Block Heater

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Feb 20, 2012 | 04:41 AM

JonArmy

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Joined: Aug 2011

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From: NC

Block Heater

Well plugged my block heater in this morning around 330, tempature outside around 31, left it plugged in for about 1 hour 10 minutes. When I unlugged it turned the CTS and vehicle on my ECT was 100, EOT was around 72. After a 45 seconds of the truck running I saw the coolent drop to 95 then start to rise again, I'm thinking that was just from the lines that don't get heated by the block heater running through and then mixing with warm coolent.

My question is does that sound good for leaving in plugged in for that amount of time? I'm looking for a timer so I don't have to wake up early to plug it in if I need to.

Soon I'll be changing the EGR cooler to a BPD cooler and putting a new oil cooler with by-pass system in.

Feb 20, 2012 | 01:34 PM

Striderwv

More Turbo

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 695

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From: Almost Heaven

That sounds ok for 31 degrees. You may want to go to 2 hours for colder temps and 3 hours for single digit temps. I usual only plug mine in for temps in the 20's now that I have new batteries and the Battery Tender.

Why the surgery? Do you have an EOT/ECT delta above 15 degrees? If not, why bother?

Feb 20, 2012 | 06:49 PM

miner999r

Tuned

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 484

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From: Alberta

my truck starts no problem at -20 C without being plugged in. But most of the time i plug it in as the engine runs a lot smoother and warms up faster. It starts in winter cold better than my old 7.3.

Feb 20, 2012 | 06:55 PM

goosehunta

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Joined: Apr 2009

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From: Franklin, Georgia

the timer will be nice to have. i use one myself when it starts getting below 35 or so. when i get in it starts right up. before i had my FICM repaired it was rough to start in the 50s. now its so much better... thanks Ed.

anyway. i have left mine pluged up for 5 or 6 hours sometimes, before i got the timer. i useually have it come on 3 hours before i have to leave in the morning.

Feb 20, 2012 | 06:57 PM

JonArmy

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From: NC

Well I've had deltas of 15 to 20, at 65 mph for 30 miles. When I had to a "cross state trip" on the same day I saw a delta around 20 to 30.

Feb 20, 2012 | 07:21 PM

Snuggyworm

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Joined: Jul 2011

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From: Houston, TX

i believe if i'm not mistaken tat after 3 hours, the block heater will not heat it any higher. it will sort of maintain at about a 100 degrees. i could be wrong but my faded memory seems to tell me tat. lol.