Rapid Heat
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 388
Likes: 231
Rapid Heat
I have the rapid heat option in my 22 450, but I have no comparison truck to know if it really heat’s faster…..
For those without it, how long for you to get warm air blowing in say, low 20’s temps???
For those without it, how long for you to get warm air blowing in say, low 20’s temps???
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 60
From: Freedom,Wi.
It's like a blow dryer trying to warm your whole truck. It's not going to be real hot but it is warm air. My 2020 will thaw windshield. It's about 20 degrees here this morning and have to hit my remote soon because truck sat outside with a trailer behind last night. I'm happy truck has it and wish I could get it on a future gas engine F350.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,796
Likes: 3,450
From: Uh oh, CA
Once my coolant hits about 100-110 I can start feeling warmish air. If I plugged the engine block heater up I start off pretty dang close to that. In the mornings it takes me less than 5 minutes to get to work and the heat will easily be warm by then and the cab will be comfortable. And I do not have the rapid heat. I thought I might wish I had it, but so far I haven’t. I could see it being more helpful in super cold temps and heavily frosty/icy windshields though.
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,150
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
I like it in our 40 degree weather we get here. We have high humidity and when you start getting down to those levels it will start cutting into you. I ordered my last truck with it and without the plug in block heater.
I think in Canada it is an automatic option because as mentioned you need to defrost.
I think in Canada it is an automatic option because as mentioned you need to defrost.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
Watch your oil temp screen on your dash. When it crosses 100 degrees, that's about when I can finally feel the air starting to get warm in my cabin (I do not have the rapid heat option in my truck). It can take a bit on a cold morning. I added seat heaters, a block heater and high idle to help compensate.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,219
Likes: 4,223
From: Kaysville Utah
The Rapid heat only turns on when you are below a certain temp ( I'm sure 20° is below that threshold)
It only stays on until your coolant reaches a certain temp. So it's mostly on from start up until you reach 100° on your coolant.
For me. I start my truck and drive thru the neighborhood at 25 mph, By time I hit the onramp to the freeway ( about 1.5 miles from my house) I've hit 100+ degrees on the coolant and oil and the HVAC is working and I suspect the Rapid Heat has shut off.
So chances are it only runs for 2-3 minutes at start up. Of course idle is a different story. I find it most effective at getting the windshield defrosted fast.
It only stays on until your coolant reaches a certain temp. So it's mostly on from start up until you reach 100° on your coolant.
For me. I start my truck and drive thru the neighborhood at 25 mph, By time I hit the onramp to the freeway ( about 1.5 miles from my house) I've hit 100+ degrees on the coolant and oil and the HVAC is working and I suspect the Rapid Heat has shut off.
So chances are it only runs for 2-3 minutes at start up. Of course idle is a different story. I find it most effective at getting the windshield defrosted fast.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
I won't own a truck without it! My 2015 that I bought as a leftover (good ol days!) had it, I didn't really know what it was till I looked it up. It's a must-have for me now!
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,796
Likes: 3,450
From: Uh oh, CA
Oh, it's absolutely faster! You'll feel heat from it within a minute or two on the coldest of days. Without it, you'll be waiting for the engine to warm up in order to get heat through the exchanger. That could take more than 10-15 minutes on a really cold day.
I won't own a truck without it! My 2015 that I bought as a leftover (good ol days!) had it, I didn't really know what it was till I looked it up. It's a must-have for me now!
I won't own a truck without it! My 2015 that I bought as a leftover (good ol days!) had it, I didn't really know what it was till I looked it up. It's a must-have for me now!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
The coldest temps I have seen with my truck is around 20 +/-. I don’t have rapid heat but I’ll plug my engine block heater in. It’s only a couple of minutes at most for me to start feeling warm air coming out of the vents. No where near 10-15 minutes. The engine block heater helps a lot since it keeps the coolant pretty warm.
My 2015 and 2022 both have block heater, but I've never had either plugged in.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 142
So, I did a test this morning. I left the truck outside all night. Temp at 5:30 am was 19ºF, frozen fog on the windshield and side windows. I did not plug in the block heater. Remote started the truck and let it run. At 2 min in, I started to see the windshield start to defrost, at 5 min the windshield was defrosted ¾ of the way up, and at 9 min, the windshield and side windows were almost fully defrosted. No question that the Supplemental Cab heater is better than what I experienced with my 2008 F250 6.4 PSD w/out a Supp Cab Heater. I would get very little defrosting until after driving for 20 min w/out using the block heater. I feel the Supp Cab Heater does make a difference.
Now the bad news. Heated driver's seat was cold after 13 min after remote starting. I felt no warmth at all with my hand. Ironically, I had a service appointment Tuesday to have the deep sleep issue resolved (SSM 51140), and asked the Ford Tech to check out the remote start driver's heated seat functionality b/c when I would remote start I didn't feel any seat heat and the 3 red lights would not turn on until I jumped into the truck and pressed the start button, then the 3 led lights would light up. He told me that he checked OASIS and found no codes and he also check out another truck in the service bay and it acted the same way as mine did. The heated seats work and in fact get too warm after driving for 10-15 min so I normally turn them off at that point or set to the lowest setting. However, this remote start just makes no sense to me, and I would have thought that the driver's seat would start to heat once the remote start was activated. IDK, just seems crazy to me if this is how Ford designed the system, and if so, why have the instrument cluster remote start menu settings for heated seat and steering wheel for "auto" or "last setting".
In those menu settings, there is also a check box for "System" which if checked it allows you to change the heated seat and steering wheel setting mentioned above. If you uncheck the "System" it grays out the heated seat and steering wheel and you can't change anything. To me that means you would uncheck if you did NOT want heated seats and steering wheel to turn on while remote starting.
Anyway, just wanted to pass along what I am experiencing.
Now the bad news. Heated driver's seat was cold after 13 min after remote starting. I felt no warmth at all with my hand. Ironically, I had a service appointment Tuesday to have the deep sleep issue resolved (SSM 51140), and asked the Ford Tech to check out the remote start driver's heated seat functionality b/c when I would remote start I didn't feel any seat heat and the 3 red lights would not turn on until I jumped into the truck and pressed the start button, then the 3 led lights would light up. He told me that he checked OASIS and found no codes and he also check out another truck in the service bay and it acted the same way as mine did. The heated seats work and in fact get too warm after driving for 10-15 min so I normally turn them off at that point or set to the lowest setting. However, this remote start just makes no sense to me, and I would have thought that the driver's seat would start to heat once the remote start was activated. IDK, just seems crazy to me if this is how Ford designed the system, and if so, why have the instrument cluster remote start menu settings for heated seat and steering wheel for "auto" or "last setting".
In those menu settings, there is also a check box for "System" which if checked it allows you to change the heated seat and steering wheel setting mentioned above. If you uncheck the "System" it grays out the heated seat and steering wheel and you can't change anything. To me that means you would uncheck if you did NOT want heated seats and steering wheel to turn on while remote starting.
Anyway, just wanted to pass along what I am experiencing.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,150
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
The coldest temps I have seen with my truck is around 20 +/-. I don’t have rapid heat but I’ll plug my engine block heater in. It’s only a couple of minutes at most for me to start feeling warm air coming out of the vents. No where near 10-15 minutes. The engine block heater helps a lot since it keeps the coolant pretty warm.
My 3rd post here so I’ll just say I recommend it.