Block Heater Question

[White Ram1]

If you plug in the block heater and say it's between -5 degrees and +5 degrees out side all night, you leave the block heater on all night long... . What should you expect the water temp gauge to read upon starting. And maybe even within first 5 min. 's of starting.



Thanks in advance.



Some of you guys that use a timer and turn on the heater for two or three hours before start up, what are you guys seeing?

 

[JLovas]

From my experience, if you plug her in when its 5 above outside temp, and leave it plugged in all night, your temp gauge will still be pegged to cold upon startup, if you let it idle for 5 minutes, you temp gauge will still be pegged to cold, although the heater might start to be warming up a little. And if you didn't plug it in, I would venture to guess that it would take at least 30 minutes of idle time to get the coolant temp gauge to move, and it never would get up to operating temp (when idling) when its that cold outside.



My advice is to plug it in when its warm, and that will help the block heater keep the coolant temp up, rather than having the block heater heat up all that coolant from a cold temp. And heck, its only a 600 watt heater (pretty small for a diesel engine IMHO), so it isn't going to waste that much electricity.



I keep my shop (where I park at night) between 50-60 degrees and I still plug it in at night, just so that I can get some heat out of her after 5-8 minutes of idle time. This may sound like overkill, but yesterday it was -39 F when I drove to work so it was sure nice to have it a little on the warm side!

 

[PWelsh]

I pulg mine in 3 hours before I depart in the morning. The temp gage is always on full cold. I have left it plugged in all night and it makes no difference. I drive four miles to the main road where I can speed up to 55 mph and it then hits the first notch and starts putting out heat. I think it's much easier on the engine to have it plugged in to reduce the heat shock to a totally cold engine block and head but it does not seem to help the human need for heat much.

 

[White Ram1]

Thanks.



That is what I'm seeing, just wanted to hear it from someone else.



The needle is pegged on the cold pin and it takes 8 to 10 min of driving before it even budges off the pin. Quite a bit longer to get anywhere near, but not in, in the operating range.



However I do not get any heat until the temp guage is almost at operating temp. I start it, (w/ mopar remote start kit) but there is no warmth from the heater at all even after 10 to 20 min of idle time and some of that is in the factory high idle mode.



I was hoping it would be toasty warm inside after 20 min of idle, but I guess it's not going to happen.

 

[DocDetonancour]

I know guys that leave their tgrucks plugged in for a week at a time. Anyone see a problem with doing this? thanks, Doc

 

[SLinse]

The biggest advantage of the block heater is to keep the oil liquified, which is easier on the engine. Without being plugged on in cold temps the oil is thick. The oil pump has a hard time pumping the oil. Kinda like sucking milk threw straw VS. a milkshake.



I have the stock block heater, an engine oil pan heater, a transmission pan heater, and battery blankets on mine. After being plugged in all night it is still cold on the gauge. However it starts much easier plugged in, and I do notice heat from the heater a little sooner.



I don't see a problem leaving it plugged in for an extended period of time other then I higher electric bill.

 

[Dean Upson]

Mine will be pegged on the "C" after plugging in. I do notice that it will start throwing heat faster when it has been plugged in. As far as heating the engine up, the Jacobs brake sure helps out there if you are idling.



Dean

 

[BHolm]

My two work trucks live in northern MN and live outside. They sit plugged in all night when temps get below about 20*F. They are cold like everybody else states but they also leave the yard with a big load on and I think it is much easier on the engine to have it as warm as possible before working them.



My '05 never gets plugged in, single digits last night. It fires right up and I set the idle at ~1200 for 5-10 minutes before taking off. I have heat within a couple minutes of driving after that, the seat heaters sure help too!



I have also left various diesel trucks plugged in for long weekends etc. over the years and never had a problem.

 

[Dean Upson]

I seldom plug mine in either, when I do, I think it is a mater of "conscience". The truck starts right up regardless of wheather or not it is plugged in or not. I have an unheated garage, if it was left outside I would probably plug it in more. I think the main reason that d/c stopped putting the cord on the trucks was that most of us do not use the heater unless we live in very cold regions. jmo.



Dean

 

[BRayls]

the heater will do the same job in 2 hours as if all night. other than earlier heater failure and more $$ on electric bill, no problem. I am with Dean ,the brake will help warm it up at idle