It's winter and my FJ is Not warming up!

MR.FJ60 · 11-29-04, 07:47 PM

It's been getting a cold here and even got a little bit of snow last night and everytime I look at my temp guague it doesnt bearly move. Anyone here do anything special for the winter months to help warm up a little better? Thanks in advance guy's.

lowtideride · 11-29-04, 07:49 PM

I moved south.

My rig did the same thing when I lived way up North. 10 min warm up times til ya hear it roaring from the living room.

MR.FJ60 · 11-29-04, 07:55 PM

ha hah! Thanks,But I'm not planning on moving anywhere anytime soon.

gulp3000 · 11-29-04, 09:26 PM

T-stat stuck open will cause that. Just had to change mine this weekend. NAPA didn't have the right gasket but other than that it's a piece of cake. Good time to throw some new hoses on as well.

If it's just taking too long to warm up. The old cardboard in front of the radiator might work.

ILikePie · 11-29-04, 10:12 PM

I got rid of the stock engine fan and hooked up an electric. never turn it on in the winter up here, heats up ALOT faster. Of course, i replaced the radiator at the same time, so that might have helped.

getto · 11-29-04, 10:57 PM

I had the same problem until I replaced the thermostat. Very cheap from the dealer and a quick project. Make sure you install it right side up, with the correct gaskets (I learned the hard way).
Todd

MR.FJ60 · 11-30-04, 12:33 AM

Well guy's I just replaced the thermostat last year during winter. You guy's think that I could be having this problme maybe because the thermostat could be upside down? Thanks for the reply's.

WALoeIII · 11-30-04, 12:36 AM

Its a cold running engine, what oil are you running? (Don't know how much this relates but I'm more curious)

MR.FJ60 · 11-30-04, 12:44 AM

I switched it to 10w40 about a month ago.

60wag · 11-30-04, 06:37 AM

If the top gasket for the thermostat is missing, it will run cold.

MR.FJ60 · 11-30-04, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60wag

If the top gasket for the thermostat is missing, it will run cold.

OK, I think this might be the problem here. As I recall I got the wrong gasket when I installed teh new thermostat a year ago. Thanks 60wag!

getto · 11-30-04, 10:43 AM

That was my problem, too. Once I installed the correct gasket, it got hot really quick.
Todd

84Bruiser · 12-01-04, 09:48 AM

I'm going to start with the thermostat, since the fan turns on when I start the car, almost immediately... but I have another radiator question: SOMEtimes I have a pinhole leak at the top of the radiator, it never leaks more than a drop, but could my problem be at all related to poor pressure regulation in the radiator?

Thanks in advance,
Bruiser

60wag · 12-01-04, 05:01 PM

A tiny leak wouldn't make it run cold. It might make it run hot if the leak was big enought to truly drop the pressure enough to let the coolant boil. I'd take the rad to a shop and have it fixed before the small leak becomes a big one.

sanjuancruiser · 12-01-04, 06:32 PM

Mine could be warmer as well. Is there a difference btw factory and aftermarket t-stats?

peepers · 12-02-04, 08:29 AM

just go oem t-stat with new gaskets. you will need 2. the gasket for the tstat houseing and the rubber round one for the tstat itself. if you go that route, you can rule out that part of the cooling system and move onto something else.

sanjuancruiser · 12-02-04, 06:42 PM

Thanks-I kind of figured that but never hurts to ask. Aftermarket ones look very close to OE (read not junky)so I never thoughtnthat they could be suspect.