two part question- well more like 6. lol -help me if you can. I JUST brought home this dead ,2004 powerstroke (6.0L of course) truck. It's my first 6.0L, i know nothing about them other than the problems with them(ya, and i still bought it, but it was priced right). Unfortunately, The guy didn't tell me he was running straight water in it. it was 9* here last night- got the picture. I'm thawing (you should see this rig) .,i had the block heater plugged in, but it didn't seem to work. NOTHING was even warm including the 200 ft. extension cord that i expected to get mushy at the outlet. nothing warm on block or hoses.
I got no owners manual so i don't know what relay or fuse is the block heater and it most likely is not tied into that at all. I can't follow the cord so i don't even know where the block heater is on this engine.
Can i just check continuity through the male plug prongs to see if the heater & wire is functional??
there are no 'low' spots to drain it that i see. I have the lower hose off the radiator, but it runs up high on the left side of engine so that is only good for draining the radiator. Is there a good way to drain the block? thanx, crossy

 

The block drains one on each side are at the back of the block just above the oilpan. The passenger side is a bugger, it's behind the starter and will require starter removal.

The radiator has a plastic petcock drivers side, a quarter turn only or get ready for a bath altho get ready for that anyways as the block plugs are pipe plugs, no flow control once removed.

Block heater draws a lot of amps check yor fuse/breaer nearly 20 amps. With a 200ft cord ya need a 30 amp or better and a #12 cord at least. Mebe even a #10.

 

outlet breakers are fine. want to know about checking block heater and where it is. thanx , crossy

 

heater is located in passenger side of engine rear near the bottom, between head and oil pan.

 

I THINK the heater goes into a freeze plug. On my old gas truck the freeze plug was in about the same spot and looked about the same. The cord connects to the heater there. I might have come unpluged if they didn't put the keeper on. Should have little metal keeper that kind screws/ clamps on. It is all located on the passenger side.

 

This will help:

DTS Articles - 6.0L Block Heater Cord Location and Routing

Note the block drain is in the first picture also.

And a picture of the block drain on the driver side.

 

I thought that was the drain. thanx. it won't budge so for the time being i punched the freeze plug out of both sides, that got enough water out that there shouldn't be any problem. can get to them fairly easy because the wheel liners are out. At least the level was well below the heads to start with. Crossy

 

The block heater element screws into the block just above the starter. It is not a freeze plug style element.

Josh

 

ya, the block heater is just over the starter, and its good to know that it SCREWS in at this point. BUT_______ now i remembered that the water was probably low enough that the heater was not affective as it needs to be completely submerged. It is most likely burned out. ever done that to your hot water heater at home. it only takes seconds. I assume now that it is toasted. I should be able to just check continuity across the plug prongs right??? thanx , crossy