Well with the weather getting colder, and checking for my block heater cord which my truck has. My driveway has about a 5* up hill, is it a good idea to have it in the driveway on that incline, or would it be safe to get level surface. What's the best outside tempature to time plug up to the block heater. For instance if the outside tempature is 30 what's the best time to have the block heater plugged up to get the block warm, I'm not looking to fully heat the block up, just enough to have it warm it up so I don't have to much issues during start up in cold weather.

 

Supposed to be below 30 in the AM (44 now) I've never used my block heater before so I figured what the hell, checked everything over , did a continuity test on the cord and fired that puppy up.

At the 1 HR mark I went from cold soak temps of 46/44 to 67/88..... Does this help ? And/or sound right to all you pros ?

 

Weither the truck is level or not has no effect on the block heater. The block heater has done all it will do after three hours on power. Some guys use a heavy-wattage (I beleive 2000 watts is the safe number) timer to supply power to the block heater 3-4 hours before they're ready to use the truck. When I plug mine in (usually below 30F) I just leave it in until I need the truck...regardless of time. I've had it plugged in for several days...no ill effects on the truck. Other guys never use the block heater, just use 5W40 synthetic oil. It's one of those "to each their own" kind of deals.

 

At the 3 HR mark it's 33 outside temp. And my truck is at 95(EOT) and 112(ECT)

 

Test I did last year:

1 hour later it was 80 degrees.

2 hours later was 94 degrees.

3 hours later it was 103 degrees.

4 hours later it was 110 degrees.

5 hours later it was 116 degrees.

Yes, 39 isn't that cold to start, but was interesting to see that it went from 39 to 80 in an hour.

Currently my oil temp in hour 3 is 77 degrees. It was 40 at starting point.

Oil temp after 4 hours was 91 degrees.

 

Well this morning since I couldn't sleep after 1230 this morning, I looked outside and it was less than 30*, so to try how well my block heater works, I pluged it into my outlet outside, went inside to warm up and watch a little TV then went back out to check and I think my plug outside wasn't strong cause the outlet before had triped before the breaker and I couldn't reset. So for the next 1 1/2 I ran my cable inside to the plug inside and it's been running good. I'll find out when I leave in the next hour to see how warm it got everything.

I was going to let it warm up for 4 hours, but when I saw it wasn't working I had to figure a new way to get everything to work.

 

Final numbers.... 31 degrees , 114/122 , tells me plug it in for 3 hours and be done with it , gains are minimal after that. Kinda bummed I still had ice on the windshield

 

Will say though..... My truck LOVED me for it !!!! Didn't give me the burrrr

 

Yep... 3 hours is the point where "max benefit" is gained... after that you are just wasting your money on electricity.

I use a heavy duty outside timer (Home Depot) to plug my truck into... and set it for 2 - 3 hours before I know I will need it.

Heck, I park my truck in the garage and still use it when it is really-really cold outside (0F or less) to ensure I have heater and defrost within 5 minutes of leaving home!!!

I also use 5W-40 Rotella-Syn oil to aid in cold weather starting (which is a bigger benefit than the block heater in my opinion... but together, they are great)!!!

Typing this post while on vacation in Aruba.... dam, I do not want to travel back home to Kansas City next week... 83F and sunny here in Aruba!!!!!

 

Aruba sounds great! Wish we were there but would prob mess up your peace and quiet arguing over what oil or coolant to use lol.

 

Interesting post, I have heard a number of times from cold weather folks that us bottom feeder desert dwellers don't know nuthin' about the realities of the cold. I usually plug in the block heater when I am in northern Arizona during the cold times, which to me is anything 32F or below. So when it is around freezing and my truck is outside, boom, I plug in the block heater. Those cold rats tell me I don't need it, sounds like it does not hurt and may do some real, tangible good.

 

I wouldn't call it tangible since the oil will be warmer...which means it will flow easier (especially if you run one weight year round) and the block in general is warmed. I plug mine in when it drops below 35-40...that's when it starts to idle it's self up anyway. Diesel is expensive, electricity is cheaper...that's how I look at it. But I will say this much, I know mine will start at -13F...forgot to plug it in one day last winter while on "vacation"...it missed for a bit, but it started.