Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) To plug or not to plug, that is the question?

[Irontrader]

If the daytime temperatures are getting above freezing, I wouldn't worry about plugging in at night.



Of course if you have a very short commute distance, then plugging in would have the advantage of giving the engine a better chance to warm up before being shut off.



I drive about 17 miles each way on my commute which is plenty of time for the engine to be fully warmed up on each trip.

 

[WDaniels]

I don't plug mine in at work until 15 degrees(they won't let me). Of course I park inside during the night in the winter. If any of you guys want a oil pan heater that is specifically made for oil pans for extreme cold, pm me and I can get them for you or give you an address were you can get them. I have two 200 watt heaters on mine plus 2 battery pads for when it gets really cold. I also put one 150 watt on the wifes car automatic transmission as well as one on the oil pan. But we get a little colder here than most, except this winter. Nov 7 and it's almost 40 degrees and hasn't been below 25 at night. GO El-Nenio.

WD

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I also use a pad heater, 150 watt, but mine is glued to the side of the pan with silicone. That gives it total contact to the pan.

Also wired it to the block heater so it only takes one plug in.

Normally start using the above about 15F and below.

I have started mine at -20F, no plug in, but the the truck did not like it one bit. Sounded like a bunch of rocks in a barrel.

 

[Bigsaint]

Thanks Barry . I agree with the others. I plug in to help keep the engine happy, not because it's needed for starting assitance. Seems like cheap insurance to me.



Scott W.

 

[Hohn]

Hmmm

Sounds like yet ANOTHER argument for the use of synthetic oil. If your oil flows at -45, why worry about a heater at +15??



I am surprised that Wayne (Amsoil Man) hasn't jumped on this one yet.....



A synthetic 15W-40 flows better cold than a dino 5W-30. Living in GA is nice, since I am running Rosmella until break in is up-- I don't have to worry about the cold weather/dino oil situation.



MY $0. 02.



Justin

 

[jsnyder]

I went outside to fire mine up a couple of years ago. Thought to myself, "boy it sure is chilly this morning". Cranked her over, fired up and the thermometer said 23 below zero! Started fine, but like Jack said, she don't sound very good!



Why not plug it in? A timer is only $20, and once you get in the teens at night, it sure does sound better at startup. Heck, even if you run synthetic, I'd still plug it in just to save wear on the batteries from not having to cycle the grid heaters before startup.



Jason

 

[jimnance]

IMHO, engine heating is desirable any time the temperature is below freezing. It minimizes the wear and tear on the engine. When temps are low, the piston (Aluminum) expands at a much greater rate than the surrounding Iron/Steel. At Extreme temps scuffing of the piston skirts can occur as it expands more quickly than the block. What temparature this occurs at is debateable.



I wouldn't worry too much even into the low twenties as long as you don't hammer the throttle right away. Below 0F it is a crime not to use pre-heat. In between, take your pick. Oo.

 

[EricBu12]

One thing I do if I want instant heating and no time on the Electric meter, I go out and plug in and then start the truck if it is like 30 or lower, I do do this then while it is running, the coolant is circulating past the heater and in 2 minutes of this, the coolant is at 70 deg (per my heater grid interrupt that quits at 70 deg).

I then unplug and drive, 1 min down the road, I have room temp air out the vents with just 2 min on the plug-in.

 

[PZicha]

Bigsaint ... ... ... . no I don't but even at -30 below the oil is warm about +100degrees farenheit ( just an estimate I crawled under one winter to check the temp )

 

[jimnance]

The issue of use of synthetic versus dino misses the point. At any temparature that most of us will see, a 15W40 dino will flow. The biggest problem with lack of preheating is the rapid warming of aluminum parts against the slower warming steel parts. The clearances between these parts under very cold conditions can become so small as to cause metal to metal contact.



Warming the oil or the block keeps the overall temperature of the parts at a temperature that this problem should not occur.



Perhaps at temperature below 0 F their may be a compelling argument for synthetics, but why pay more when you need less???

 

[Bigsaint]

Thanks Peter !



Scott W.

 

[Lsfarm]

spray and splash?

But at say 0*F will 15w40 Dino oil spray and splash lube the cam lobes and the cylinder walls?



I prefer to Know that the oil just won't 'flow', but will be able to lube the engine properly under this adverse situation.



I've repaired engines that suffered from cold starts and too thick dino oil. They looked just like oil starvation: no lubrication.



The very low and very high temperature characteristics are what make Synthetic oil special and worth the few extra $.



Just because our Cummins engines will start without preheating doesn't mean that there isn't significant wear caused by this mistreatment. Like was said in a post previously, to not preheat [when able] is a sacrilage.



Greg L