2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission When To Plug-in The Block Heater

[LSMITH]

I realize that I am probably shaving a few miles off the life of the engine, but I see no reason to cry if it will only make 400K miles instead of 500K. That just doesn't make sense when the truck will be gone in my climate by 300K.



Man, these are just trucks. For some guys the truck is some sort of religous icon or something. It is JUST A TRUCK!!!!

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by LSMITH



Man, these are just trucks. For some guys the truck is some sort of religious icon or something. It is JUST A TRUCK!!!!

Mine's a religious icon :-laf illflem posted when I first joined to plug in at 40 degrees or below and that is what I do. I can not stand to knowingly abuse equipment if I know better and have a alternative. But your point is a good one, if you don't plug in how will that affect your personal ownership experience? I guess that is the same reason I use Rotella T 15W40 instead of Synthetic oil. Figure I will still get all of the miles I need using Dino oil and why spend the extra for Synthetic when I won't have the truck that long. Oh man I'm sorry did I just talk about oil

 

[stownsend]

When I notice the wait time increase from it's normal "warm weather time" (longer than 5 seconds or so), I start pluggin it in. It will only help.



Steve

 

[illflem]

LS, I hear where you're coming from, I treat my trucks like trucks, not like some $100k sports car. Besides enjoying a faster heater I prefer to preserve the grid heater system and batteries for the backwoods or away from home when I really need it. The heater system does wear with usage, components will fail. Don't really like making a smoke screen when I start up either. One advantage I do have is cheap power in the NW.

 

[Boondocker]

Icon

Truck as a religious icon? Well of course a truck isn't an icon, sheesh. The little Rams head emblem on the hood - that's the icon! Praise the turbo and pass the #2! Say LS, you're not one of them truck atheists are you? Hold on fellars, maybe a lost sheep amongst the Ram faithful. I'm prayin' for ya bother, wait a minute, let me get my hood emblem, ok now I'm prayin' for ya. Can I have a HALLELUJA!

Ok, repeat after me:

It's not just a truck.

It's not just a truck.

I am my own warrenty station.

It's not just a truck.





Boy, someone starts a thread about block heaters and the next thing you know we're talkin' religion.

 

[24V-DSL]

OK....I came out of my room

Due to my previous embarrassment, while I was in my room I continued to read these posts, and... ... ... .



Second stupid question.....



What damage is happening to my engine if I don't use the block heater below 40 degrees, and why is the diesel different than a gasser that has to be cranked without the benefit of any block heater kinda system???



I don't presently have a convenient way to "plug in", and temps around here can get into the low 30's consistently, and rarely into the teens. I'll rig up a couple hundred feet of extension cord if I can be convinced there is a return on investment.



TIA... .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Using the block heater to contribute to better engine operation and longer service life - at slight additional cost, is NO DIFFERENT than use of better lubricants, fuel additives and external maintenance items for the SAME REASON!



WHO does those things?



Folks who are ENTHUSIASTS, and want to obtain the best possible service from their trucks, while enjoying the "warm, fuzzy feeling" that goes with the knowledge that that have done the best reasonably possible for their trucks.



"Religion"? No, but certainly a primary focus of our motoring attention, and a key point in our material interests... I sold a restored classic Cadillac '70 convertible, then traded in a '98 loaded Camaro SS for my '02 - then sold my '91 Dodge 250, so I could get my current '02 Dodge 2500. This means, to me, my truck has to take the place of a custom, a hot rod, and a tow vehicle - and I expect it to perform ALL 3 functions in impecable fashion!



It DOES!



To accomplish that end, I make no apologies for my efforts to baby my truck as to care, lubricants and additives - as well as frequent washing, polishing and keeping it protected from harmful external elements - I don't plan on trading this truck in a few years - *I* plan on being BURIED in it! Sure, it's gotta WORK too, but all the above stuff I do only helps it work BETTER, and do it in a way that not only gets the job done in SPADES, but turns heads DOING it!



Religion? No - protection of investment? Yeah - and pride of ownership - with an extra dash of a gearhead enthusiast tossed in for good measure!

 

[Lsfarm]

LSmith try this:

Hey Howard, take a thin blanket, go outside and sleep on the driveway, for the night, or at least four hours, then leap up and start jogging down the driveway and out on the street, try to stay ahead of the car you ran out in front of.



Now, take your electric blanket out to the driveway and perform the same tasks, I'll bet you will feel the difference, your joints will move easier, your muscles more flexible and it is a lot easier to run fast.



Our trucks are the same!! A little bit of warmth goes a long way. My truck just plain sounds better and feels better when it is prewarmed.



Are you sure you aren't trying to get back at your truck for all the problems it has given you??



All in Jest, well, sort of.



Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[vssman]

I have to agree with Lsmith on this one. My wife's uncle runs an excavating company in the Pocono's. It gets damn cold and he doesn't plug in any of his CTD's. His oldest CTD is an 89 with just over 400k. I wouldn't get on it right after starting it. I understand if you want to treat it extra good, then plug it in. Remember it heats the antifreeze and not the oil so still drive sensibly for a few miles.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by vssman

I have to agree with Lsmith on this one. My wife's uncle runs an excavating company in the Pocono's. It gets damn cold and he doesn't plug in any of his CTD's. His oldest CTD is an 89 with just over 400k.

