Halp, truck won't heat up much :(
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,304
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From: Salem, VA
Halp, truck won't heat up much :(
Ok, so it's getting cold here. I turn on the heat and hot air comes out, but I have it on full blast and full heat and it's just not that hot. I thought the T-stat might be stuck open so I replaced it tonight (it was fine as far as I could tell) and then ran it for 20 minutes in the driveway. No leaks, everything looks fine. I had it on full heat with fan on high the entire time. I came back out and got in the truck and just warm, not hot. Here is a shot of the gauge in the truck, it should be a little under halfway right? I know this sounds kind of odd but I think it was getting hotter with the old T-stat. This one is the crap Duralast WITHOUT the fail safe. It's a 195 degree, that's all they offered.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
The problem could be a couple of things that I know of off the top of my head.
1. Got a defective T-Stat right out of the box. (not likely, but it happens)
2. Clogged heater-core. (more likely)
There are a couple of videos on Youtube that explain very nicely how to un-clog the heater cores on F250 / SuperDuty with the V10 engines. It involves unhooking the hoses that go into the firewall on the engine side.... then using some sort of "solvent" (I can't remember what they used... refer to vids for that).... letting it set for awhile..... then using compressed air to blow it all out into a plastic jug.
I watched them just in case I had this problem someday and they were very informative and seemed like a pretty easy operation. The symptom that both had was the same as you... little or no heat in the passenger compartment.
Hope this helps send you in the right direction... then again... I could just be nuts...
James
1. Got a defective T-Stat right out of the box. (not likely, but it happens)
2. Clogged heater-core. (more likely)
There are a couple of videos on Youtube that explain very nicely how to un-clog the heater cores on F250 / SuperDuty with the V10 engines. It involves unhooking the hoses that go into the firewall on the engine side.... then using some sort of "solvent" (I can't remember what they used... refer to vids for that).... letting it set for awhile..... then using compressed air to blow it all out into a plastic jug.
I watched them just in case I had this problem someday and they were very informative and seemed like a pretty easy operation. The symptom that both had was the same as you... little or no heat in the passenger compartment.
Hope this helps send you in the right direction... then again... I could just be nuts...
James
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
I don't think there is anything wrong.
How cold was it outside? You were expecting your engine to come all the way up to temperature idling with the heater blasting. I find that extremely unrealistic unless it's hot out.
Fully up to temperature the heater can throw a LOT of BTUs. But that heat comes from the engine...you were pulling heat out of the engine while it was producing as little heat as possible. Go for a drive and then tell us how it is.
How cold was it outside? You were expecting your engine to come all the way up to temperature idling with the heater blasting. I find that extremely unrealistic unless it's hot out.
Fully up to temperature the heater can throw a LOT of BTUs. But that heat comes from the engine...you were pulling heat out of the engine while it was producing as little heat as possible. Go for a drive and then tell us how it is.
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From: Isanti, MN
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Ohio
What temp is the new t-stat?
It does look low on the idiot gauge, but those are vague at best. I agree, only way to know for sure is to get something that will read the temp right off the engine computer.
It does look low on the idiot gauge, but those are vague at best. I agree, only way to know for sure is to get something that will read the temp right off the engine computer.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
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From: Anchorage Alaska
i have to disagree, i remote start my truck at -20 and let it run a good 30-40 mins and i'll be at full temp with both front and rear heaters blowing full blast. thats all idle time making sure its warm for the drive home.
your truck is not getting to temp as the gauge shows you.
I'm having the same issue with my friends '05 dodge Neon. replaced the t-stat and its still not making heat gauge hardly comes off C after driving all day. i have covered 95% of the radiator and it helped a little but something is still wrong. I'm going to try another t-stat here soon...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Rothesay, New Brunswick
Okay, so maybe something is wrong. But without actually measuring your coolant temperature there's no good way to tell. I suggest investing in something like THIS to see how warm it's actually running.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
i have to disagree, i remote start my truck at -20 and let it run a good 30-40 mins and i'll be at full temp with both front and rear heaters blowing full blast. thats all idle time making sure its warm for the drive home. your truck is not getting to temp as the gauge shows you. I'm having the same issue with my friends '05 dodge Neon. replaced the t-stat and its still not making heat gauge hardly comes off C after driving all day. i have covered 95% of the radiator and it helped a little but something is still wrong. I'm going to try another t-stat here soon...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Salem, VA
I know many will already know and it says right on the AD but this also works with Windows laptops, you don't need to have an android or jailbroken iPhone to use. I've known a few people to not order them because they think they are only for mobile devices. Just a heads up.
Trying to talk the wife into letting me buy it tonight. We have $120 until Friday but the X needs gas
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
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From: Anchorage Alaska
might be true, but the gauge is right dead center in the middle and its giving off full temp heat inside. clearly his truck is not getting to temp when you combine the gauge and his own feeling of the heat in the truck.
i'm not sure what temp makes the gauge pop to "normal"...anyone know?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Get a MOTORCRAFT stat before you proceed any further! They aren't the same as they were many years ago, there is a special coolant circuit in the modular engines that needs to work right.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Salem, VA
