Winter is Coming
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1,153
From: Edmonton Alberta
My salesman said you don't need them on the new trucks!! Then my air filter got packed with snow and completely plugged. At least my CEL didn't come on......no wait, it was already on for 10 other codes, which made it hander to figure out the filter was plugged
!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 436
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT
I park in the garage, so it never gets too cold. However, I started plugging it in last winter for 2 reasons. 1) It warms up a lot faster and 2) you'll find that most of them make a strange whining sound when cold. Plugging it in overnight stopped that for me.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1,153
From: Edmonton Alberta
The lowest temp since I have lived in Edmonton was in Dec 09 -51.3F at the weather station. I live out of town and it said -53F at my place.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1,153
From: Edmonton Alberta
I bought one of these last year
Noma Block Heater Cord | Canadian Tire
Kinda a neat idea. I thought the temperature was adjustable when I bought it but it isn't so I have not used it yet. Can be set up to turn on at -10C (14F) or on a timer. I believe it can also run on time and temperature (turn on at a certian time only if it is colder than 14F).
I may mess with it this year, for me if it's cold when I get home from work I plug in, if not I don't. But makes sense to not use power for 12 hours when you can just get it to turn on a few hours before you need it.
Thanks
Noma Block Heater Cord | Canadian Tire
Kinda a neat idea. I thought the temperature was adjustable when I bought it but it isn't so I have not used it yet. Can be set up to turn on at -10C (14F) or on a timer. I believe it can also run on time and temperature (turn on at a certian time only if it is colder than 14F).
I may mess with it this year, for me if it's cold when I get home from work I plug in, if not I don't. But makes sense to not use power for 12 hours when you can just get it to turn on a few hours before you need it.
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 6
From: Whitecourt AB, Canada
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
It only gets down to around 25 degrees in KY at night, but my question is does the cab heat up qicker with the block heater plugged in? If I recall, when I started the truck with the block heater my oil temp would read 90 degrees or so.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I plugged mine in whenever it got below 25° simply for the decreased warmup time and the subsequent better fuel economy. These trucks are extremely inefficient when they are cold, so the faster you can get it up to temp the better your fuel economy will be. I noticed a ~1-2 MPG difference by plugging in my truck and adding a winterfront.
I took a video last year of a cold startup at -10°. The truck had been sitting for a few days and the coolant and oil temps were around -3°
You'll have to pardon my screaming son, he didn't like the cold weather!
2011 6.7L PSD -10° F cold start - YouTube
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,637
Likes: 0
From: Roll Tide, Roll
