Is a Block Heater really necessary?

[MojaveJoe]

Geesh, I hope I didn't screw up here.



When I ordered my truck, my Ohio dealer said the block heater isn't standard anymore, and told me I only needed one if I was going to live in Alaska. I don't now why I believed him, but I left the option out. Must have been brain fade after spending a couple hours with him specing out his first 2004 sale.



Anyway, I need to know what the benefit of a block heater is anyway. If you didn't have one, would you wish you did? Why?



Should I be looking for an aftermarket block heater for the rare (while traveling) North Dakota January morning around 0 degrees? Could I just get a Dodge heater and install it later?



I'll stand back now and let you guys tell me how bad I screwed up.



Thanx,

Joe

 

[The patriot]

I'd rather have it myself.

You should be able to call him and have it added... I'd think. Unless it's well on it's way being built.

I dont think he's going to screw up a sale over a $50. 00 option.

JM . 02

Eric

 

[bmoeller]

Even though the truck will most likely start without one, it is nice during the winter to help keep the engine oil a little warmer so the oil PSI comes up quicker. the truck will warm up a little quicker too. I would get one.

 

[Scrappy]

block heater

I live in Alaska and the first winter, I plugged in religiously. But I got the 3 cylinder mode reflash done for the second winter and didn't plug in at all. The 3 cyl. mode won't work if the truck was plugged in so I didn't plug in. The truck would warm up quicker with the 3 cyl. mode than it would with out and being plugged in overnight.

 

[Blakers]

I don't know why a dealer in Ohio would sell any diesel truck without one. -20* is not uncommon durring Ohio winters.

 

[Peter Campbell]

It is also a 10$ option- no brainer, if you need it you have a coolant change out and time under your truck and parts to buy. If you never need it you waste 10$ on ordering day

 

[Parshal]

I was under the impression that the block heater was standard on all diesel's this year and was not an option as it was previously. My truck sticker didn't say it had a block heater but it did.



Regarding plugging in at night, I plug in most every night during the winter when it's below 40. The heater works quicker that way. I also bought a winter front from someone on the board and the truck warms up faster with it, too.

 

[Eric_77]

The 2004 it became an option.



I live in Texas and below 40 is cold. I use mine on a timer every night it is going to be below 40 that turns it on at 4am so by 7 it has a good warm charge through engine fires right up with no wait for heater grid.



Be forwarned if you use a timer to get a heavy duty unit the heater takes a lot of amps ( I use one from a Mailbu light set up that can handle 15 amps)

 

[LightmanE300]

its only a $10 option on 04's. Its a crummy heater IMO, just a single point of heat. A better way to do it would be to get a zerostart coolant heater and install it in line somewhere in the cooling system. These are thermostatically controlled coolant heaters that recirculate the coolant throughout the system, warming the block, and shut off when its warm. They are about $50.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'm not sure about the 3rd gens but the heater in my 93 worked great. You could put your hand on the top radiator hose and it was nice and toasty, even the head was warm.

 

[WadePatton]

I use mine in TN. MOF started it last year a few times with the block heater and NO GRID HEATERS. (long story)



But if you have it, you can decide whether or not you use it.



Also you might want to use it when it's not cold enough for the 3-cyl cold start to kick in.



HTH

 

[Parshal]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

You could put your hand on the top radiator hose and it was nice and toasty, even the head was warm.

That's the way my '03 is.

 

[smartineau]

NEED a block heater, most of the time not.



But the one day you do it is worth $$$$, every penny.



I had one on my old gasser it was great instant heat to defrost the windows in the AM. get it you won't be sorry. Even if you only use it a few days a year.



steve

 

[MMeier]

So I guess D/C found another way to save a couple of dollars and not pass it on to us !!

 

[Benson]

OK, I'm entering a dumb question contest and I think I have a serious contender.

Would there be any better airflow through the intake without the heater? Thanks.

 

[LightmanE300]

Benson, you win the contest, and no.

 

[barbwire]

Heater

Benson;

The heater is usually installed in a soft plug hole in the engine block. It can in no way affect your air intake. In fact all it does is heat up the antifreeze that surrounds it in the block. IMO the people in the southern half of the continent would never need one.

 

[Benson]

Yes, you are right. I was thinking it was the grid heater in the intake that was the option. The block heater wouldn't have any affect on intake. I misunderstood. Thanks all.

 

[Dean Upson]

I would get the block heater option, but I really do not think it is absolutely necessary unless your truck is parked outside in very cold weather. I see no real reason to plug in a garaged truck at all unless the temp gets down around zero.

I seldom plug mine in here in Connecticut and we have some pretty cold weather here. The truck does start a bit easier when plugged in, but not a huge difference. As far as I know, the block heater was never an option until '04.



Dean

 

[Jengle]

Block heater

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the 3-cyl start option and how do you activate it?