2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Plug-in (moderate weather)

[Adam]

Living in interior Alaska, I tend to plug the truck in at night during work (mid-shifts), but don't really worry about it at home until the temps start dropping below 20F. I know I won't hurt the engine by plugging in at warmer temps, but I have a complete winterization, with heaters on each side of the oil pan and pads under each battery. My concern is mostly for the batteries. It seems to take awhile longer (up to ten minutes of driving time) for the voltage gauge to read normal after it's plugged in overnight (less than 10 hours) than it does if I leave it unplugged. Am I hurting the batteries? What about the oil? I don't think so, but I'm not an oil man. Understand that I'm talking about outside temps in the 20F-35F range. I don't plug in above 35F, and I usually don't plug in until the truck's been parked 2-3 hours. Thoughts anyone?

-Adam

 

[illflem]

I don't think you're hurting anything. My thought is the reason you see the lower battery voltage is the battery temp sensor is telling the alternator it's hot outside and lowers the charging voltage till the battery cools.

 

[WDaniels]

Adam, you don't have to have the battery pads until it starts to hit around -40 or 50. If you batteries are getting older the heat will setup a convection current in the cells and all of the oxidized lead that falls to the bottom will get stirred up and will eventually short out that cell ruining your battery prematurely.

WD

 

[Adam]

Savin' me money

I love this site Oo. Once again, the info makes it well worth the membership costs. By unplugging my battery pads until the bottom drops out of the thermometer, I'll more than save $35 a year. WD, thanks for the info. We'll have to get together sometime. I'll shoot you a PM when my e-mail gets fixed.

-Adam

 

[EricBu12]

one thing you can do is when you go to start up, have it plugged in just then, and while it is runniing for a couple minutes, it will circulate the coolant past that heater and you will have faster warmups

Also you can get a winter guard insert for the grille like on the accessories forum ( I make them)