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SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:29 am
by oldoutboardjim
I have a 2004 SVTF (JRSC+BBK) with 60,000 miles. As long as I have owned the car (I bought it with 6,000 miles) it seems to heat up slowly. It always heats up so the temp gauge is exactly at the 12 o’clock position, but it takes time to get there. For example, if I leave it plugged in (factory block heater) with an outside temperature of about 10 degrees, it takes about 3-4 miles before it gets fully warmed up.
My dad has a 2006 ZX4/SES Focus that I drove this morning. From stone-cold (no block heater) at 10 degrees it was almost fully warmed up in about 1 mile! That’s WAY faster than my car!!!!
So, the $64,000 question is this: Does my SVTF warm up similar to other SVT Focii, or does mine need a thermostat?
Thanks in advance!

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:32 am
by Pappy
Do you still have a stock temp range T-Stat in the car?

You should change it if so. We are supposed to have a different temped T-Stat for our JRSC cars. I wanna say its a 180 deg. T-Stat, but I'm not positive. I know you could find out on focaljet.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:03 am
by Steve@Tasca
Hey Jim, it sounds like yours warms up just like mine does. It takes a while to get there but once it's warm it blows great heat right?

I think it's actually kind of a trait of the Zetec and the cars cooling system being very efficient. The other car you drove is a Duratec and I had one of those as well and they do warm up faster than Zetecs do.

When we had our 2000 ZX3 it had a block heater and it warmed up very quickly if you plugged it in but it took a while if you didn't.

I'm not sure what the solution woudl be other than the old standby of blocking a portion of the radiator of grill opening to limit airflow through the radiator in very cold weather.

It takes about 8-10 miles before mine blows really good heat, mine does not have a block heater though so it's starting from dead cold.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:02 pm
by focinite
i had both in the same car and i really havent noticed a differance. my guess would be the extra cooling on the svt with its oil cooler and what nots.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:38 pm
by Patalrob
Yep I have the same thing with mine.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:39 pm
by KRYPTO
mine takes awhile also.
I've noticed if I go 70 my temp and oil temp are normal, but if I'm at 50 in 6th the temp is 1/4th and oil temp is just reading. This is only when its cold out say around 10.

I'm going to block the whole front opening on my bumper.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:16 pm
by Steve@Tasca
KRYPTO wrote:mine takes awhile also.
I've noticed if I go 70 my temp and oil temp are normal, but if I'm at 50 in 6th the temp is 1/4th and oil temp is just reading. This is only when its cold out say around 10.

I'm going to block the whole front opening on my bumper.
You sir, need a new thermostat.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:27 pm
by Monkey Gein
my 07s heat up different. the zx3 its half the time the zx5 does. i had a 09 focus as a rental. shit took like 10 miles. the cheapest thing to try is block part or all of the radiator. i know it's redneck, but it works
KRYPTO wrote:mine takes awhile also.
I've noticed if I go 70 my temp and oil temp are normal, but if I'm at 50 in 6th the temp is 1/4th and oil temp is just reading. This is only when its cold out say around 10.
I'm going to block the whole front opening on my bumper.
what bumper???

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:36 pm
by Patalrob
My 07 heats great.

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:59 pm
by CrazySVTChick
Mine heats up in about a min. Really quick and really nice heat. So by the time I'm down the street I'm warm and toasty (also thank god for my heated seats :lol: ).

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:38 pm
by tgnorman
CrazySVTChick wrote:Mine heats up in about a min. Really quick and really nice heat. So by the time I'm down the street I'm warm and toasty (also thank god for my heated seats :lol: ).
That and the EAP is lower, so the windchill's less.... :D

Re: SVTF Slow To Warm Up

Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:14 am
by dartfork
My ZX3 (with Zetec) warms up a lot faster than our Escort (with SPI). I'd say it is about 2 or 3 minutes from start (after being in the garage) 'till the temp is in the "normal". ...about 5 minutes after bein' left in the subzero parking lot at work, 'till "normal".

The Escort takes over 10 minutes to get in the"normal".