2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How long is to long for a block heater?

[RAPID RICK]

David,I think you're right. Rick

 

[jgallentine]

Purely a comfort factor for me, in the mid to low 30s or less and I plug in around 9:30 pm until 7:00 the next morning. I like to have the heat as soon as possible. If that cost me a new heater some time in the life o f the truck, so be it.



Jeff

 

[midwestdually]

LeeNH

wasnt trying to put people down with my comment on the "gasser convert" again... only my opinion which means nothing

 

[ndurbin]

I've done it both ways. plugging in all night and just plugging in about 2 hours before I goto work or school. I really haven't noticed a difference between the two. Once I usually get it started I let it high idle for acouple min with the transmission in neutral. After that I am good to go.



I've noticed it takes 2 hours of being plugged in before my WTS light doesn't stay on. And it takes about 2 hours of sitting till it cools down enough to make the WTS light stay on. I've started using a timer this year. I've got it set to come on and go off in 2 hour intervals during the day. And then from 4am to 8am in the mornings.

 

[C. Harlan]

I just plugged mine in about 10 min ago(9:40PM), and take it off at about 5:45AM when I crank Black Betty up to let her idle and warm for about 10 min before we head off to work. I wish there was a place to plug in at work, but I am not that fortunate. I notice it starts alot easier when plugged in, even when temps here only get to ~25°. I like heat when I get in, so thats also why I leave her plugged in at night as well. Just my $. 02 worth.



-Chris-

 

[JohnE]

Originally posted by RAPID RICK

I might as well waste my $. 02



60% of engine wear occurs on cold starts. My Frieghtliners got plugged in anything below 45*. 500,000 miles on oem rod bearings. Sold at 780,000 miles with oem main bearings & never had the heads off. My Dodge gets plugged in anything below 45* [if availible] I wonder if I'll get 500,000 miles out of it?



Rick

Not wasted at all.



This is a rule of thumb with most heavy duty diesel engines and should be for ALL engines and comes from sound research. If I can find the friction versus temp chart I will post it. The curve stays pretty flat until around 60° and then climbs rapidly until it hits the ceiling at +40deg; F.



And YES, our Cummins will start in very severe cold. Cummins did a lot of testing and discovered the best way to start a very cold engine is to warm the first breath of air into the cylinders, hence the grid heaters versus glow plugs. That's also why you should recyle the grid heaters after the engine starts and stalls, even if plugged in. You introduced a huge cold air charge to the cylinders.



Do your math, too. For example, 750 Watts at 10¢ per KWh = 7. 5¢ per hour.

10 hours is still under a $1. 00



Don't mean to preach, but after being around diesel engines most of my life and a degreed Propulsion Engineer, I've learned a few things.



Me

Too lazy to plug it in at night and no plug ins at work so I run the Espar twice per day. I start this routine in the fall based on the wait to start light. I don't like to see that light.



Using the nice 5W-40 engine oil means pressure in no more than 5 seconds, too.

 

[Speedo]

Plugging it in

We have a generator for power when the power goes out, its a 3406 Cat powered 250 Kw generator and it stays plugged in 24/7 and has been plugged in since '86. It starts automatically whenever the power goes out and building maintenance starts it to check it out once a month. It keeps the water temp up close to normal operating temp so it isn't quite so hard on it when it fires off.



Gus

 

[DEickhoff]

We have had temps ranging between mid 40's to low teens and my truck has been plugged in. I usually plug it in after work (4pm) til I go back to work the next morning (0630). My electric bill has not changed all that much and it feels wonderful to have heat right away.



Dawna