
The low coolant temp and slower warm up is mostly due to the thermostat. Our stock thermostat is 195*, if you upgrade to a 203* thermostat you should see an increase in coolant temp and a little faster warm up. I always warm my truck at idle for 10-15 min on cold days and at least 5 min on warm days. Also remember to cool down your truck after a drive so you don't burn out your turbo bearings.
If I have this wrong I'm sure that someone will jump in and correct me.
Rog
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
I don't think that your above analysis is totally correct. Changing the stat from 95* to 203* will not assist the engine in it's warm-up cycle only in it's ability to run hotter up to 203*. Our engines like to run hotter and that is the reason for the stat change. We're only looking at 8* on the upper end.
If I have this wrong I'm sure that someone will jump in and correct me.
Rog
If I have this wrong I'm sure that someone will jump in and correct me.
Rog
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 368
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From: Ellensburg, WA
Yessir, Basically switching to a 203* is just allowing the truck to get up that much more before it opens up the tstat. Although from what i understand its not worth installing a 203* because that Tstats dont open on that temp exactly... Its plus or minus a few degrees.
Makes sense... I thought that with the 203 vs the 195 the coolant temp is hotter so the heat will get hotter also. I know with my NBS, it has the 203 thermostat and the heat warms up much faster than my OBS with the 195.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: THUNDER BAY
To warm your truck up in the morning it takes either driving it right away or a high Idle function letting it cluck away at Idle in the driveway for 15 20 minutes will do nothing actually it is even worse on it .
To the original poster your coolant temps should not drop off at a red light I could see if you were sitting for 10 15 min at Idle and it was 30 below out, sounds like it is time for a new thermostat it may be stuck open or like you said there may not be one in there I would change it anyway for the price they are not expensive.
To the original poster your coolant temps should not drop off at a red light I could see if you were sitting for 10 15 min at Idle and it was 30 below out, sounds like it is time for a new thermostat it may be stuck open or like you said there may not be one in there I would change it anyway for the price they are not expensive.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,207
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From: Kearney, Nebr
To warm your truck up in the morning it takes either driving it right away or a high Idle function letting it cluck away at Idle in the driveway for 15 20 minutes will do nothing actually it is even worse on it .
To the original poster your coolant temps should not drop off at a red light I could see if you were sitting for 10 15 min at Idle and it was 30 below out, sounds like it is time for a new thermostat it may be stuck open or like you said there may not be one in there I would change it anyway for the price they are not expensive.
To the original poster your coolant temps should not drop off at a red light I could see if you were sitting for 10 15 min at Idle and it was 30 below out, sounds like it is time for a new thermostat it may be stuck open or like you said there may not be one in there I would change it anyway for the price they are not expensive.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75
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From: Pioneer, CA
that was a possibility i was thinking about.... i'm assuming they are all "open-fail" type, just a good engineering practice. However, I know people have been screwed when they have failed closed,
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