Hey guys. New guy. Just picked up my 94 F250 Turbo IDI yesterday. It's light brown and rust color, 5spd, shell, with 82,000 original miles. How long should it take for the truck to warm up in about 20 degrees? It seems to take and exceptionally long time and when it does get warm, its not much past the cold line. Thermostat possibly?

 

This is a common problem around here & has been discussed many times & many different opinions have been given, my truck does the same thing, I have no idea why, I have just excepted it as normal, it runs cool in the winter & warmer in the summer.

 

I covered most of the front of my radiator with cardboard- now, I can start it in 20 degree weather (without plugging in), let it idle for 10 minutes or so, and have heat.

 

adamdh1,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

At idle, it takes a long time to build heat.
Working the engine, less that a mile down the road you should be close to operating temp unless it is very cold outside.

Very cold is minus numbers for me.

 

My truck seems to take a long time to warm up also..
I think it has to do with the radiator being so HUGE and the temp. gauge not being so acurate..