Supplemental heater
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 910
Likes: 2
From: A corn field in IN.
That's a fact, I just sucked it up and paid for it out of pocket with the block heater too. I have an insulated/ heated garage so I will likely never use the block heater but even 20 mins in the Wally World can make the supp. heater a nice to have around here I'm sure.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: NW IN
That's a fact, I just sucked it up and paid for it out of pocket with the block heater too. I have an insulated/ heated garage so I will likely never use the block heater but even 20 mins in the Wally World can make the supp. heater a nice to have around here I'm sure.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I hear you Eighty Second. Fort Wayne area. I first saw my window sticker this past Sunday...a pleasant surprise...and was surprised that I forgot to include the block heater in my build (which I should get next week). I also have a heated garage, but I plug it in on bitter days while at work. I will have the heater installed before the winter hits though.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: NW IN
The block heater is probably an easy dealer install. The supplemental heater is almost impossible to install after the fact...someone tried, and I think failed. Can't remember the outcome, other than the entire dash was out of the truck and harnesses weren't matching up.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
Cool, should be no issue for you then. Good luck with it and your truck.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
I bought my last truck off the lot and I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have the supplemental heater, but I got a deal so I took it. Let the outside temp get as hot as @#$! and I'm still fine, but let it get cold and I'm worthless, I have little tolerance for it. So even if this supplemental heater only helps a little, count me in. I double checked my order before submitting it just to make sure it was marked. 
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 625
Likes: 42
Okay but without the supplemental heater how long does it take to warm up enough to defrost the windshield? Say if I hit remote start and let it run a bit.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
First, the diesel engine has almost double the coolant capacity of the gas engine, which is going to take longer to warm up to make heat. (Only the primary circuit is used for cabin heat, which reduces volume to an extent)
Secondly, the diesel engine does not make as much heat at idle as the gas engine.
If the temp is 15F outside and you let the truck idle for 15 minutes it might have a very small amount of heat to start the defrost process. Windshield washers will help, but there will not be much heat. There are several things which will help: a block heater preheats some of the coolant, and a high-idle switch will help create heat a little faster.
On a zero-degree day, I drove for 20 minutes in the city, and engine oil temp was only about 120F. That's not going to heat the coolant much to make good heat.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 910
Likes: 2
From: A corn field in IN.
This is great info, could you tell me more about the high idle switch? In my 7.3, if it's cold it will automatically crank up the RPMs about 8 or 9 hundred'ish and then drop back down for a little bit before picking back up again. Do these trucks not do that?
I won't pretend to be some expert, for all I know there is something wrong that makes my 7.3 do that. LOL
I won't pretend to be some expert, for all I know there is something wrong that makes my 7.3 do that. LOL
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 167
Likes: 1
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!
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
This is great info, could you tell me more about the high idle switch? In my 7.3, if it's cold it will automatically crank up the RPMs about 8 or 9 hundred'ish and then drop back down for a little bit before picking back up again. Do these trucks not do that?
I won't pretend to be some expert, for all I know there is something wrong that makes my 7.3 do that. LOL
I won't pretend to be some expert, for all I know there is something wrong that makes my 7.3 do that. LOL
The high idle switch (up through 2016) was basically hooking up a specific-value Radio Shack resistor between a specific blunt-cut wire in the bundle under the dash, and one of the upfitter switches. The value of the resistor would change the idle RPM of the truck. Some people wired in a rheostat so they could vary idle speed any time the switch was turned on. Basically, while in Park with the parking brake engaged, flip the upfitter switch and the truck would idle up. It was useful for cold-weather warm up, or longer periods of idling. Idling at a higher RPM uses more fuel, but is better for the engine and reduces DPF build up a little bit.
I'm not sure how to do it yet on the 2017's, but there is quite the write-ups on this forum for the 6.7's and I think even the 6.4's. Just do a search if you have further interest.
