Is your 4.0L V6 "cold blooded"?

I bought my 2009 DC v6 A/T in late april this year, and the weather has been pretty warm since I've owned it. In the last month, the temps have started dropping and I've been noticing around a 10% drop in fuel economy. This is not so unusual, and I would expect a drop as the air becomes cooler and more dense.

What is bothering me is that it takes a long time for the truck to come up to operating temp on the gage. Every vehicle I've owned in the past took a mile or 2 at 50mph to come up to full operating temp after an initial 30 second stationary warm up, but the tacoma is taking 5 to 6 miles at 50-60mph to fully warm up. I'm starting to wonder if there's a thermostat problem that's keeping the engine from running at optimal temp.

For those of you up north, how long does it take for your truck to come up to operating temp?

 

Takes me about 4-5 miles. All my previous trucks took much longer than that so I'm happy with it only taking a few miles.

 

Mornings are now in the 20's and my Taco seems to warm up in just a few miles. I am actually quite pleased, since it is so COLD!! Once warmed up, it blows some very warm air in the cab!!

I actually do not let it idle after start up. I just go. No need to idle it, unless you want it to be warm or to defrost the windshield (sans the compressor running!!).

 

I also live in MA. and if I want a warm truck early in the morning I start it 5 minutes before I go anywhere. I don't think I've turned on the heat yet...

 

My taco usually warms up in about 3-4 miles traveling state road about at 35mph (its the speed limit ), but honestly, 4th gear (6spd) about 40mph and she is nice and toasty by the time I hit the highway. much quicker than my Dodge. like other said, once warm, the heater rocks

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. Even with the small sample size, it's looking like everything is normal. Looks like my one and only gripe with the truck is not really a problem!

 

No joke man. Even with the blower off and the temp on hot the air from the vents is like an inferno! I've never had to use the blower with the heat!

 

I have noticed this also, This is my 1st V6, I have always owned 4 banger Honda's Those heat up a lot faster. I don't think there is a problem. Just the way the truck is designed.

 

Why do you drive at such high speed after starting the engine for about 1 minute?

There's also the heating oil pan mod that you can try.

I was fortunate enough to have an aftermarket remote start from the dealer.

 

I idle it until the engine gets to 100F. Then I keep it well under 2K RPM for a while.
These days in Texas it takes about 2 minutes to warm up. In the mornings it's about 50-55 degrees.

 

Heck no. My taco warms up within a mile or two. With my old '93 chevy, I would barely have warm air by the time I got to work.

HTH

 

i park my baby in the house, so shes always warm .

 

This is most ideal.

I miss having a garage to park vehicles in, just to store junk.

 

Here in SoCal our winters can be brutal. So after I scrape the snow off. Unplug the engine heater. Poor some hot Cocoa in the radiator. It usually takes an hour to warm up. That or I just hop in and go because 70 degree winter doesnt even effect my truck. My truck is already warm by the end of the block.

 

I understand you love your truck... but the house? I think the garage would work, but the house? Do you snuggle up to it at night to keep eachother warm? I though I was bad with letting the dog in the house, but the truck?

 

2-3 miles until it warms up. Sometimes a little more if it's really chilly outside.

 

my 01 3.4L warms up in 2 blocks.... pretty quick for a small engine

 

well ,not in the house i mean in the basement................right beside my bed

 

Does your temp gauge have numerical values on it? Mine just has H and C...

 

just get the remote starter installed, after running for a few minutes it warms up real quick. and if its really cold, i let it run longer to start defrosting