Has anybody ever plugged an extension cord into the 120V plug in the truck then into the engine block heater to warm it up before start up?

Also has anybody thought about running it this way during cold weather to help keep the engine warmer?
Just a weird scenario I came up with.

 

The engine has to be running to get AC power. Technically, the ignition just needs to be on but you don't want to run it that long. Think about the fuel pump, accessory power and stuff.

Also, one is not really supposed to run the engine with the block heater plugged in (at least not while driving).

I have used the AC power to run a battery charger while towing my boat though. An extension cord all the way back to the motor in my boat. (I don't have it anymore though, I've done it for my jet ski too, which I do still have).

 

I would not advise it. At operating temp you should not need it. Also those pull up to 2000 watts from what i am told. That is 16 amps at 120V, but 160 amps at 12 volts. That is a healthy load on an inverter and the truck Alternator plus the normal load of running the vehicle (lights, radio, engine, transmission, ect)

 

^^^^ What he says, the plug in the truck isn't rated for that much wattage.

 

I figured it would not have enough power to sustain a block heater, I was just reading through the cold weather grill posts and just popped into my head for no good reason.
Promise I won't try it
Maybe I should use a electric heat blanket to help warm up the gas in the fuel tank in conjunction with the block heater on snowy days. lol
What options do they have in the aftermarket cold weather options except for grill mods?

 

Well it was an idea even though it was a bad idea. LOL Just giving you a hard time. and as long as I am at it, I hope your truck doesn't have gas in the fuel tank. It's a Diesel truck man. I don't think you have to worry about it until the temps get real low like -20 or -30°F

Sorry Man
Cheers!

 

No, this is fun, keep it coming haha.
How about some tire warmers?

 

Tire warmers = Turn off traction control and push the throttle to the floor.

Cheers

 

Not that it really matters in this discussion, but I thought someone tested it and it draws 800 watts?

 

Does it get cold enought where you live to use the block heater?

 

I like that one! haha

It does freeze over in my backyard pond on some days but rarely, but I do plan on visiting snow and the sierra mountains in the near future.

 

If anyones interested in the specs of the outlet, it's only rated at 150 watts max, any more load than that and it'll trip out. I usually don't worry about plugging block heater in until it gets colder than -20 degs.

 

Thanks madsonp, some real specs finally. So block heater is 2000 watts?
I been thinking of an on-board generator and air compressor set up mounted under the bed box in the spare space.

 

I have a 6.2 now but I never worried about plugging my 6.0 or 7.3 in until -15 to -20 below, a couple times I forgot at -30 and it still started ok. I wouldn't recommend not plugging in at -30 but if you have good batteries you should be fine.

 

From what I've been able to find I think it's more like 600 watts, if it were 2000 watts I think there'd be issues with people plugging these into a light weight extension cord, (like I've seen a lot of people do with these), and causing the cord to overheat, because the light weight cords are not rated for that much wattage and amperage. I've seen where a 1500 watt space heater will trip out a 15 amp breaker.