Block Heater Expectations

[Tony T.]

Normally I don't plug in the block heater. but the last couple of nights here in Texas the temps were right at 20*F at night. I plugged in the heater to a timer, and set it for two an half hours to come on, before I leave for work (I checked out the timer, and cord an do have power to the plug in). First morning was 19*F, next morning 21*F. I was hoping to see more of a rise in temp gauge, but still looked the same to me (just a little above the 140*about two miles from work). I was just wandering is there anyway to test the block heater to see if it is working ok. Usually I will take a longer route (winter) to work trying to get truck up to the normal operating temperature an usually it is by the time I get to parking lot. Normal route is 10 miles, and extended route adds about 3 to 4 miles more. Cab heat seemed about the same as when I don't plug in, around 4 miles from driveway starts heating up pretty comfortable. I went the long route, and it still was not up to operating temp at 19*F outside temp. I guess I was expecting instant cab heat sooner, and then normal operating temp with in the normal 10 mile trip by plugging in.

 

[DCaswell]

If you lift the hood & plug in you can hear the block heater start to gurgle. Best to try when engine is cold. Or when you go out in morn. just pop hood & feel the side of the block, it will be slightly warm to the touch if the heater is working

 

[rbattelle]

I usually leave mine on for 3 hours at least. To check that it's working, I just grab the upper radiator hose when I open the hood to unplug it. It's usually quite warm.



Call me obsessed, but in order to keep the engine happy, I refuse to turn on the cab heat until the thermostat opens, when I'm alone. This makes for some extremely cold rides to work (when it's 12 degrees outside and inside the cab! ), but I firmly believe the engine comes up to temp. much faster.

 

[hammersley]

Yep - 2 hours is on the marginal side....

When the temps are at 20 IMO. I turn my timer to come on at 2 AM - and since I'm retired now I usually am up and gone by 6:30 - goofing off with coffee clutch MUCH earlier if fishing or hunting. . I don't think you will notice the gauge move in 2 miles at 20 degrees even if you leave it in for 24 hours.

 

[WM-300]

Block Heaters

I have over 50 years dealing with sub zero weather and engine block heaters. I have learned that it takes a lot longer than a few hours to bring the entire engine up to temp. I have tried the timer turning on a few hours before I get up. The engine is never totally warm, in my opinion.



When the temps drop and I feel the need for block heaters, they get plugged in at bed time and run all night. This way in the morning, not just the block is warm. You can feel the warmth into the alternator, carb or injection pump, in other words the block heats and then everything starts to warm up.



I have a Tracked Bombardier we use for plowing snow. It sits in a open pole barn. Trying block heater for a few hours, its slow to start. But with heater on all night, it cranks and starts like its july.



This morning, its -22 (22 Below Zero). The block heaters on my Ram CTD has been running since 8pm last night when I came home. It did not have to warm a cold engine, it just maintained the already hot engine. Maybe this is why I get more heat quicker out of the heater.



Just my opinion after fighting engines for 50 years, it works for me and the little extra electricty is worth it.



Paul

 

[4xquadrod]

Temps are only hitting in the mid to high 30's here but I plug mine in with a timer set a 1 am and at 5 am my heater is blowing warm airOo.

I made the mistake of not getting the heated seats.

I did notice that the truck has a heated seat relay or fuse installed. I was wondering if everything needed for this option was in the truck with the exception of the controls.

 

[Eric_77]

Anyone know the wattage of the block heater?

 

[JHardwick]

I plug mine in when I get home in the evening (7-8PM) and let it heat all night, the engine never does completely cool down =)

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Re: Block Heaters

Originally posted by WM-300

I have learned that it takes a lot longer than a few hours to bring the entire engine up to temp. I have tried the timer turning on a few hours before I get up. The engine is never totally warm, in my opinion. Paul

I totaly agree, when I get home at 5:30 it gets pluged in and run all night till the next morning. You have a very big mass of cold metal to warm up their and expecting it to do it in a couple hours is too much.



I have never figured out why people use the timmers, that cheap or what, you might save yourself 50 cents in electricity I suppose.



On a side note if it is only down to 20 degs I wouldn't even worry about it. I normally don't plug mine in untill it get down below 10

 

[V6power87]

Originally posted by Eric_77

Anyone know the wattage of the block heater?

In my '03 it says 1300 watts on the cord.

 

[rbattelle]

I use a timer, but to be honest it's from simple ignorance. I thought that by running the block heater too much you'd burn out the element early and have to replace it. I figured by running only for a few hours at a time I'd get more life out of it.