Exception versus the rule. We can all name people that abuse there trucks and get away with it. The book recommends under 40 degrees plug it in. Now if you can't then that is what you have to live with. I think illflem gave the explaination why you would want to do it. One of those pay me now or pay me later deals.

 

[illflem]

Parts of the engine that really benefit from plugging in are the batteries and starter. I can guarantee at -40 if you don't plug in you'll either run the batteries down or overheat the starter before it starts. The wear and tear is less evident as the temperature rises but is the same.



Here in Montana even the gassers have a plug hanging out the front and people use them.

 

[bmoeller]

Plug mine in at around 40* at night. I even had a tank type on my gasser. Where I used to live it would sometimes get down to -20's. Always had a hard time starting below 30*. Once I replaced the old V8 with a better used one, I didn't hardly need it.



Considering an ESPAR heater since I can rarely plug it in at work. Particularly when we're in the field in fall and aren't anywhere near an outlet. Would be nice to help it warm up when ready go home late at night from the field too.

 

[Fyrmen]

Has anyone replaced their block heater? I think I am looking at this project very soon. How involved is it?



Also, where I work we leave our Fire Apparatus plugged in at all times and this is for several reasons. Recharging radios, flash lights and other equipment. And for keeping engines warm for those times when we don't have the time to let them get to operating temp. That is from our shops. They believe it reduces wear and tear over the life of the engine. Just food for thought. A warm engine is a Happy engine! Happy and safe New year to everyone! Oo.

Perry

 

[illflem]

First make sure the element really needs replacing, 99% of the time the problem is the cord. Check the resistance of each conductor.

To replace the element you will loose most of your coolant, be prepared, best to drain first. Remove the knurled nut that holds the cord on then remove the cord. In the center of the heater element is an allan head screw, loosen but don't remove it, jiggle the element back and forth while pulling out. Take notice of the way the element is facing, the new one must go in the same way.

 

[harleebkr]

Originally posted by rchall

I NEW TO THE DIESEL WORLD. MY QUESTION IS A WHAT OUT SIDE TEMPERATURE DO YOU PLUG-IN THE BLOCK HEATER? I LIVE IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, NEAR THE NORTH CARLINA BORDER. THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 10 TO 40 DEGREES AT NIGHT IN THE WINTER MONTHS. IS THERE ANY SET GUIDELINE TO GO BY??



THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER

RICKY C HALL

TRUCK TAG: ME&COLE

-- email address removed --

I found that if not leaving until 8 or 9 on those mornings between 30-40 degrees, 2 hours plugged in is sufficient-and saves a bunch on the electric bill-that 850 watts pulls a load! If in the 20s or below, all night plug in. On occassion when I can't plug in and the temp is 20-25, engine sure bangs and rattles until it's warm!



___________________________

99 2500 QC SLT+ LWB 4X4, 170K MILES

 

[grtescpa]

Block heater

Originally posted by Cooker

What illflem said

I have mine on a timer. this thing draws 7. 5 amps. That can add up on the electric bill if on all the time. My rule of thumb, 3 hours of block heat at 20 degs and 4 hours if below that. I don't know what you other guys have but I still don't get a warm cab till 5 miles of highway driving. Also keep in mind this does not warm up the engine oil in the pan. keep the rpm's down till the engine temp gauge rises.

 

[Chrisw]

If I forget to plug it in, or the roads are dirty with salt. I leave mine at home and I drive my (other brand gasser) to work. This is going back to the statement about the "Truck as a religious icon" that way my ICON is always new looking



How do you guys feel about the oil pan heaters. I have heard some people say they get to hot for the surface area they cover, and I have heard the *$%&^ words used about trying to keep then stuck to the bottom the the oil pan. ... ... (disclaimer... . this is not to take the place of the block heater. )

 

[illflem]

My understanding is that oil heaters that go on the outside of the engine are ok. Types that are immersed in oil such as dipstick type can get too hot and burn the oil.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

On a cold (that's 20 degrees here) morning when I have forgotten to plug in the block heater, the hammering sound coming out of my engine until it warms up actually bothers me.



Another thing, I saw somewhere that is was recommended to not run engine over 2000 RPM until it warms up a little.



My oil pressure guage will go to 85-90 psi on a real cold morning also and stay there for some time until it warms up.



When I plug it in, all the above is not an issue. No hammering sounds and oil pressure drops back to 45-50 psi sooner.



I never let it idle when the engine is below 140 degrees.



It's not a religious thing, I just try not to abuse anything.



I had a grandfather with a BSN Baby Blue 1962 Cadillac Sedan. When he cranked the engine, the accelerator always went to the floor for a few seconds. He said this got the oil pressure up faster. I would never ever want a vehicle that he had owned! I'll never understand what kept him from throwing a rod. Well, he did die of a heart attack a couple years later.

 

[harleebkr]

Re: Block heater

Originally posted by grtescpa

I have mine on a timer. this thing draws 7. 5 amps. That can add up on the electric bill if on all the time. My rule of thumb, 3 hours of block heat at 20 degs and 4 hours if below that. I don't know what you other guys have but I still don't get a warm cab till 5 miles of highway driving. Also keep in mind this does not warm up the engine oil in the pan. keep the rpm's down till the engine temp gauge rises.

Times look good to me. Yes-about 4 miles to warm up and see the temp gauge move above 140. Right about cold oil too! A lot of guys are trying oil pan heaters-maybe in MN or ND or MT- but really not needed in TX. Thanks, Bob