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Block heater working?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 315
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From: SW Louisiana
Block heater working?
How do I know if my block heater has malfunctioned? Is there a way to diagnose it. I ask because my truck does start like it used to when plugged in. She starts like she hasn't been plugged in all night.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
Check the cord for burns or chaffing. Does the cord have resistance, it should rad the same as an extension cord in ohms, also try unplugging from block and measuring across the poles for the heater. If it's infinite, it's toast. Ussually they will just trip the breaker so check those as well.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Smiths Grove, KY
If you are able to monitor the current it should be 8-10 amps.
With the heater unplugged check for shorts to ground and also check the heater resistance. The resistance should be around 15 ohms.
With the heater unplugged check for shorts to ground and also check the heater resistance. The resistance should be around 15 ohms.
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 22
The block heater pulls about 1,100 - 1,200 watts of power (have no idea what that is in Ohms or any other measurement).
Youe lower radiator hose should be warm due to the coolant being heated up. The lower radiator hose will warm up before you will be abel to notice the upper radiator hose (untill it gets real cold outside).
Here is a link to an old thread I was part of regarding adding an extention to your block heater and making plugging in easier (pics included in my post within the thread below).
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9701337
Youe lower radiator hose should be warm due to the coolant being heated up. The lower radiator hose will warm up before you will be abel to notice the upper radiator hose (untill it gets real cold outside).
Here is a link to an old thread I was part of regarding adding an extention to your block heater and making plugging in easier (pics included in my post within the thread below).
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9701337
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,072
Likes: 242
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Its getting into the 30s here at night and I still havent pluged in yet
Truck starts Good I do run synthetic oil and the FICM volts 48-49v
If its stuggling now it will really have a hard time when it gets Nasty Cold
If I was in your shoes Id be checking the FICM Voltage
Get a scangauge or something that way you could check the FICM Volts and you could also look at ECT to know if the block heater is working properly
Sean had some notes that he took last winter on temps/time the block heater had been plugged in Hopefulley he will see this and post them for you
Truck starts Good I do run synthetic oil and the FICM volts 48-49v
If its stuggling now it will really have a hard time when it gets Nasty Cold
If I was in your shoes Id be checking the FICM Voltage
Get a scangauge or something that way you could check the FICM Volts and you could also look at ECT to know if the block heater is working properly
Sean had some notes that he took last winter on temps/time the block heater had been plugged in Hopefulley he will see this and post them for you
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I'm hitting easy street
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,395
Likes: 27
From: Central Oregon
By the way, just for info. I did this test last winter, just thought I would throw this in here.
This morning I plugged the block heater in. My Scangauge read 39 degrees.
1 hour later it was 80 degrees.
2 hours later was 94 degrees.
3 hours later it was 103 degrees.
4 hours later it was 110 degrees.
5 hours later it was 116 degrees.
Yes, 39 isn't that cold to start, but was interesting to see that it went from 39 to 80 in an hour.
Currently my oil temp in hour 3 is 77 degrees. It was 40 at starting point.
Oil temp after 4 hours is 91 degrees.
1 hour later it was 80 degrees.
2 hours later was 94 degrees.
3 hours later it was 103 degrees.
4 hours later it was 110 degrees.
5 hours later it was 116 degrees.
Yes, 39 isn't that cold to start, but was interesting to see that it went from 39 to 80 in an hour.
Currently my oil temp in hour 3 is 77 degrees. It was 40 at starting point.
Oil temp after 4 hours is 91 degrees.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,072
Likes: 242
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
check that code again I cant find that specific code for Diesel truck
I'm hitting easy street
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,395
Likes: 27
From: Central Oregon
Here is what I found on that code:
P0630 VIN Not Programmed or Incompatible - ECM/PCM
http://www.dieseltalk.com/support/DTC.pdf
P0630 VIN Not Programmed or Incompatible - ECM/PCM
http://www.dieseltalk.com/support/DTC.pdf
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 22
I don't plug in unless really really cold (ambient temps in the teens or below - usually 10 or below would be normal for me)... and that is just so I can do it and "look cool" to my buddies.
With Powerservice anti-gel in the fuel (every fill-up and I prefer to double-dose) and synthetic 5W-40 in the crankcase... plugging in isn't even really necessary, but it does help of course.
With Powerservice anti-gel in the fuel (every fill-up and I prefer to double-dose) and synthetic 5W-40 in the crankcase... plugging in isn't even really necessary, but it does help of course.
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