Is a Block Heater really necessary?

[Deezul1]

Its worth it not to have to wait so long for the heater to make warm air and It doesnt get cold here and I still plug in.

 

[WadePatton]

3-cyl start is a part of the cold-weather ECM reflash. The other part is the high-idle when cold.



Both are completely automatic and depend on throttle position, coolant temp, IAT, and some other stuff.



Search if you need more info. It's here somewhere.

 

[Parshal]

Originally posted by WadePatton

3-cyl start is a part of the cold-weather ECM reflash. The other part is the high-idle when cold.



Both are completely automatic and depend on throttle position, coolant temp, IAT, and some other stuff.



Search if you need more info. It's here somewhere.

Is this available on the '03's yet?

 

[WadePatton]

Oh my

I've been caught out in the wrong forum again.



No idea on 03's, it's a DC thing--SHOULD be in there from the gitgo.

 

[David Pendleton]

Here's the skinny on the 3-cyl/idle change TSB:



http://dodgeram. info/tsb/2001/18-019-01.htm



I had it done to my 01; never had a problem down to -40.



David

 

[Dean Upson]

The '03 does that anyway (just goes to 1000 rpm) out of the box .



Dean

 

[ttreibel]

The only state I think you would not need a block heater is Hawaii. I plug mine in when the mornings are in the 40's or lower sure love that fast heat from the blower.



I use a heavy duty timer to save electricity it starts warming it up at 4AM.



I can't believe it became an option I guess Mopar parts desk will make $$$'s on the heater kit.



You will know when winter is here when the 04 block heater kits show up on ebay now.

 

[mbaston]

I have been able start my truck without plugging in it down to 18 below; it didn't like it but I was somewhere that had no place to plug in (the woods). But, was it good for the engine?



A couple things to consider:



1. Cold starts result in more pollutants

2. Tolerances inside the engine may change.

3. Oil will not flow well.



I plug mine in at 30. The electricity costs are nothing compared to the costs of premature wear.

 

[LightmanE300]

20F and below use it, otherwise you're wasting your electricity and money. The engine block heater is such a poor one, its barely worth the $10 they charge for it. It's so lame on a nice truck like this they dont put a circulating coolant heater, like a zerostart. The Dodge heater draws 750 watts, so consider that before you turn it on all night... you should only need 2 hours or so, when its REALLY COLD. I am from Cleveland, and my cars both start fine without heaters below 0F.



Ttreibel - they are only needed truly for temps below 0f. People that are anal about their vehicles like me turn them on below 32F, usually only when its about 20F. Turning it on above 32F is a waste...



If you can't stand the cold long enough to wait for the heat at 40F, you're a wuss!:-laf

 

[ttreibel]

Originally posted by LightmanE300





If you can't stand the cold long enough to wait for the heat at 40F, you're a wuss!:-laf

Hey Hey there dude... be nice... we have a lot of wet weather here. Most Hypothermia cases around here happen when the temps are between 35 and 45 degrees out with lots of rain. I work outside all day and when I am in my truck I like it warm.



Besides my engine takes off quiet in the morning, I am sure it is better for it then when it rattles loudly on those cold days.



I want 10 years and 350K out of this rig with as little as possible repairs I will spin the 25¢ worth of power to warm it up I will probably save it in Diesel alone. Fuel is 1. 85 a gallon here, usually rises even more when it gets cold back East.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by LightmanE300

they are only needed truly for temps below 0f. People that are anal about their vehicles like me turn them on below 32F, usually only when its about 20F. Turning it on above 32F is a waste...



If you can't stand the cold long enough to wait for the heat at 40F, you're a wuss!:-laf

Maybe ABSOLUTELY needed only below 0 F. Or, if you have a stick shift, you could get someone to tow you around the block a few times to get it started.



I'm from an area of Ohio that gets colder than Cleveland and 10 times as much snow and we use the block heater. 40 might be pushing it a little, but below 30 it is nice. I've never had any problem with mine except the plug shorting and arcing inside out last winter.



Oh I did put an in-the-heater-hose block heater on my old Benz several years ago so it would start below 30. It wouldn't otherwise. And yes, I've had to tow it around the block a few times to start it.

 

[The patriot]

I plug mine in at 40 at home with a heavy duty timer set at about 4 hours. It sounds better when I plug it in. I'm sure it's better for reducing wear on the engine.

At work I plug it in when I get there, it's in the whole 12 hours.

My electric bill was over $400. 00 two months back, I'm not worried about a buck a night. :-laf

Eric

 

[JohnSS]

I keep reading the TSB about the cold weather reflash, and unless I read it wrong, it states that once enabled idle speed will ramp up if 6 conditions are met.

One of those conditions is service brake pedal not depressed.



Isn't the service brake the Emergency brake? And...

Wouldn't it be depressed under most circumstances? Especially with a manual transmission while it is sitting in the driveway?

 

[kbarlow]

Originally posted by JohnSS

... . Isn't the service brake the Emergency brake?.....

No. The service brake is that thing you stomp on to bring the truck to a stop in normal conditions.



Cheers Ken

 

[JohnSS]

Ohhh, makes sense now.

 

[rbattelle]

Does anyone else chuckle at the huge increase in discussions on block heaters and high idle when winter comes around? I'm having flashbacks to last winter... remember all those discussions about the mystery of when the high idle kicks in, and when to plug in/not plug in?:-laf



I love this site.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

I was in the Dodge dealer over the weekend and saw an 04 sitting there. I was curious if it had the block heater or the hood pad or the hood lamp. It did have the lamp and the heater, but Dodge still doesn't offer the hood pad. I told the salesman I didn't think I had a block heater and said "sure ya do, ALL 03's have em". Really, show me. We popped the hood and dug around in the wires on the left of the radiator/coolers and wallah, there it was, with a cover over the plug prongs. I never saw it before because I was looking for prongs.



He also said later in the year the 04's wouldn't have the block heater or it would would be an option.



Moral of the story: if you don't think you have it on your 03, look harder.

 

[adsharpe]

Hey Joe, you gotta trust your dealer. Otherwise, we won't get any news!



Seriously, I use mine in NC and MS. Why? Cause it is "easier" on the engine. At least that's what folk say.

 

[DJaquez]

I called 1-800-diesels (Cummins Help Desk) they told me that the o4 have the block heater installed but not the AC power cord. You will need to order the cord from Cummins using Cummins part number - 3963564 or it can be ordered from Dodge using Dodge part number - 05086737AB.



This was from Troy at the Cummins help desk. He told me that the heater is on the left side of the engine (Standing in front looking back a truck. )



I will check when I get my truck back. My rear differentail went out at 778 miles. :-{}

 

[adsharpe]

Originally posted by DJacquez





I will check when I get my truck back. My rear differentail went out at 778 miles. :-{}

Hey, sorry to hear about that. Any clues? Had you checked the oil level after delivery? Mine was 2 qts. low. But, I never checked it until 1200 miles.