truck wont get up in temperature

^^ what he said. My truck only gets cold when I sit and don't run high idle.

 

I agree with the others on you thermostats being bad. Last week I was in minneapolis at 15 below, idleing my 2006 isx my cooling fan still came on occasionally because the temp gauge would aproach 212 degrees. I had no problems staying warm. Not to brag but.

 

Thermostsats, running a diesel too cold will build up moisture in the engine, remember, a diesel fires by compression, the hotter it is, the better the compression and burn of fuel, if it's too cold, it's not burning the fuel as well, which will build up soot in the exhaust and on the turbo.

 

Usually when that happens it just happens and you overheat. I have been to Chicago many a time in winter when it was below freezing with wind chill and my heat was barely luke warm. I went into truck stop bought a winter front took it to their shop to have rivet the snaps around my grille a low and behold my heat was back with a vengeance...lol

 

Maybe I'm just used to older motors then. I know for a fact my thermostat is good because it was replaced in July by yours truly. But my truck is a older truck so that might have something to do with it.

 

I'm surprised at some of the answers. Trucks have large cooling systems. Many have a capacity of 12-14 gallons of coolant compared to a car having a couple gallons. They are so big they are actually too efficient in extreme cold. We're talking like 10 and below. It's suppose to be down in the single digits in TN Monday and Tuesday. I can imagine what it's like in Chicagoland. They even make winter covers for diesel pickups.

I highly doubt he is going to work on the truck up in frigid temps. Trust me the cardboard trick works. Then if you think you still have problems when you get to a shop then you can change the thermostat. The true test the thermostat is stuck open when you get say 40 degrees and up and it still won't reach temperature. They don't make winter covers for looks.

 

Trucks have a big cooling system which is only used as needed. The modulating thermostat is only partially open at times and fully closed at other times depending on how much heat is being produced by the engine. Even with the biggest radiator, the engine will still build heat because there is little or no coolant passing through the radiator. Some diesels utilize a thermostat seal to prevent coolant from bypassing the thermostat.
Diesel fuel need heat for proper combustion, too cold and you will load the oil with fuel and soot, both of which will shorten the life of any diesel engine.
Installing the wrong thermostat in an engine will have the same effect as one being stuck open.

 

My winter front has a cool W cut into it. If you guys dont want to put something in front of your radiator, fine. If you need to get the temp up, put something on it. It is your truck you are freezing in, you decide.

 

You can void the warranty by using a winter front on a new truck. The reason for the holes cut in the winter front is because the CAC needs cold air. Winter front are old school and for old trucks like in the 70's. My ISX stay's at 180 no matter how cold it gets outside it a 2005 and the same for my 2000 volvo 12d never ever needed a winter front. But that is your choice.