All of the light duty diesel trucks and Jeeps I've had before came with built in supplemental heaters of some kind so that the cabin heat would flow quickly in winter. This morning it was 28F here and I drove probably almost a half hour before the truck started to warm up inside. Took absolutely forever to defrost the windshield. Is this normal?

 

No, not if you've let it sit and warm up a little before driving, and then drove slow while you were leaving your neighborhood. Also a good idea to scrape your windshield. If you went out, started it, and took off, then yes, that's absolutely normal since the engine hasn't had any time to build any heat up, and ice with wind flowing over it tends to stay frozen a lot longer.

What you're looking for is the 'rapid heat' option with the 6.7 that isn't available with any of the gassers from what I understand. It's a nice feature, but not truly necessary if you let the truck warm up at least a little bit before leaving.

Regardless of what vehicle I've had, if it had remote start I would start it before putting on my shoes and coat to give it a bit of time to warm up, then scrape/clean off if necessary, then get on my way. If it didn't have remote start, I'd go out and start it, then come back in to get the rest of my stuff packed up before heading back out to clean it off.

 

Supplemental heater was standard on the xlt were required. If your truck was ordered to a warm state maybe not required.

My 16 6.7 was bought out of MO no supplemental heating. Good thing I stay were it doesn't snow or get to cold for long.

From my 16 brochure... Rapid-heat supplemental cab heater (requires diesel engine and alternator upgrade; standard in 15 cold-weather states when diesel engine is ordered.)

 

Half hour seems a bit high, like mentioned above the supplemental heater was spec'd for "cold weather" state deliveries. IE, a Massachusetts destined truck would get it but the Pennsylvania origin truck I have does not.... which is odd to me cause Western PA seems a lot colder than most of Mass or at least that has been my experience. Anyways, I am a heretic I rarely let mine idle. If it is above 10*F, my truck has typically about as long as it takes me to buckle my seat belt and shift into reverse to warm up. I drive slightly more gingerly than normal for a bit but the heat does pick up, I find this truck warms up better than my old dodge did. A 5.9 CR Cummins took FOREVER to warm up.

 

Supplemental heater is an option on the Powerstroke. I have it on my 2021. Works great. Not sure if it can be added I think it required dual battery and an uprated or dual alternator which came with checking the box for the heater on the order sheet.

 

Well I guess I don't have it then. Kentucky isn't listed as one of Ford's "cold states" even though we got to -30F less than 12 months ago. It's going to be a LONG winter with THIS truck sounds like! Bummer!!

 

PSD's are dual batteries from the factory, duel alternators are required for the supplemental heater.

I think you can retro fit the Ford kit but it isn't cheap...

Or here is an aftermarket option...

https://www.ventechlhg.com/shop

I haven't had an issue with mine yet.

 

Get yourself a 12v plugin heater for the window.

 

Ouch, you're not kidding.

One of these is much more affordable:



And, look, it even shoots flames!

 

I ordered the supplemental heat for mine, great deal, the option was $250, and for that you get the heater and dual alternators, can't beat that with a stick!
And, it works great, but only comes on when the outside temp is below a certain point, not exactly sure of the turn on point, maybe below freezing, 32*.

 

Ohhh a portable fire place! Excellent! The universal heated seat mats might be the easiest way to heat up prior to the heater core catching up.

Yeah, the supplemental heater option is probably as the best deal in the term sheet, The upfitter box is nice too, like what $250 but if you want to add it after the fact the switch panel alone is $700.

 

This is what the MY19-22 Ford Super Duty Service Manual states:

Electric Booster Heater Operation
The electric booster heater ensures that the passenger compartment can be quickly warmed up when ambient temperatures are low. It is a heater element made up of ceramic resistors that is mounted in the climate control housing. It directly heats the airflow into the passenger compartment rapidly in the case of low ambient temperatures.
The current is switched via three electric booster heater relays located in the BJB. The electric booster heater power and ground is supplied via a plug-in connection.
The FCIM energizes the electric booster heater relays when the operating parameters have been met. The electric booster heater relays are activated or deactivated individually or together by the FCIM as needed.

Electric booster heater operating parameters:

• Engine is running
• HVAC controls have been switched to the highest temperature setting
• Engine coolant temperature is below approximately 75°C (167°F)
• Ambient air temperature is below approximately 12°C (53.6°F)
• Sufficient generator capacity is available

The electric booster heater is deactivated when an engine coolant temperature of approximately 85°C (185°F) or an ambient air temperature of approximately 15°C (59°F) is exceeded.

 

Do a search of how the Rapid Heat works. It only turns on when the outside air and your coolant are both below a certain temp,
Only runs until your coolant reach 100° or something like that.
It's only 1500 watts. Think your wifes hair dryer.
It will not warm up a Cold Soaked Crew Cab. It will help get the windshield defrosted.

On my truck I can start it. Truck has been sitting in 30° temps over night. I drive 25 mph thru neighborhood. By 1 miles from house, My coolant is already over 100° and Rapid Heat has shut off. The warming in your truck comes from the engine coolant.

If I remote start my truck and let it idle for 10 minutes. EGTs are less 300° and my coolant takes forever to warm up.
If I get in and drive, just neighborhood speeds of 25-30 mph. I can see some 300-500° egts and my coolant warms up much faster,

I spent the winter of 2012 in North Dakota in the oil patch. Temps were often -25°F or colder. I can remember driving for an hour at 60 mph and the cab of the truck NEVER getting warm. If you live in a cold climate, Put a grill cover on to slow down the air flow thru your radiator and help the truck out.

My best advice. Run a Full Synthetic oil, start your truck and give it minute to get oil circulating, and then drive it, It will warm up faster if you get your EGTs temp The hotter the EGTs the the fasther the coolant will heat up and the faster your cab will warm up

 

Read the comment above yours, it is exactly the way it works, and works really well, best $250 option on my truck.

 

There it is. Exactly how it works, I was just lazy to go look it and trying to remember what I'd seen.
Point is. Rapid Heat is still just 1500 watt ( three 500watt elements) The real heat comes from your engine coolant. which gets it heat from combustion temps in the cylinder ( reflected by EGT temps that I can see on the gauges) The higher the EGTs the faster the coolant warms.