Block Heater Cord Question
#46
We got quite a bit of snow here in NH. That was accompanied by colder temps. Then rain flooding the roads.
I installed a light post with outlet for my block heater. Plugged the cord in tonight and my GFCI tripped in the house. It seems I got water/ice at the element connection. I will have to wait till tomorrow to make sure. Temps will not be too cold over the next couple of days so I will get a good look hopefully tomorrow. Heck it might be dry by that time! If your installing your own cord make sure you're weather tight! Eric
I installed a light post with outlet for my block heater. Plugged the cord in tonight and my GFCI tripped in the house. It seems I got water/ice at the element connection. I will have to wait till tomorrow to make sure. Temps will not be too cold over the next couple of days so I will get a good look hopefully tomorrow. Heck it might be dry by that time! If your installing your own cord make sure you're weather tight! Eric
#47
The block heater uses about 1000W so it does consume some electricity, but this was also a colder than normal Dec for most of us. My electric bill was $100 higher this Dec and I never plugged it in (didn't have it installed yet).
I have been pleasantly surprised how well the 5W-40 synthetic has helped with cold starts - nice and smooth even in the 20's. With 15W-40 it would crank slow and lack power until the EOT was at least 70.
I have been pleasantly surprised how well the 5W-40 synthetic has helped with cold starts - nice and smooth even in the 20's. With 15W-40 it would crank slow and lack power until the EOT was at least 70.
Another poster on this thread wrote his truck takes 5 seconds to start in +70F and 12-15 seconds at +30F or lower. What the hell? How can you think that's O.K.?
I run 5w-40 synthetic and keep my batteries connected to a Deltran Battery Tender whenever the truck is home. My crank times are maybe 1/2 second longer when the truck has cold soaked for ten hours at -28F. I let it idle for two minutes, then drive off slowly.
I have never used my block heater because I use the right oil and carefully select winterized diesel fuel plus anti gel. Just change your oil. You can run 5w-40 in all temperatures and Ford has back spec'd it for all Powerstrokes. Additionally, if you rely on a block heater to get your truck started at home, I guess you are restricted to only driving where you can plug in. Like home. Wait. Already there!
I've towed in +115F in Death Valley and -20F in Wyoming with no problems using 5w-40.
Why do you guys dick around with grill covers and block heaters? My truck is equipped with a THERMOSTAT. It was standard equipment in 2005. At 0F, my oil and water temps get up to 110F in three minutes of 30MPH traffic. At 65MPH in -10F weather, unloaded, I see EOT and ECT in the mid 180s.
+30F is not cold. It's a sign from God telling you to use a lighter weight oil and maintain your batteries.
#48
I simply cannot understand why in the hell so many Powerstroke owners insist on running 15w-40 conventional oil in cold temps.
Another poster on this thread wrote his truck takes 5 seconds to start in +70F and 12-15 seconds at +30F or lower. What the hell? How can you think that's O.K.?
I run 5w-40 synthetic and keep my batteries connected to a Deltran Battery Tender whenever the truck is home. My crank times are maybe 1/2 second longer when the truck has cold soaked for ten hours at -28F. I let it idle for two minutes, then drive off slowly.
I have never used my block heater because I use the right oil and carefully select winterized diesel fuel plus anti gel. Just change your oil. You can run 5w-40 in all temperatures and Ford has back spec'd it for all Powerstrokes. Additionally, if you rely on a block heater to get your truck started at home, I guess you are restricted to only driving where you can plug in. Like home. Wait. Already there!
I've towed in +115F in Death Valley and -20F in Wyoming with no problems using 5w-40.
Why do you guys dick around with grill covers and block heaters? My truck is equipped with a THERMOSTAT. It was standard equipment in 2005. At 0F, my oil and water temps get up to 110F in three minutes of 30MPH traffic. At 65MPH in -10F weather, unloaded, I see EOT and ECT in the mid 180s.
+30F is not cold. It's a sign from God telling you to use a lighter weight oil and maintain your batteries.
Another poster on this thread wrote his truck takes 5 seconds to start in +70F and 12-15 seconds at +30F or lower. What the hell? How can you think that's O.K.?
I run 5w-40 synthetic and keep my batteries connected to a Deltran Battery Tender whenever the truck is home. My crank times are maybe 1/2 second longer when the truck has cold soaked for ten hours at -28F. I let it idle for two minutes, then drive off slowly.
I have never used my block heater because I use the right oil and carefully select winterized diesel fuel plus anti gel. Just change your oil. You can run 5w-40 in all temperatures and Ford has back spec'd it for all Powerstrokes. Additionally, if you rely on a block heater to get your truck started at home, I guess you are restricted to only driving where you can plug in. Like home. Wait. Already there!
I've towed in +115F in Death Valley and -20F in Wyoming with no problems using 5w-40.
Why do you guys dick around with grill covers and block heaters? My truck is equipped with a THERMOSTAT. It was standard equipment in 2005. At 0F, my oil and water temps get up to 110F in three minutes of 30MPH traffic. At 65MPH in -10F weather, unloaded, I see EOT and ECT in the mid 180s.
+30F is not cold. It's a sign from God telling you to use a lighter weight oil and maintain your batteries.
Eric
#49
Plugged the cord in tonight and my GFCI tripped in the house. It seems I got water/ice at the element connection. I will have to wait till tomorrow to make sure. Temps will not be too cold over the next couple of days so I will get a good look hopefully tomorrow. Heck it might be dry by that time! If your installing your own cord make sure you're weather tight! Eric
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akula22
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
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02-05-2007 11:10 AM