Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What does heater heat?

[dennis Mcf.]

Whan i plug in on cold nights, what does the grid heater heat? i know the oil gets heated, But what else? Thanks in advance. .

 

[Desperado]

What you are really heating is the coolant, not the oil, or the intake air, just the coolant.

 

[Steve Roseman]

The heater you plug in heats the coolant and keeps the block warm. It doesn't heat the oil. Your grid heater is mounted in the intake and heats the intake air before starting and while warming up, it uses battery power.

 

[Steve Roseman]

Oops, Mr. Blue you got yours in there while I was typing mine I guess I should learn to type faster.

 

[Desperado]

Steve. just had to do it.

 

[Jff24Gordn]

It does heat the oil through the oil cooler which is right next to the block heater. the hot water heats the oil.

 

[illflem]

With my truck parked for a few days and the block heater plugged in for 4 hours, 0° outside temp the oil temp was 40° on start up. The block heater will actually melt snow off my windshield till the outside temp dips below 25°

 

[dennis Mcf.]

Very helpfull, thank you ... .

 

[Gifford]

Good timer for block heater?

Anybody find a good (hopefully cheap) timer we could use to automatically turn on the blockheater a few hours before you get up? I used to plug it in and leave it on all night till I found out it draws 700+ watts! I looked at one of the little lamp timers but they dont have a 3 prong (grounded) plug and they probobly arent rated for that much current...

 

[F8LDOSE]

When ever It gets below 32 I'll plug mine in before I go to bed. I plug it in at work also, it's kinda nice getting in and hav'in heat within a couple minutes. A word to pass on, I was told by a buddy thats a cummins tech, to not start the truck with it plugged in, it's hard on the element. Hey Gifford, I thought about the timer and got a good idea, I'm going to plug mine into a CLAPPER, you know, clap on clap off... and make my mom get up about 2am and clap it on for me

 

[Blakers]

Gifford, a good hardware store should have a timer with a three-prong plug that will handle the amperage.



Blake

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by hufnpuf

A word to pass on, I was told by a buddy thats a cummins tech, to not start the truck with it plugged in, it's hard on the element.

Not so, in fact there is a a TSB for the 24 valves that recomends leaving it plugged in while warming up at high idle. Don't know how it could be hard on the element, the coolant is circulating by convection and is all the same temp, it's not like the element is going to get a rush of cold water. Feel your radiator after plugging in and you'll see what I mean.

 

[JohnE]

Gifford

The lamp timer will handle the amperage for turning on and running the block heater. Just don't use it to turn the current off. That will damage the contacts.

As for the 3 prong issue, I use one of the 3-2 prong adaters with a pigtail wire soldered to the ground tab. I grounded the wire to the box. No need to spend 3x for the same timer just to have a built in grounded outlet.