My Duramax doesn't ever warm up to 210 degrees when the temp outside is below 35 degrees. I know i should have the cold front on it, does it do any damage running the engine at a cooler temperature? It periodically jumps back and forth between half warmed up and around 200 degrees when driving normally.... is this normal? I can actually watch the temp. needle move up and down, rather quickly.

Totaly normal. Put at least the grill part of the coldfront on and it makes a huge difference both in warming up and holding a more consistant temp.

Mine will only go up to 205* if I floor it with the grill cover on. Other wise it's running at 180-185*.

The needle moving up and down QUICKLY doesn't sound right.

mine does it too. Diesels don't stay warm unless you are working them. Although, mine is harder to keep warm here in alaska. as long as it puts out heat in the cab, I am happy.

I'm I the only one that has heat in their truck? I have to have the heater setting in the blue or else you want to die from heat stroke.

OB, Put the cold front on bro. I limped the tranny on the alcan because it was so cold. Once I tossed the blanket on the front (Alabama doesn't give you or sell you a cold front with the truck so I make do) lo and behold I cruise around warm and toasty with the tranny temperature gauge moving and everything.

Hello from Weston Vt.

Remember that the bottom reading of the temp gauge is 160F (at least it is on mine). So, I assume 1/4 of the way up is around 185F. I don't tow, but I don't think I have ever seen 210F, even on the hottest day climbing a steep hill.

Actually, I the bottom of the guage says 160, but it's more like 100. I think GM made a little mistake.:confused:

OB, Put the cold front on bro. I limped the tranny on the alcan because it was so cold. Once I tossed the blanket on the front (Alabama doesn't give you or sell you a cold front with the truck so I make do) lo and behold I cruise around warm and toasty with the tranny temperature gauge moving and everything.
I do have the cold front on (grille cover). It doesn't help much when the temp is -30F to -40F. Even with it on the only time that I have gotten up to normal operating temp was when I was towing a 4 place snowmachine trailer on our way to summit. The temp outside was about 20 above. Just cruising though, my temp stays at around 180-190. (driving down the highway at 65)

When I was driving the alcan, once again going back to how cold Tok and the rest of the way until saskatoon was, I had the blanket down covering the bumper as well. -38 not taking into account the windchill. I had ice forming on my grille and radiators.

Yeah, when it is that cold, it is hard to keep anything warm. At least I haven't had any problems with the truck. Even when it is that cold at least I had heated seats put in. It makes it a little more bearable. I had a dodge that kept on getting the check engine light (gas engine) and after talking to the dealer here they told me that I wasn't letting it warm up enough before driving. Well, I was letting it run for 30-45 minutes. Then they told me that the truck wasn't designed for the cold of alaska. That's when I decided to go back to GM products. No check engine lights on either of the 2 gas engines that I had before this one.

Where are you in AK anyway? I'm trying to get a "Last Frontier" get-together going before I end up deploying to iraq.

I am up at Eielson AFB near Fairbanks. Pretty far from you like everything in this state.

bah, its only a 5 hour drive... :)

Hi guys, first post for me, but was just wondering where I can get a cold front for my 04? I bought it used and the cold front wasn't there, and I don't want to give the dealer money for something that should have been there when I bought it from them.

Thats ONLY 5 hours on the icey roads I mean road right.

Sure! I wish that it was a 4 lane road, then it would be. I think the best I ever made it in was 5.5 hours from Eielson to Sportsman's Warehouse.

Hi guys, first post for me, but was just wondering where I can get a cold front for my 04? I bought it used and the cold front wasn't there, and I don't want to give the dealer money for something that should have been there when I bought it from them.
You can buy it from gmpartsdirect.com. The part # for the GMC winter front (grille cover) is 15057592, their price is about $36. Shipping shouldn't cost you hardly anything. Hope this helps.

You down here cwolfe? I saw another post of yours about not seeing our truck. I think there are about 5 actively posting members up here.

I got my grille cover from the dealer for $35. Running cold is very hard on the engine, you don't get good combustion, which gives you oil dilution and lots of soot in the oil. Also the oil doesn't get hot enough to drive the moisture from condensation out of it. Getting diesels to operating temp is even more important than on gassers. CNG and LP engines don't have the fuel dilution/carbon problem, but they still make alot of moisture in the oil.

Thanks guys, I'll look at that web site.

Try putting on a banks brake it warms up alot quicker at an idle and it comes back on if it gets below 160 degrees.