Truck takes forever to warm up

Mdmax

New member
Aug 30, 2009
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So I just put in 2 new Oem stats, coolant is testing good. What am I missing. The other day it was around 40 degrees, I started the truck and I got distracted and it idled for at least 15 minutes, when I got in the truck the needle barely moved, it took another 10 min of driving for it to come up to temp. I don’t remember my last lly taking this long
 

ZeroGravity58

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2008
1,386
46
48
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Maryland
I can start mine up and let it idle for 10 min and get in and have some heat but the needle won't move. It hasn't been very warm here so they are going to take alittle to warm up...
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,681
236
63
Boise, ID, USA
Sounds like my stock LB7. You basically have to drive to get heat. And my built LB7 will actually cool down if you're not driving. It can be up to temp, but 10 minutes of idling in 15°F weather and it'll drop off the gauge.

I think that's why GM went to all the work to do the high idle stuff where it loads up on the torque converter in the later year. Only way to get heat without moving.

Sent from my Cat S60 using Tapatalk
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,812
394
83
TX of course
Even my LBZ doesn’t heat up that good. High idle fine, but without it you’re lucky if it’ll defrost the windows in 10 minutes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,171
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Phoenix Az
use to let my lb7 idle in single or teen degree weather for 30 min before work. it would barely be blowing some heat by the time i get in it. moved to warmer climate and i dont have this issue anymore :roflmao:
 

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
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Goodyear, AZ
going to work in single digit weather if i let off the throttle and decelerated it would start cooling down. said **** it and moved to warmer weather also :D

now i have to run low temp stats and it still wants to get too hot in freeway stop and go... you never win :roflmao:
 

2004LB7

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2010
6,387
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Norcal
My LB7 took about 10 miles of driving before it had any significant heat. And like mentioned above, would actually start to cool off if I started idling too much
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,171
4,955
113
Phoenix Az
you could do like my buddies with company trucks do. 2nd or 3rd gear, wot, rev limiter bangin and you get heat REALLY fast
 

PureHybrid

Isuzu Shakes IT
Feb 15, 2012
3,327
364
83
Central OH
Let mine idle long enough to scrape ice off if there is any, then just drive it. Screw waiting on heat, that's what seat heaters and gloves are for
 

2004LB7

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2010
6,387
1,751
113
Norcal
Or power brake it :D

That should put a little heat in the transmission which in turn will help heat the coolant
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,681
236
63
Boise, ID, USA
Let mine idle long enough to scrape ice off if there is any, then just drive it. Screw waiting on heat, that's what seat heaters and gloves are for
Yep, I have become addicted to heated seats. Makes me wonder if heated steering wheels are just as nice?

you could do like my buddies with company trucks do. 2nd or 3rd gear, wot, rev limiter bangin and you get heat REALLY fast
I can't bring myself to do that to my truck or Suburban, but in my Pontiac, I start it and GO. When you pay $2k for a car (and can easily get more for the same), suddenly the guilt of hammering a cold engine goes away. And boy do you get heat quicker that way :woott:
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
It has all been said previously. My LB7's NEVER warmed up (and produced heat) without the high idle and the winter front on both the bumper and grill.
 

Mdmax

New member
Aug 30, 2009
29
0
0
Ok I guess this is normal then, maybe I’m over thinking it, like I do with everything