Yes, it's a big heater. Specifically, it has 50A fuses on each of three heating banks (plus the fan on bank #3). Assuming an 80% load and 12 volts (or so after the drop from 13.6 in the wire carrying the high current), you'll have around a 1500 watt heater.

I've never gotten in a cold vehicle and wished it took longer to get heat, especially when there is frost on the windshield.

 

I'm in northern NY state. It gets below 0 here, it snows and we even get coated with ice once in a while. The heaters and extra alternator are all included . 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.

 

Is the supplemental cab heater available on the 6.2L gasser too, or just on the 6.7L fuel oil burner?

 

6.7 only...

 

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.

 

Tried the manual and typed in supplemental heater and nothing happened.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 think you need more iron in your diet!

 

For all the old, IDI diesels...plus the newer ones using a HEUI system, the block heater was very important to cold weather starting and performance. Since Ford switched to common rail injection, the block heater plays a much less important role. Basically, the 6.7L will start from cold at -40F without the block heater. However, the block heater still does a couple of things: it warms the engine oil and coolant a little bit, which reduces engine wear at startup and also provides heat to the cab more quickly.

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.

 

You're correct, there appears to be absolutely nothing in the new owner's manual regarding the supplemental heater, except the fuses.

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.

 

I can't find anything on it either. Tried my buddy google too....the top hits are our forum. Weird.

 

I think it's funny that N. Indiana isn't part of the "cold weather states", maybe they haven't been here before. lol

 

Andy, I have friends that live in Liberty and all he does is plow snow all winter!

And my 2 cents, if you live where it gets into single digits, a supplemental heater is a must.