2006 6.0 have never plugged truck in in the past, startin to get cold and was thinking especially short trippin it around town, it would probably b easier on the truck to keep it plugged in? would it b easier on things and extent block heater life to hook it through a light timer, to kick on a few hours before i intend on drivin it each day or just leave plugged in all the time? truck is not my daily driver, sometimes its drivin every day, sometimes not for a week...
2006 6.0 have never plugged truck in in the past, startin to get cold and was thinking especially short trippin it around town, it would probably b easier on the truck to keep it plugged in?
Plugging it in more than 2 or 3 hours before you need it is diminishing returns... fast.
The heater you plug in is going to a circuit with a maximum of 15amp, or tops 20amp and typically much less --- typical auto grade heater is 900 to 1000 watt.
That little energy gets dissipated real fast to the great outdoors.
If you are serious about keeping things warm, you are talking about auxiliary engines, that keep coolant and oil warm.... real money only needed for arctic conditions.
I now garage my truck so I dont plug it in cause the garage is kept at 55 degrees. When I parked outside and temps got below 30 I would always plug in. There was a night and day difference in starting, the truck ran smoother and warmed up quickly. My theory was why beat the truck up when the block heater was installed from the factory to be used. I'd rather spend a few pennies on electric then have to rip into my engine due to preventable damage. Heat was also on tap fairly quick. Maybe at 20 degrees or lower the heat may dissipate some but I can tell you that the block heater kept the hood warm enough to melt snow. If your gonna put it on a timer you need to get one that can handle the load, not a light timer. They are only good for like 600 watts or less and normally dont have a ground lug and you should have it grounded for safety as well.
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2006 F-350 Lariat 6.0 PSD, Dark Stone, CC, 20" Wheels, Rhino Liner, Extang Trifecta, Bone stock.
If you're going to plug it in, use a timer. Anything much more than 3 or 4 hours before start up is just wasting electricity - and a heater left on all the time will REALLY run up your power bill. Depending on the cost of power in your area it can add up to between $3.00 and $4.00 per 24 hours.
I generally start using the heater when the outside temps get into the 20's but my truck has started with no problem after sitting all night in a motel parking lot at -15F, but you better be using some sort of fuel treatment at that temperature or the fuel will look like jelly.
This is one of those questions that you'll get answers all over the map.
When it gets below freezing I plug mine in overnight with a timer to come on 2 hours before I intend to start it.
Will it start by itself at -20? Probably, but why subject the engine (and yourself) to the abuse? The engine will crank over easily and warm up that much faster.
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Eddie 2006 F-350 Larriat FX-4 CC PSD - OEM 20"wheels, Michelin LTX A/S, Spray in Bed Liner, Pace-Edwards Toneau, Fumoto valve, Coolant Bypass filter, Hidden Hitch 2007 Ranger XL 2.3 -2WD, Auto, Short Bed, The Beast !
I leave mine plugged in all night, my bill fluctuates maybe $20 a month so I'm not worried about it.
You're lucky to have cheap power. Here in NYC electric runs about $0.36 per Kwh. For an 850 watt block heater, that works out to about $7.34 for each 24 hour period the heater is running. It doesn't take long to pay for the best timer money can buy!
I leave mine plugged in all night when ever it gets below 30 degrees. My truck has become aclimated to the south. just like me! We dont do cold. I never know when I will have to start it up in middle of the night for a fire call or any other type of call LOL. sure would hate to miss either one just cause the timer wasnt ready!
100% synthetic oil with a very low pour point (the point it will still pour and not be molasses like) does the work of plugging it in... without electricity consumed.
Plugging it in only warms the coolant, and the oil near the coolant. Proper viscosity for temperature is key, 15W-40 when it gets cold is hard on the engine - hard to turn over- slow to get oil pressure etc. The warmer an engine is prior to start the better off it is. A couple hours on the block heater is enough for most, except in the central northern states, Canada, and Alaska.
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