05 explorer warming up question

[oneeyemike]

Noticed that the wifes explorer wasnt heating up the other morning. After about 15 min of running the temp gauge had just barely moved. You can drive it and it heats up to normal and everything is fine. So I figured it was the thermostat so I changed it. No difference at all. Could it be the fan clutch? How long does it normally take for an explorer to heat up at idle on a 20 degree morning? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[matt0248]

I drive about three miles to work, it takes less than 15 minutes, on below 20 degree days, I just start to get good heat when I am almost at work. If I have to clean snow or scrape the windows so it is idling for a few minutes it tends to help some.

 

[FarmTruk]

Most any vehicle will warm up substantially faster when driven, as opposed to simply idling in a frozen driveway.

 

[imp]

..... Could it be the fan clutch? Thanks in advance for any input.

Yes, it could. If the bearing supporting the fan blade gets "bound up" or begins dragging any amount, the blade becomes "driven" as though it would be when the engine is hot. This will draw cold air through a cold radiator, thereby causing longer for engine warm-up.

Rotate the fan blade by hand (engine off, obviously) with engine cool, the blade should turn smoothly with very little torque resistance encountered. If it turns tightly, replace the clutch assembly. imp