As of tonight, that policy changes. From now on I'll plug it in around 8PM and leave it until I pull away at 6AM the next morning.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by rbattelle

I use a timer, but to be honest it's from simple ignorance. I thought that by running the block heater too much you'd burn out the element early and have to replace it. I figured by running only for a few hours at a time I'd get more life out of it.



As of tonight, that policy changes. From now on I'll plug it in around 8PM and leave it until I pull away at 6AM the next morning.

It may shorten the life some, maybe. But I can tell you living in Wisconsin, we have 8 diesel vehicles all with block heaters. The first one we got in about 94 and we have never replaced a block heater. That doesn't count the numerous gas vehicles over the years. Actually only have ever replaced 2 block heaters, one that went bad in a CAT forklift with a Perkins diesel. And the other was in my old 85 1/2 ton with a 360 in it, and the heater didn't do bad, the bolt that hold it in rusted off and it fell out going down Main street.



A block heater is nothing more then a small water heater element like is used in your home hot water heater, look at how long they are on... ...

 

[WM-300]

Lets look at it this way

A block heater is nothing more that a very inefficient water heater.

If you have a electric water heater for your home, its insulated with modern high tech insulation. Its also most likly located in a heated living space, is cellar or utility room. The Domestic water heater will most likly have 2 elements for a total of 4 to 5 KW watts. Before I went to oil fired for domestic hot water, I had electric. Water from my well is in the low 40's year round. It took a long time even with high wattage elements to bring it upo to temp. Then it ran on a thermostat and kept it at the set temp.



Compare this to a engine block heater. Usually 750 to 1500 watts max. If you allow the engine to get cold, you have to heat

a mass of cast iron/coolent. There is no insulation to retain heat, its a constant fight to heat the block/coolent and the cold is trying to chill everything down.



If you plug in a block heater when you finish with the truck for the day, the engine never cools down. The coolent stays hot, the block stays hot, everything attached to the block will warm to some extent. Even the actual oil in the pan will stay warm as the hot block warms the oil pick up pipe and the block warms the steel of the oil pan.



If auto engineers wanted to make a good block heater, they could. But its a stupid cost issue. If we could have a high KW heater controlled by a Theromostat we then could get by with less heater operational time.



The wattage of block heaters is kept low so they can be plugged into any 120 volt outlet, hopefully without blowing the breaker. Also as a safety issue so some person does not try to use a 16 ga extension cord on a high watt unit.



Thus constant heating after you shut down is really needed in cold zero degree climates.



This morning after my heater was in all night, I had nice really warm air as soon as the water in the heater circulated thru the engine. By the time I went down the hill (couple miles) to the Interstate I was at 160 and had heat. Now at 12:42pm its 1 degree, i dont plan to use the truck any more today and its plugged in until tommorrow morning. It will NEVER overheat your truck, bcause its so inefficient and so much heat loss.



For those that use timers, try this for a few days. Plug it in and let the block heater run all night. See if this helps. Let us all know. I am a believer. Remember the song ? "A cold hearted woman in love with a warm hearted man"? We need to give our trucks time to get warm hearted.



Paul

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by DCaswell

If you lift the hood & plug in you can hear the block heater start to gurgle. Best to try when engine is cold.

I'm glad you posted that. I've used the block heater several times but last night was the first time I ever heard it make a noise. I thought something was burning at first. Sounded just like a tea kettle when it first starts to hiss. And, for what it's worth, when I use the block heater it gets plugged in at bedtime and runs all night. If it a constant 1500 watts that works out to about 3 cents per hour. Well worth it for a vehicle worth more than $30,000 (at least till I drove it off the lot).

 

[Eric_77]

Well I am in Texas and use the timer cause I plug in starting with temps in the 40's. I will vary time depending on how cold it is getting couple hours every morning gets me a no wait to start time. If it is into teens I will go for about 3-4 hours preheat. I do it more for the warth for me as office is only 10 minutes away and the truck doesn't get up to temp unless I have to run errands.

 

[SRadke]

The stock heaters in the second gen trucks was 750 watts. When mine burned out I replaced it with a 1500 watt model. Based on the performance of those two compared to my new one I would guess the heaters in the third gen trucks is about 750 watts. It doesn't provide nearly as much heat as the 1500 watt heater in my old truck did. My $. 02



-Scott

 

[JRG]

Block Heating Everything

I to notice that if the heater is left pluged in all night, it heats more than just the oil.



JRG

 

[JRG]

Another view;

 

[Eric_77]

Not that extreeme but my window will be defogged if the heater is left on overnight. I think the antifreeze slowly circulates due to blockheater and heater core releases it into vent system and defogs front and side window.

 

[BrittonTurner]

jrg..... i think i would have been freaked out having to leave my truck parked on the street with all that ice. i would have never been able to sleep for fear of someone plowing into it