Can't get enough heat on really cold days.

[KC10Chief]

I have an 02 Eddie with the automatic, dual zone climate control. I live in Alaska and it's pretty cold this time of year. It takes forever for this thing to warm up. Before I go to work, I'll let it warm up. Usually about 15 minutes. Even with the engine warm, it still takes that cab forever to heat up. It takes me 20 minutes to get to work, and I'm still freezing when I get there. It does blow warm air, but only if I go to manual mode, set the temperature at 90 degrees, and control the fan speed. On the warmer days, when it's above 20, it's not too much of an issue. But it's been below zero a lot lately. When it's that cold, should I block off air to my radiator somehow? There's been some days where it's -10 to -15 degrees. Driving to work, I notice that the engine never fully warms up. I don't think that there's really anything wrong with my heater. It just can't keep up with the extremely cold temperatures. Any thoughts? Also, the truck has the 4.6L V8, auto tranny and about 60,000 miles on it.

 

[410Fortune]

Put some cardboard in front of your radiator to block some of the airflow

I have never tried this, but in CO I have seen this done for YEARS and YEARS

if you notice Semi's also have a winter bra for adjusting radiator airflow in the winter

YOu COULD install a 210 degree thermostat for winter, but I personally wouldnt want to do that....try the cardboard and dont block off 100% of your radiator!!

 

[n2epv]

I have an '04 XLT with the 4.6 and manual climate control. Haven't seen anything here much below 0 degrees, but the "global warming" has fizzled and there have been a lot of +1 to +5 degree mornings here. It still doesn't take long for the heater to be blowing warm air (thanks to the all-aluminum engine) and if I'm on the highway the engine will get up to at least 190 according to the ScanGuage. It does take 15 minutes before it's warm enough to turn the fan down, but after that, there's more than enough heat.

Could you have a partially stuck-open thermostat? It's easy to pull the thermostat on a 4.6, just get a new O-ring, drain a gallon of coolant out, then take a look. Do the other Ford truck guys with gas engines use radiator covers up there? I thought the main reason the big-rig drivers cover the radiator is to keep the diesel from jelling.

 

[KC10Chief]

I'm pretty sure my thermostat is fine, and I'm pretty sure that it's heating fine. It's just a large area to heat up when it's really cold out. There was a week befor Christmas, when it was -20 out every morning when I'd go to work. I'd let the truck warm up for at least 20 minutes. The engine still wouldn't be warmed up. I think it's just so cold, that it won't warm up! I don't see any other gas vehicles with any kind of air dams. Usually, it's not that cold here. It's been around 30 degrees F for the past few days here in Anchorage. One thing I've noticed though, is that if my wife and two kids are in the truck with me, that the windows fog up really easily. The system can't keep them clear. Also, if I just set the climate control to auto, it will NEVER warm up. If I set it to 73 degrees, it blows 73 degree air and the fan runs full blast, non stop. So, I just set it to 90 and adjust the fan speed myself.