Supplemental heater
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
I've never gotten in a cold vehicle and wished it took longer to get heat, especially when there is frost on the windshield.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Potsdam, NY
Yeah, it's not fair, I agree. You pay the same price as me, but I get what, almost $4-500 value thrown in for free.
On the other hand, you folks living in warmer states don't have the enjoyment of routinely waking up to temps in the single digits, or well below zero, and having to scrape snow and ice off your windshield!
On the other hand, you folks living in warmer states don't have the enjoyment of routinely waking up to temps in the single digits, or well below zero, and having to scrape snow and ice off your windshield!
. Now you guys have said you can tell it's heating. That's a welcome thing for me. My 2010 (which I had to pay for the rapid supplemental heater option, only block heater included free back then) really didn't do anything that I could tell. I just made sure truck was plugged in on cold nights so it had a little jump start on the warm up process.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 781
Likes: 6
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
I live in and work northern Canada where my 08 has seen minus 40 in its day. -30 happens about as often as +30 so maybe 14 times a year. -20 is normal for weeks on end.
The supplemental heater honestly never thought it worked. On average it took 10-15 minutes running before felt warm enough to take off gloves. Plugging it in had most benefit.
Sure hope the new ones have stronger heaters. I will know in a months time.
The supplemental heater honestly never thought it worked. On average it took 10-15 minutes running before felt warm enough to take off gloves. Plugging it in had most benefit.
Sure hope the new ones have stronger heaters. I will know in a months time.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Potsdam, NY
I live in and work northern Canada where my 08 has seen minus 40 in its day. -30 happens about as often as +30 so maybe 14 times a year. -20 is normal for weeks on end.
The supplemental heater honestly never thought it worked. On average it took 10-15 minutes running before felt warm enough to take off gloves. Plugging it in had most benefit.
Sure hope the new ones have stronger heaters. I will know in a months time.
The supplemental heater honestly never thought it worked. On average it took 10-15 minutes running before felt warm enough to take off gloves. Plugging it in had most benefit.
Sure hope the new ones have stronger heaters. I will know in a months time.
That's about how I felt about my 2010 6.4. Never seemed to do much of anything. I know just like others said above, to run the fan on low only so not to over burden it with too much fresh, cold outside air but it only seemed to blow ice cubes until 10 minutes or so in when the truck started to actually warm the coolant.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Retried the owners manual and your suggestion of control F did not return anything regarding supplemental heater. Referred to climate control section as suggested and still nada. But anyway I'm sure someone will report on its efficacy when cooler weather abounds.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
One of the most common options I see on the trucks on the lot here in AZ, block heater. I've got it on my 2014 Dually. Never used it and don't even know how. We might have 5 days in the winter that go below freezing but the dealers always seem to have ordered it on the trucks. What a waste.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,119
Likes: 652
From: NH
One of the most common options I see on the trucks on the lot here in AZ, block heater. I've got it on my 2014 Dually. Never used it and don't even know how. We might have 5 days in the winter that go below freezing but the dealers always seem to have ordered it on the trucks. What a waste.
I would be remiss if my diesel didn't have a block heater. I only use it if the temp is going below zero overnight...my truck sits outside...and I just feel it helps reduce engine wear slightly and warms the truck up slightly quicker.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,119
Likes: 652
From: NH
Up to 2016, there used to be an additional publication included on diesel trucks called the "Diesel Supplement" and the info about the heater was contained in that guide. Now, it appears everything is consolidated into one huge owner's manual.
Here is the text from the manual of my 2016; I would imagine function is largely the same:
The optional rapid heat feature is an electrically powered device that provides supplemental heat during engine warm up. During initial warm up, you should use a mid to low blower speed for maximum effectiveness. When operating in automatic mode (when equipped) the climate control unit determines the appropriate blower speed for existing conditions.
The heater was called "RapidHeat" as a trade name by Ford in the past.
Somewhere, specific information was provided about the behavior of the heater. For example, the heater only activates if the outside ambient temp and engine coolant temp are below a preset threshold.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 665
Likes: 3
And my 2 cents, if you live where it gets into single digits, a supplemental heater is a must.