Got Cold This Weekend - Plug in the Block Heater

[TMyers]

We had been in the 40's and 50's at night but we dipped into the low 20's this weekend. Those with block heaters, when do you plug it in? Does it make a big difference? My truck takes forever to heat enough to put hot air into the cabin.

 

[DavidC]

Maybe a Winter front cover in your future. When I was in that climate the truck sat in a parking lot all night with temps usually about -20. If I would have had a choice I think I would have plugged in by 15-20 at least a few hours before needing to use the truck

Dave.

 

[jgillott]

I usually start plugging mine in when the temps are in the single digits. I've never really bothered when it is much above that.

 

[nukegm]

i have a timer that turns on engine block heater 2 hrs before i go to work ( 4 am ) it makes a huge difference. i only plug truck in if im expecting snow or its below 20 degrees. cheers comrades!

 

[JR]

I plug mine in regularly when it drops below 20-25*F timer set for 1-2 hours. At roughly 20 degrees with the block heater plugged in for only one hour my ECT is routinely flirting with 70*. It takes several minutes worth of engine idling, wether it is high idle, EB, whatever to achieve the same results. Neither of which Cummins endorses as a routine method of warm up. They want you to basically start and lightly run until 160*F+ with these modern emissions engines.

High idle and EB are there for the times when idling is mandatory, and should not be used as a routine method to "warm up" your engine, which it does not need beyond adequate oil pressure and light load operation to 160* F ECT.

 

[jhenderson]

[QUOTE="JR, post: 2565382, member: 1011233"

High idle and EB are there for the times when idling is mandatory, and should not be used as a routine method to "warm up" your engine, which it does not need beyond adequate oil pressure and light load operation to 160* F ECT.[/QUOTE]


Care to refer us to the FCA or Cummins publication that came from?

 

[JR]

Care to refer us to the FCA or Cummins publication that came from?

If I have to refer to the part where it says start, allow to build oil pressure, and drive lightly AGAIN to you, your alot less educated than I thought.
Furthermore, please do not accuse the TDR staff of deleting your post because you don't understand basic copy and paste status of this forum, as has been clearly demonstrated above yet again.

 

[Newsa]

JR is under the impression that using the exhaust brake in below freezing temps only helps the cab heat up quicker..... He thinks it doesn't help the engine heat up quicker.

And he thinks it creates more soot blowby. I heartily disagree with all of those assertions

Despite what the owners manual says.

 

[gsbrockman]

At roughly 20 degrees with the block heater plugged in for only one hour my ECT is routinely flirting with 70*.

Which EVIC / cluster do you have?

 

[MConyers]

I plug mine in when I get cold being outside, helps with interior heat. Truck is an unheated barn, plugged into a timer set for 3hrs before I leave for work.

 

[Newsa]

My ECT doesn't ever go below 104°F... No matter how cold it is outside. That's the coolest it will display

 

[jhenderson]

If I have to refer to the part where it says start, allow to build oil pressure, and drive lightly AGAIN to you, your alot less educated than I thought.
Furthermore, please do not accuse the TDR staff of deleting your post because you don't understand basic copy and paste status of this forum, as has been clearly demonstrated above yet again.

I understand THIS FORUM just fine. Can’t find it, can you? Once again your attempting to replace manufacturers info with your opinion. Seems to be a habit.

 

[Larry Willard]

If it's going to be below 40 I will plug it in. Not because it needs it to start, but it just gets warm faster. I also leave it set to defrost before turning it off, seems to have a little less frost at the bottom if it is light and starts melting right away.

 

[KATOOM]

I understand a good working Cummins will start in temperatures down as low as -20*F. Thats really cold, and strangely there's people who will use that Cummins characteristic to their advantage by never using the block heater. Not sure why they do that either unless they dont have access to a wall socket that night...

It doesn't get nearly that cold where I live but when the weather starts to dip down into the 20's - 30's sometimes I'll plug it in for a few hours simply because it starts much happier and the heater works much faster.....which makes me and whomever is in the passenger seat happier too.

 

[JR]

Which EVIC / cluster do you have?

I have a Scan Gauge which plugs into the OBD port. It monitors all engine parameters, oil pressure, ECT, trans temp, boost, I believe 5 egt points, scr state, dpf %, Regen status. There are many many others but those are just off the top of my head.

Unlike the EVIC the scan gauge will read actual ECT in cold weather.

The owners manual clearly states it is not recommended to idle a cold engine any longer than necessary. It clearly spells out allowing oil pressure to come up and drive easy - assuming of course it is safe to do so - clear windows etc.

Seems clear to me.

Again, as the OP is finding out idling to warm up takes time, burns fuel, and is not recommended. Obviously occasional idling is not the topic here, we are discussing routines IE long term. The block heater and a good outdoor timer is your best friend in cold weather. At my current electric rates it costs me approximately 7 cents an hour to run my block heater. How many minutes you suppose it would take to burn 7 cents worth of fuel? I'm guessing it won't get you very far in terms of making heat, certainly not what the same 7 cents worth of electricity will get you. The more important discussion is the other benefits of using the block heater - zero engine wear, less strain on batteries, starter, etc. It is hands down best practice for many reasons.

