cold

[3bears]

so after twenty miles...my trans temp ( according to torque) reached 145. so with my radiator completely blocked ( we call it a cold front) my cooling system hit 185. I love these 4runners...heating is marginal. But I do not think the engineers did not think of these temps i deal with. Im not alone with 1st, 2nd 3rd gens 4runners....i talk with lots of older taco and land bruiser folks. the agree... when its minus 40...these heaters barely cut it.
supposed to hit minus 43 tonight. yehah

 

[Pyral]

I'd be happy it's running within a few degrees above gasoline flash point, and a few degrees below the freezing point of 50/50 coolant.

You could install heated seats out of another car, a few 3rd gens had them as options.

Or tell us how the car space heater works. Just look at those flames, must be shorting out to get that with only 12V. Battery hand warmers are a thing too, they can charge over a car charger, and you can put them in your jacket pocket.

 

[rdruss]

I feel for you! Live just west of Chicago and we had about a week of zero and below weather, I don't even like to drive my 4Runner when it's that cold, We're in the 30's day and night now and much better for everything.

 

[3bears]

cold...minus 50 today...tires frozen...wump wump wump for a mile and a half...heater barely did sh*t, been plugged in for 24 hours....auto start for 15 minutes. yahoo

 

[jgue467]

cold...minus 50 today...tires frozen...wump wump wump for a mile and a half...heater barely did sh*t, been plugged in for 24 hours....auto start for 15 minutes. yahoo

WOW - we got a measly 16 for about 2 days here in austin, which doesn't even compare yet it helps me relate (just a hair) to your situation, I don't know how you do it, on the flip side we hit 42 days last year with temps at or over 105 - not too fun.

 

[3bears]

minus 49 and an earthquake this morning......guess its cold enough that the earth cracked

 

[weberlukas74]

Ah, the joys of winter driving in our beloved 4Runners! It's impressive how they handle the extreme temperatures, but I feel you on the heating struggles. Those chilly German winters have nothing on what you're dealing with! Have you considered installing an auxiliary heater or a radiator muff to help combat the cold front blocking your radiator? It might give your engine a bit of a head start in those frigid temps. Just a suggestion!

 

[3bears]

Ah, the joys of winter driving in our beloved 4Runners! It's impressive how they handle the extreme temperatures, but I feel you on the heating struggles. Those chilly German winters have nothing on what you're dealing with! Have you considered installing an auxiliary heater or a radiator muff to help combat the cold front blocking your radiator? It might give your engine a bit of a head start in those frigid temps. Just a suggestion!

yes my radiator is completely blocked off. Up here when you block off a radiator we call it.. a "cold front".

like people will say....do you have a cold front installed

 

[Devbot]

You should consider a supercharger. That'll really help build some heat.

 

[alex9000]

yes my radiator is completely blocked off. Up here when you block off a radiator we call it.. a "cold front".

like people will say....do you have a cold front installed

I should probably do this too. You have all the heaters installed as well right?

That being said... it was past -40 here 10 days ago and now its back above zero

 

[brillo_76]

It mostly doesn't get that cold here in southwest pa. What I will do is when it hits 20 degrees or lower, I switch to recirculating air.. That way I am pulling air from the cabin and heating it. Occasionally, I have to switch it to outside air if around the freezing point. As when it hits 0 or below that is the only chance I see you getting any heat.


Too bad there isn't an easy way to just control your thermostat. That way you can just shut off he radiator. Then you have to bypass your transmission cooler with a bypass valve as well. This way all your engine heat can be routed into the cabin to keep you nice and toasty.

I probably look into installing electric heat for the seats as well to help keep you more comfortable during the very cold temperatures.

 

[phattyduck]

Too bad there isn't an easy way to just control your thermostat. That way you can just shut off he radiator. Then you have to bypass your transmission cooler with a bypass valve as well. This way all your engine heat can be routed into the cabin to keep you nice and toasty.

