Loose block heater?

[MojaveJoe]

OK... got my block heater cord from Cummins same day. Now I need your help again



Installed it with nut loose on cord. Plugged it in. It worked great. My block above the heater went from 21F to 75F in a couple hours.



This am it was 10F. Plugged her in for about a half hour, then went under (laying on carboard in snow ) and tried to tighten the cord nut with a small wrench I bought last night. Barely got 1/8th turn and noticed the heater fitting was turning too. The fitting going into the block looks like it was installed with white vinyl tape? Maybe the heater loosened it up. I could turn it by hand. No noticeable anti-freeze leak yet.



Since I dont know what the heater looks like inside the block I have a couple question for the experts here.



1) Is it safe to crank down that block fitting until it stops turning?



2) Will I damage anything turning it?



3) Can the cord plug go into the fitting either way (180 off)?



(A picture of the actual block heater parts would be extremely helpful )



Thanx for any and all advice you can give.



Joe

 

[SRadke]

Good questions Joe. I can answer one. It doesn't matter which way you plug in the cord, there is no orientation. This heater is a new style from the old ones so the rest we'll need more help with.



-Scott

 

[XcumminsX]

Joe, Mine started leaking like crazy. I thought it was trans fluid but then i tasted it and it was sweet. So then i looked at the block heater and noticed it was leaking fron the tube going in. Mine was soo loose i could turn it by hand. Just give it a crank untill it wont move anymore. And then it will be all set to go.



Nick

 

[SRadke]

You make a habbit of tasteing the fluid that leaks from your truck? I look at it and smell it but tasting seems a little over the top. BTY, most current antifreeze available has a bittering agent in it so it shouldn't be sweet. This is mostly to deter pets from drinking it.



-Scott

 

[jwilliams3]

You can tighten it up a bit, if it is loose.

Your going after thread engagement not a specific torque spec on the heater itself.



--Justin

 

[HOBrian]

Index the heater so if you need to check it again all you need to do is look at the inex mark and you will know if it is loose.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by XcumminsX

Joe, Mine started leaking like crazy. I thought it was trans fluid but then i tasted it and ...

Nick

This explains soooo much.

 

[rbattelle]

The white tape is Teflon tape. Common thread sealer.

 

[kboettcher]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

This explains soooo much.

ooohhhhh Prairie Dog... ... ... I hear ya

 

[MojaveJoe]

Dealer service today

Decided it might be important to get this in the official record of service on my truck.



Took it to dealer today. The service tech said "I can't believe it wasn't leaking, as loose as it was" He gave it about 5 full turns with a 1 1/8" open end until it snugged up. Confirmed it was white teflon tape on the threads. And snugged down the cord retaining nut at my request.



The part that really blew my mind was that he never removed the cord to do those 5 turns on the heater. Said he didn't need to.



Im thinking he must have trashed the male/female wiring connection? Is there something inside the heater that allows the electrical male connector to remain stationary while the fitting around it is rotated?



I did a continuity test when I got home.

It showed the hot and neutral AC contacts (across the heater element) were continuous. I plugged it into a GFI and it didn't kick it off.



Will go out and plug in... in the AM at about 30F. Check block temp above heater before and after 1 hour of heating. Sure hope everything is still working.



Tomorrow will update this thread .



Thanks to all... for their help... and their humor... intended or not



Joe

 

[Ray Torresdal]

block heater standard on 3rd gen?

Is the block heater standard on 3rd gen trucks? A buddy bought one, and dealer told him he didn't get a block heater??? I couldn't believe they would drop that from the standard equipment list, so thought I'd check here for him.



Thanks much!



Ray

 

[XcumminsX]

Well even though you all make fun of how i fixed my truck... The bottom line is my method worked and i didnt have to come to work late to drop the truck off at my dealer... poke at me all you want. .



Nick

 

[Pawpaw]

Originally posted by Ray Torresdal

Is the block heater standard on 3rd gen trucks? A buddy bought one, and dealer told him he didn't get a block heater??? I couldn't believe they would drop that from the standard equipment list, so thought I'd check here for him.



The block heater is there, but DC cheaped out on the '04's and left off the power cord. If you order the "block heater" with the truck, it's $10. If you buy it from the dealer after the fact, it's $65.



Or you can buy one from Cummins for about half the price. It just doesn't have the little clips to attach it to the frame.





Bob

 

[MojaveJoe]

Block Heater Pics and Results

FWIW ... . here's what I learened about block heaters. (See pics of a new block heater below)



Bought a new block heater to see what it looks like, without having to drain coolant etc outside (Brrrrrrrr... . at 20F) . Maybe someone else who wants to see what a block heater looks like in the future will appreciate this post.



Here's what I learned:



1) Dealer Tech fixed my loose heater by tightening it about five full turns without disconnecting the cord. He could only do this by twisting the cord one full revolution for each turn. Luckily no damage done to cord or connection. I disassembled it to be sure.



2) Easiest access to heater is over right fender. Disconnect air duct at turbo cold air inlet and at air cleaner box. Work with an angle head 1 1/8th open end wrench.



3) Since I bought my cord at Cummins I made my own frame clips to attach the cord, by using large head plastic body work plugs that push into 1/4" holes. Cut a narrow hole in the head for a zip tie and snugged the wire down with it. For more protection for the cord I used 3/8" wire-loom.



4) Cost of cord at Cummins $13. 33 + tax (Dealer cost ?)

5) Cost of heater at Cummins $57 + tax (Dealer $69 + tax)



Since I probably now own the only new block heater available in the North East (every supplier is on back order since the recent cold snap) I would be willing to sell it for my cost. $76 (inc shipping). If not, I'll keep it for a spare, and abuse my stock heater *LOL*



This AM my block near the heater went from 20F to about 90F in 2 hours. Sure helps get the heat going in the cab sooner.



Sorry for the long post... but since I started this thread, figured I better end it with some useful information for someone else.



Many thanks to all of you who contributed.



Keep your blocks warm



Joe



P. S. Block Heater is a one piece unit (i. e. no moving parts).

 

[MojaveJoe]

Standard Block Heater-Optional Cord

Block heaters in the early 04s apparently were standard. The $10 option is for the factory installed cord. (Of course NO dealer salesman knows this )



Anyone with an early 04 should check their block heater fitting to be sure it isn't finger tight like mine and others were. Fastest check is from underneath with engine warm. Look up behind oil filter. If you see a lot of white thread sealer exposed (3-6 threads) reach up and give it a good finger tip twist, counter clockwise. If still not sure, try the top side access procedure described in above post. (2)



5-10 minutes of maintenance now could save you a whole day broke down on the side of the road this summer, or a freshly fried engine ?



Good Luck,

Joe

 

[jungledave]

Nothing wrong with XcumminsX tasting antifreeze, any good tech will do the same. I did a simular thing, tasting a small piece of yellowish looking pebble in a fuel filter, It was sugar and I would never have known unless I tasted it.

 

[XcumminsX]

Thanks Dave, They just like to pick on me because im 18 years old and i have a 3rd gen.