engine block heater

[DAN V]

Next week it is supposed to be very cold here and I am going to be driving my jeep with studded tires on. I have never used the block heater on this vehicle. At what temp do i need to plug the heater in. The weather people are guessing a low of 10 and a high for in the 20's for a few days. Will i be o. k. by not plugging the heater in or should I just plug it in to be on the safe side?

 

[FosterW]

I would plug it in. When it gets in the teens around my area I plug my truck in just so she'll start easier. Who knows the jeep might still be fine without plugging it in. Just do some experimenting.

 

[jelag]

I used to live in OR and now am in WA and we are expected to see -10* next week... . I have several trucks... when the trucks are out and the guys are a motel we plug them in all night so that the water is warm and the truck starts fast and we can warm the cab... each truck has a 12 gauge, 50 ft cord in the storage area... .

I can tell you that at -30* or below, and 60 MPH the heater has trouble keeping up in a quad cab an nice as you'd like to have it.....

When the trucks sit here by the shop... we have the first guy in each day plug the trucks in if the temperature is below 15* F or so..... anything above 15* and we don't plug them in... . on a long holiday they might sit for 3 or 4 days and we've had no problems.....

Remember to blend down your fuel with the correct additive... . we do it all winter no matter the temperature because we don't know where we will be going... . Remember that the guy selling you the fuel really has no clue... . sure the stuff they just dumped into the tank might be good but its mixed with something that might not be good... .

Remember to double check your anti-freeze and washer solvent... . we just checked our stuff for the second time this winter...

The last point is that it won't hurt to leave it plugged in all the time... . we actually run a short extension cord to in front of the drivers side in front of the front wheel so that when you walk up to the truck you know it's plugged in... . and we have reflective tape on the extension cord... . but most of these heaters are 800 watts... as I remember... that's like your wife's blow dryer on MED all the time... . it does use some electricity... .

Hope this helps... .

 

[DAN V]

thanks

Thanks jelag. I will definitely plug it in when i get home at night now. I forgot how cold it gets up in Spokane. I used to live up there when I was younger. Good luck with -10 temps up there.