QUICK QUESTION

WILL 14 GAUGE EXTENSION CORD WWORK FOR MY BLOCK HEATER ON MY 04 6.0?

 

It will work. The cord will have a higher voltage drop and will operate hotter than its #12 counter parts. The lower the voltage drop, the lower the line loss meaning more energy makes it to the block rather than in line loss. Another big factor is the cord length. Keep the cord as short as possible, don't use a 100ft cord where a 25 ft would work. Voltage drop is proportionate to the cord length and inversely proportionate to the wire size. IE larger and shorter the cord the better.

 

Ok so 14 will work for temporary use week or less? wont drain my truck power or anything will it?

 

X2 on the 12 gauge, but if all you have is 14 G that's fine just keep it short. it wont draw any truck power at all ,It keeps the oils and coolent also the Trans fluid warm Still let the Glo plug lite go out before starting.

 

Don't start with it plugged in.

 

ok awesome! its a 25 ft cord. will get 12 but for now wanna keep my baby warm because im too poor to buying a big ol heated garage for her and she doesnt fit through my front door haha!

now for the tuner!


Problem solved. Can close

 

14 will be fine for now. BTW I usually don't plug mine in until it gets really cold, usually 10 F or below. You would be ahead to switch to a good 5w-40 synthetic and only plug it in when it gets really cold.

 

i just did the oil switch a week ago. i want to make sure it works, and i was told that it is good to plug it in at 30 and below. i just wanna keep it from getting messed up

also just bought truck two weeks ago so want to make sure it works before it gets too cold!

dont start it with it plugged in? how come? what will happen? uh ohhhhh lol

 

Even if you use a #12 it always a good idea not to plug it in and
leave it all coiled up. In other words string it out that way if there
is any heating it will not be heating the cord it's self.

I use a #10 cord.

Sean

 

yea i strung mine out as well. how can i tell if it is working? when i turn truck on in morning it should show warm correct?

my damned scan gauge II came broken waiting on my refund so i can order another!!!!

 

You will know ,cold starts will be like you have already been driving the truck just let it warm alittle longer, when you get your gauge EOT and ECT before I drive around 85/90 that way the trans temp will be warm too

 

Well, winter is coming.

Here is what I did a couple years ago:

This morning I plugged the block heater in. My Scangauge read 39 degrees.

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.

From this thread that has other info in it.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-the-hour.html

 

Just out of curiosity,Why?

 

Yea... Badford... Why? Haha

My trans temp was warm this morning, or at least warmed up fast. My engine temp was cold. It's only about 28 out.
What exactly should my dummy gauges read after 7 hours of being plugged in?
I figured it would all be warm?

 

Are you using the dash gauge to judge the transmission temps? If so then it may not even make 100* before the dash gauge reads "normal". I know my truck never has.

I too would like to know what starting the truck plugged in has to do with anything? I've started mine countless times plugged in. It's not like it's connected to any electrical system on the truck. When I overhauled the motor this summer I fully expected that the element would look bad when I pulled it out of the truck but that wasn't the case and I reinstalled it. Mine heats to about 120* on the coldest day after about 3 hours.