cold weather survey

[Piersol]

I was just wondering at what temperature you all plug in the block heater (if at all). Usually I plug in if it gets into the teens overnight. I know it will start without a problem but it has to be better for it. Also, what is the coldest temp you've ever started it without being plugged in.

 

[SteveH]

Four or five years ago I left my truck at Montana Dodge on a Friday and they left it outside until Monday when the temp was hovering around 34 below zero. The mechanic cycled the key twice to preheat the element and then turned it over. It ground for about 5 seconds and then started. After it started, it ran without any strange noises and supprisingly little smoke. I plug mine in when it is below freezing when working just because I enjoy getting heat a lot quicker.

Steve H.

 

[chuck3]

40 deg. or below, a lot easier on the eng.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I usually try to plug in around 40 degrees. Just easier on the engine. It'll start on it's own at much colder temps.



Edit: Doh! Chuck - you beat me to it again! LOL:-laf Oo.

 

[chuck3]

Still with me Dave? I could'nt ask for better company. Oo.

 

[LSMITH]

I have not plugged mine in at all yet this year, in Wisconsin too I know it is easier on it and all of that. Coldest so far this year is about 0, coldest ever is about -20 without being plugged in. It sounded horrible and smoked out the entire parking lot, but it sure beats walking in those temps.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Mine hardly ever gets plugged in. If it's going to get to maybe zero or below, & I can find an entension cord, I might at home, but in the parking lot at work, I couldn't plug it in anyway, & sometimes I'll have to fire it up in the dead of night after sitting out there for maybe 36 hrs. Always does fine. Early this winter I noticed it missing & smoking a little on a cold start, turned out to be loose cables on the heater grid relays on the fender well, all four of them.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Dang, Chuck. They're all gonna think we're the same person if we keep posting the same responses! Maybe we met in another life?

 

[illflem]

I plug mine in about 8 months of the year, extension cord has a thermostat set at 40°. Coldest start without block heat was -25°, two grid heat cycles. I had to get out and check before backing up, there was so much smoke I couldn't see 10 feet.

 

[bigkid59]

Well, living here in the Mid South I do not experience the colder temperatures you guys up North do.

I make a habit of using the block heater any time the temperature is predicted to be below 25 degrees. I know that there is no problem starting at lower temperatures without the heater being used, but the overall better performance of a warm start is worth it. By using the block heater at these temperatures my truck starts like it is 70 degrees outside. It is easier on the starter, the better oil circulation is definitly an advantage, I get heat quicker, and the transmission shifts better.

Overall I feel that the advantages are great enough that it is a no brainer for me to use the block heater.

 

[Lil' Dog]

The -30's are the coldest I have had without block heat. . Not a problem starting, but I do switch to 0W-40 oil in November over the winter months, that helps out whole lot.



I usually plug in around 10 - 0 °F just to have heat sooner and reduce the warm up time. At work I have it plugged in around the same temp all day just to have it warm. LOL



J-eh

 

[claymike]

I plug mine in 7 months out of the year. I have it connected to a heavy duty timer that comes on 2 hours before I leave.



Mike

 

[roadranger]

HEATERS?? We don't need no stinkin' heaters!



Unlike the PSD guys (or GM 6. 5), these CTD's will start all by themselves, no extra heat needed.



Last week; +4*F at 6am, didn't have it plugged in,

cycled heaters twice and it fired right off with no smoke.

 

[Mactruck]

I plug mine in all the time because of my Hobby (Firefightin ) So I don't know when I'm leaving.

I was in Vermont last weekend skiing and started my truck at 0 degrees. It wasn't happy (little louder than normal) but it started fine.

I usually cycle the grid heater twice in those conditions.

 

[Randy]

I live in Idaho, I leave mine out half the time (work rotating shift). Temps get to 15-20 below zero. I never plug it in and no problems. I run Amsoil and it really makes a difference in cold weather starting.

 

[Champane Flight]

Very Cold?

I usually plug in at 32+ . The Coldest was a night in Wyoming, we were pulling our fifthwheel back from Seattle in Febuary. Got into Rawlins at midnite and was a little too tired to go on. So went looking for a place to plug the truck and the fifthwheel in. Not a campground or park open that time of year. So asked a local bar owner if I could plug into a lightpole he had a portable sign pluged into, told him I would be glad to pay him. He told me flatly NO! I felt like telling him where to stick it, but refrained and went down the road to a wide spot and decided to rough it. Turned the heater on in the fifthwheel and ran it off the battery. About an hour later it gave a loud squall and quit. Oh well, turned the gas off and threw two more heavy blankets on the bed. Woke up in the morning and looked at the thermometer in the fifthwheel. It was -12 inside the fifthwheel, it was -35 outside!



Went outside and cycled the heater twice and turned her over. It rolled about three times and fired. It took forever (it seemed) to get oil pressure, but in about fifteen minutes we headed down the road.

 

[PZicha]

40 degree's or lower . I have a block heater and an oil pan heater . The quicker you get presure to the upstairs the better in the long run . -30 below was the coldest without being plugged in and I had to cycle the heater twice

 

[JFitzgerald]

I've only used the block heater once so far (first winter with this truck) when it was going below 10+ overnight. Sure made it nice in the morning to have quick heat. We've had a mild winter so far, so haven't been using it, but will get a timer like Mike.

 

[f.boyle]

Plugged it in this morning. -5* brrr she started right up! Oo.

Frank

 

[KMeek]

I plug mine in most of the time too even when it only gets into the 40's at night. I can tell from the mileage computer that I get much better mileage in the morning because it is already warm.