I've had a new 2008 Dakota for a month or so and it seems to me that it takes longer than normal to warm up. I use the remote starter and even after 15 minutes, the gauge is still on C and the heater is still blowing cool air. In comparison, my previous vehicle, a Chevy Impala, would be at a normal operating temperature and blowing hot air after 10 minutes.

After another 5 minutes of driving the truck is at a normal operating temperature and the heater is blowing hot. Is it normal for a pick up to take longer to warm up than a car?

 

the engine has no load on it, therefore it's not going to warm up like that

 

Neither did my Impala. Both vehicles are V8's with almost identical HP.

 

these trucks are not meant to warm up. start them and give them about 2 minutes and away you go. the faster the truck gets into closed loop the faster it will warm up. the other thing, when you get home, take a piece of cardboard and put it in frt of rad. under the hood, the next morning when you start the truck, see if it warms up any faster, but dont forget the cardboard is there.

 

LOL I'd love to do that but it's brutal up here in Michigan during the winter. Would a different thermostat get the truck up to temp quicker?

Thanks for the reply.

 

Are you supposed to remove the cardboard? I've seen people leave it while driving along.

 

I'm curious about that too. I didn't think that a pick up truck needed radiator covers like you see on big rigs or trucks with diesel engines.

 

I grew up in the N.J. P.A. area and I used to get a piece of cardboard and put it behind the grill. my 97 dak I had to do it with the cold pa winter,along the del.river esp. took like 20 min to warm up and finally blow warm air. I did leave the cardboard in also. just watch your temp. guage if in doubt, mine never had a problem.

 

I grew up in Montana and that's what the farmers did, use cardboard to cover half the radiator in the winter. Warmed up quicker and never over heated. Just make sure to remove it when it warms back up.

My 05 takes about 5 minutes to get to temp and start blowing hot, thats in 20 degree weather, yours sounds unusual. You may have the dealer check the thermostat, it may be stuck open.

Merry Xmas!

LB