The thermostat is probably nearly closed and most of the engine heat is used in the heater core if you are heating -40* air up to something semi-comfortable...

-Charlie

 

[Twisted Sid]

minus 49 and an earthquake this morning......guess its cold enough that the earth cracked

That's not cold, that's cryogenic

 

[spartacus]

I wonder, do they let the diesel trucks run all night in Alaska. Because even with block heaters the work trucks take a good 30 to 40 minutes to heat up when it's close to zero out here.

 

[3bears]

I wonder, do they let the diesel trucks run all night in Alaska. Because even with block heaters the work trucks take a good 30 to 40 minutes to heat up when it's close to zero out here.

depending on temps etc, than yes some of the big rigs run 24/7

 

[alumarine]

I wonder, do they let the diesel trucks run all night in Alaska. Because even with block heaters the work trucks take a good 30 to 40 minutes to heat up when it's close to zero out here.

I can't speak for modern trucks but in the past not only did they have to run them all night but because they wouldn't produce good heat at idle, they ran diesel heaters to keep the cab/bunk area warm.

 

[brillo_76]

The thermostat is probably nearly closed and most of the engine heat is used in the heater core if you are heating -40* air up to something semi-comfortable...

-Charlie

Then if he have to run recirculated cabin air to get some heat. That way your not heating super ice cold air. Which probably causes other issues. Good thing 3Bears is tough..


I have one heater core that is crap in my fleet. This is how it get heat out of it when it goes below 20 degrees down to 0. -40 or -50 air not sure as the heater under the passenger seat is probably doing nothing either.

May have to go big 3 swap and put a high amp alternator to create heat sources along with heated seats... Possibly some added circuits in to get that cab nice and toasty. Just a few other thoughts.

 

[3bears]

Then if he have to run recirculated cabin air to get some heat. That way your not heating super ice cold air. Which probably causes other issues. Good thing 3Bears is tough..


I have one heater core that is crap in my fleet. This is how it get heat out of it when it goes below 20 degrees down to 0. -40 or -50 air not sure as the heater under the passenger seat is probably doing nothing either.

May have to go big 3 swap and put a high amp alternator to create heat sources along with heated seats... Possibly some added circuits in to get that cab nice and toasty. Just a few other thoughts.

the rear heater fan died last year and I have not replaced. My first 3rd gen had leather seats, and my first winter here got slide over heated seat covers.
this one has cloth seats and does not seem so bad.

In another thread phattyduck linked the 105 amp denso suzuki . Looks to be the Simplest bigger alt mod yet. Got one on order, but wont put in till spring

 

[phattyduck]

the rear heater fan died last year and I have not replaced. My first 3rd gen had leather seats, and my first winter here got slide over heated seat covers.
this one has cloth seats and does not seem so bad.

In another thread phattyduck linked the 105 amp denso suzuki . Looks to be the Simplest bigger alt mod yet. Got one on order, but wont put in till spring

My rear heater wasn't working for a while - somehow the fuse blew. Not sure how/when, since I basically never use it (just enough to verify operation once or twice a year before trips to the snow in case the main HVAC goes bad). Check the simple stuff first...

The Denso 105 will still have fairly low amps at idle, FYI. I have been happy with it - Denso reliability, >25% more amps. My ALT fuse was already 120A, so I didn't even need to change anything on that side of things.

-Charlie

 

[brillo_76]

the rear heater fan died last year and I have not replaced. My first 3rd gen had leather seats, and my first winter here got slide over heated seat covers.
this one has cloth seats and does not seem so bad.

In another thread phattyduck linked the 105 amp denso suzuki . Looks to be the Simplest bigger alt mod yet. Got one on order, but wont put in till spring

I may have a used rear fan one around. Yes good old Phattyduck has some decent tricks and mods over the years.

You can also just put a smaller pulley on the alt to make it charge at idle too.. Another member on here did to increase amp output without changing the alt too..