How long is to long...

[pwerwagn]

I was just wondering if it is bad to leave my truck plugged in (block heater) for long periods of time. How long is to long? Also, some people told me that by leaving their truck plugged in, the winsheild stays defrosted. is that true? do you have to put it on heat/defrost? What temp does the block heater heat to?



BTW, I just read the announcement at the top of the page about NBR1Trucker. that is bad news.

 

[WDaniels]

Does it even get cold enough in NM to plug in? It will not hurt to keep it pluged in for long periods but if it's warm out(20+) I wouldn't even bother. If it is warm just plug in for an hour or so.

WD

 

[y-knot]

I leave my truck plugged in all winter, I don't take it out very often, so it might sit there for a month. I do have a special circuit for the truck which cycles the block heater so it does not run continuously, but if you don't have such a thing it won't hurt it. Mine is more for energy savings, then anything else. The truck is much better off being warm, instead of always starting with the cold block and oil. It warms up much faster, which is always a problem in the winter, and does help with the defrosting. I'm not real sure, but I thought the block heaters were 600W, so they will consume a little electric.

 

[JimBob24]

I measured the current on my block heater with an AC ammeter ... . it was pulling 6. 5 amps which is about 800 watts. Probably the same heater as the 2nd gen. Several members mentioned using a heavy duty timer to turn their heaters on a couple of hours before they go to work. I bought a simple 15 amp timer from the local hardware store for about $12. 00. I had been leaving mine plugged in for extended periods of time but I think I was wasting a lot of juice.

 

[TWilkening]

I think they'll warm it to around the thermostat point. I read that in an owners manual for a Powerstroke, so it might be different.

 

[pwerwagn]

No it probably doesnt get cold enough in New Mexico to need one, but if it keeps the windows defrosted like some say, it would be nice. we only see temps in the teens once in a while. I've plugged mine in the last week (hasnt got below 38* or so yet) and I didnt notice any difference in warm up time. Probably so when it is colder. I didnt use it at all last winter.

So does it keep your guys windows defrosted?

 

[rbattelle]

Overnight temperatures here in winter generally stay between 20 and 30. If I plug the truck in when I return from work around 5pm and it runs until I leave for work the next day at 5:30am, the engine is "warm" to the touch and coolant temperature is between 110 and 120 (I have an aftermarket water temp gauge of sorts). If I leave the A/C controls on "defrost" mode, there's sometimes 4 small unfrosted patches just above the vents. I still end up spending what seems like forever trying to remove that 1-molecule-thick-yet-totally-opaque layer of frost that is impervious to scrapers.



-Ryan

 

[PaulG]

last jan. here in ct we saw 3 week straight of sub 15 deg. weather i plugged mine in with a timer and set it to go on 2 hours b-4 i start my truck (5:30am) now for about a week it never got above 7deg went to work didn't plug in one day let the truck heat cycle started right up took a while to get good heat but started anyway. long story short they will start not being plugged in so why waste your money warming it all night and day when not needed. of course when i did plug it at work my company payed the bill so yes it stayed on all day but at home unless it got below 0 it never stayed on anything more than 2 hours. below "0" it stayed on 4 hours ... ... .