Gets cold here, my manual choke works pretty good, but wondering about a block heater. Truck sits outside all the time. I think somebody told me once they do work pretty good but use alot of electricity? Thoughts? Opinions?

 

No more than a small water heater I would think. A standard 15amp circuit works fine. When I used one in the past, I would just plug it in on the colder nights, below freezing. No need to plug it in if its only in the 40s...

 

You can also incorporate a timer so that the heater comes on a few hours ahead of when you plan to start the truck, thereby saving electricity.

 

Last year I asked about the cost of running my block heater in the IDI truck. I found out that stock block heater is 1500 watts and most replacements are 1000. Based on my electric bill I figured a 1000 watt heater cost $0.11 per hour to operate. Doesnt soud like much but if you leave it plugged in all night, say 10 hrs, thats $1.10/ night, X 30 days you get $31/ month, A timer would pay for itself pretty quick.

 

unless it hits 0 deg i wouldn't bother, unless it is a diesel engine.mine don't get pluged in till it gets that cold,and i have no problem starting them.the block heater in my 86 is broken so i use a magnetic heater to heat the oil pan and that works even at -40 deg.

 

It gets very cold up here and a block heater is standard. You only need 3 hours before start up here at 30 below Fahrenheit so a timer is definitely a good idea to save money.

 

it doesn't as cold in sw Kansas as it does here in the prairies in the great white north eh.