block heater draw?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Boston, MA
thanks....
a couple weeks ago my room mate/landlord; "John, we need to talk about your block heater...the electric bill went up $90 last month."
LOL!
At least utilities are included in my rent
...it's on a timer now to come on 3 hrs before I leave for work, and thats only during nights when its supposed to drop below 20F. I don't know what we get charged for a kWh but I'm guessing it should add up to about $25/mo if i use it 5 days/wk which I don't.
Thanks for the answer,
John
a couple weeks ago my room mate/landlord; "John, we need to talk about your block heater...the electric bill went up $90 last month."
LOL!
At least utilities are included in my rent
...it's on a timer now to come on 3 hrs before I leave for work, and thats only during nights when its supposed to drop below 20F. I don't know what we get charged for a kWh but I'm guessing it should add up to about $25/mo if i use it 5 days/wk which I don't. Thanks for the answer,
John
New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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Well it is like leaving on 10 100w lightbulbs all night. Mine only got plugged in if the temp was going below 25 that night. Timer is a good thing but I would put a thermostat relay on it so it only comes on at your set temp.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
Likes: 6
From: Ardenvoir, Washington
If you not using a syn oil such as rotella 5w40 you probably need that engine heater.. But, if you switched, you don't need to plug it in... saving that $..(unless it below 0, then i would plug it in). The heater just thins the dino oil to what the syn oil is normally.
You will get faster cold starts and a quieter running engine.. and it better for your turbo too.
You will get faster cold starts and a quieter running engine.. and it better for your turbo too.
Have a nice Beer!!!
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,024
Likes: 1
From: WA Resident
Block heater is 1000w, 8amps, 15.45ohms when good. Just replaced mine. If in dire need, it can be found at Carquest.
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Posting Guru
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From: Boston, MA
I've thought about the syn oil, but dont feel the need to get it. It's a lot of money and dino seems to work just fine. My plug/timer for the block heater is right next to my front door of the condo, under the overhang so it's not a pain for me to look at the temp before I call it a night and decide whether or not to plug it in.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Boston, MA
i saw it, it went from $90 to $180. Not entirely because of the block heater, but some of it sure was
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 775
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From: Williamston, MI
I went with the rotella blend 10w40 based on a conversation with a member here that was a distributor. He told me to go with the blend because of summer heat and heavy towing.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Mine starts up no problem at 7 degrees after switching to Rotella T6 synthetic. I used to get the romps below 25 now it never has once. The extra 20 bucks for the oil negates the increase you'll pay in electric and the injectors love the stuff. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
Likes: 6
From: Ardenvoir, Washington
The "40" is what the viscoity at operating tempature.. So there is not much difference between dino and syn if both have "40"... The "5" is the visocity at colder temperatures, (5 being thinner) which is which the syn oil really helps on starting in cold weather.. There is no reason you can't run syn 5w40 year round..
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
The cost to run it depends on what the electric co charges per kWh. Mine works out to around 14 cents per kWh, so running it 10 hours a day would be 1.40 or $42 a month. Some places charge more, so you you could easily spend over $50 a month running the block heater without a timer. Oh and 24 hours here would be $3.36 a day.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
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From: Hampton, Maryland.
Mine starts after cycling the GP's for 60 seconds on 15w40 Rotella every time. There's no "need" for that block heater until you are in the single digits and even then, I don't plug mine in and she starts, it's nice to keep that oil thin and certainly helps with wear when the oil is thick, but the truck should start with no problems if the GP's are working properly.