To the people who think Cummins endorses idling as a means of warm up I encourage you to seek out information directly from them. Even Ram points out the above information in multiple places RE cold engine idling but they are also no doubt balancing best practice with operator comfort - essentially they are not concerned with the longevity of your engine and emissions components once you've cleared their warranty period.

If anyone is interested I will post pictures of Cummins
recommended warm up procedures. This from equipment with scr equipped 6.7/8.3 engines, and engine operator and service manuals printed in a separate book directly from Cummins - not a section in the back of a pickup truck book or a piece of equipment. Every manual I've seen are all very similar - start and run light loaded - do not idle - and no full engine load until 160*F. In the applications with Grove, they go so far as to recommend putting the crane in gear with foot on the brake and lightly rev the engine in short cycles so as not to overheat the TC as a means of warming up.

 

[JR]

JR is under the impression that using the exhaust brake in below freezing temps only helps the cab heat up quicker..... He thinks it doesn't help the engine heat up quicker.

And he thinks it creates more soot blowby. I heartily disagree with all of those assertions

Despite what the owners manual says.

So You disagree with me and the owners manual, thanks for clarifying.

 

[jhenderson]

Define extended idling. It’s usually listed under Severe Service. It’s most often referred to as police vehicles and emergency apparatus that are, by SOP never shut off while on duty. I.E. traffic details, on scene response to fire or rescue calls as well as parked at hospital awaiting patient admittance and triage. That’s a great deal more than the 5-10 minutes while hooking up to a trailer and performing a pre trip inspection.

 

[Newsa]

I have a Scan Gauge which plugs into the OBD port. It monitors all engine parameters, oil pressure, ECT, trans temp, boost, I believe 5 egt points, scr state, dpf %, Regen status. There are many many others but those are just off the top of my head.

Unlike the EVIC the scan gauge will read actual ECT in cold weather.

The owners manual clearly states it is not recommended to idle a cold engine any longer than necessary. It clearly spells out allowing oil pressure to come up and drive easy - assuming of course it is safe to do so - clear windows etc.

Seems clear to me.

Again, as the OP is finding out idling to warm up takes time, burns fuel, and is not recommended. Obviously occasional idling is not the topic here, we are discussing routines IE long term. The block heater and a good outdoor timer is your best friend in cold weather. At my current electric rates it costs me approximately 7 cents an hour to run my block heater. How many minutes you suppose it would take to burn 7 cents worth of fuel? I'm guessing it won't get you very far in terms of making heat, certainly not what the same 7 cents worth of electricity will get you. The more important discussion is the other benefits of using the block heater - zero engine wear, less strain on batteries, starter, etc. It is hands down best practice for many reasons.

To the people who think Cummins endorses idling as a means of warm up I encourage you to seek out information directly from them. Even Ram points out the above information in multiple places RE cold engine idling but they are also no doubt balancing best practice with operator comfort - essentially they are not concerned with the longevity of your engine and emissions components once you've cleared their warranty period.

If anyone is interested I will post pictures of Cummins
recommended warm up procedures. This from equipment with scr equipped 6.7/8.3 engines, and engine operator and service manuals printed in a separate book directly from Cummins - not a section in the back of a pickup truck book or a piece of equipment. Every manual I've seen are all very similar - start and run light loaded - do not idle - and no full engine load until 160*F. In the applications with Grove, they go so far as to recommend putting the crane in gear with foot on the brake and lightly rev the engine in short cycles so as not to overheat the TC as a means of warming up.

Much of the farm equipment you refer to that have 6.7 & 8.3 do not have an exhaust brake function.

So yes, they would not recommend using an exhaust brake for warm up. Additionally, most farm equipment would not see freezing starts

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Additionally, most farm equipment would not see freezing starts

Really?

 

[JR]

Define extended idling. It’s usually listed under Severe Service. It’s most often referred to as police vehicles and emergency apparatus that are, by SOP never shut off while on duty. I.E. traffic details, on scene response to fire or rescue calls as well as parked at hospital awaiting patient admittance and triage. That’s a great deal more than the 5-10 minutes while hooking up to a trailer and performing a pre trip inspection.

Its not my place to define extended idling, Cummins has done it for us. Here is one example, if you or anyone else would like to see more I've got lots of literature to pull from. This is a 2017 manual.

At the risk of repeating myself to death, our own manual states specifically start and drive. The bit about high idle, EB, etc. Specifically spells out "to heat the cab more quickly" or something of that nature. This is placing operator comfort number one. Will it hurt anything idling your truck while your hooking up a trailer? No, but again we are talking routine, long term effects. If idling wasn't detremintal Cummins would not put such a short time limit on it. It is spelled out in multiple places through out their own manuals, which in my opinion has a higher merit than a pickup truck manual that took ownership of a relatively short warranty.