Fall is here in Chicagoland and winter will be here soon enough.

I found that my truck, though it's from the south, has the block heater plug. Wondering what the best way to use this is.

At home, my garage will remain a minimum of 40 degrees. I guess I could keep it plugged in to make it easier to start in the morning but don't want to if it's just going to waste electricity.

At work, where I keep it for 9-12 hours, I could plug it in if I had to. At the airport, where I have to keep it for a few days sometimes, I probably won't have access to an electrical plug (though I'll look for one, I guess).

What's the best way to use the block heater?

 

I got my X 7.3 PS last year from FL. Carfax says it was a 100% southern car, so I was surprised myself last winter when I found the plug. Your winters shytown are just a little colder than NH's. I probably won't plug her in, until mid-November. Sadly she parks outside (won't fit in the garage). While I'll always plug her in outside, the extension cord inside the garage is usually unplugged.

Say it's going to be under 30* when I wake up, and I need to leave in about an hour. I run down to the warm garage and plug in the extension... do the coffee shower thing.... and she's good to go. I learned the hard way that plugging her in all night is unnecessary and VERY COSTLY. A tripled power bill that first month of winter was all the old lady needed to stop me from the all nighters. With this said, I would never plug her when she's parked in a place thats over 30*.

 

since your from chicagoland, you know how cold it gets up here in appleton wi. i used to plug my 2001 7.3 PSD EX in overnite. if you go to my gallery of pics, you will see the end result. a garage fire that totalled my EX, 71 bronco being restored and my entire garage. the fire started in the area of the plug in. i now own a 2005 6.0 PSD EX in mint condition and i doubt i will plug it in at all this winter

 

I don't plug my 05 6.0l in unless it gets below zero. Starts fine and have not noticed any issues on the oil tests winter compared to summer.

 

Sounds like I'll use it only in exceptional circumstances. Thanks for the comments.

 

Northern or Southern - I believe that all PSDs came with block heaters.

 

I know all the 2005 PSD's had block heaters installed. But those Excursions sent to the South (Florida for sure) did not have the necessary power cord from the heater to the grille area included. However the cord was an option and could be ordered if desired. The factory cord is available from dealers for about $60.00.

 

As far as I can tell an engine block heater is standard equiptment on all the Power Stroke Diesel Engines in Excursions no matter where they are sold.









03 Excursion
4X4 V-10
Limited
Keeping it real

 

Yes I think they all have the block heater, but most you have to install the cord on many of them. I had to do this with mine.

 

Hi Guys ('n Guy-ettes if present),

I have a question, since the subject was broached, did they offer an engine block heater (factory, or factory accessory) for the V10? I've used engine block heaters on virtually all of my regular rides. I used a timer to turn on the heater about 3 hours before I leave the house, so the electric bill doesn't get out of hand. I seem to recall that someone once stated that it wasn't even an option on the engine/vehicle.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

Yes, they did offer a block heater for he v10 as an add-on option - some people here have them (I just don't recall who). I bought one off ebay, but I have yet to install it.