block heater question
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 25
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From: Panaca, NV
block heater question
When I plug in the block heater on my 2002 PS the coil light which I have assumed is the equivalent of the wait to start light on my 1997 PS does not go off as quickly as the wait to start light in my 97 when it is plugged in. Is the heater in the 2002 not as heavy as the one in the 97 or is my entire assumption wrong.
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Paw Paw
When I plug in the block heater on my 2002 PS the coil light which I have assumed is the equivalent of the wait to start light on my 1997 PS does not go off as quickly as the wait to start light in my 97 when it is plugged in. Is the heater in the 2002 not as heavy as the one in the 97 or is my entire assumption wrong.
Do you plug in at the same time, and do you plug them in on the same days?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
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From: Kiowa CO
My opinion is the wait to start light isn't the most scientific instrument to measure the health of your block heater. You need to measure either the water temp (not using the stock gauge but an accurate aftermarket one that goes below 100 degrees) and/or measure the output of the heater itself when plugged in. Also the difference between the superduties and OBS CPU's can also be the reason for the differences you are noticing in the wait to start times. Just too many variables to say if your heater is working or not.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 187
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From: Watkins IA
I may be out in left field again but the "block heater" shouldn't have anything to do with the glow plug's WTS light. You're talking apples and oranges, engine coolant and combustion chamber heat. Right?
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From: Paw Paw
Yes the block heater heats the block and the fluids in the block for a quicker fire. The glow plugs are more for the combustion. So yes apples and oranges.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Hagerstown, MD
+1. From what I gather the WTS or coil symbol is merely there to assure you that your truck does in fact have glow plugs. Whether they're actually working or staying on is another story.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
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From: Washington
x3. Without a coolant temp gauge you should be able to feel heat from the motor after being plugged in all night. I would highly recommend you install an LED light on your GPR wired into the cab so you know exactly when your glow plugs are on and how long they are on. The wts light in dash is 100% useless.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,453
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From: Reed Point, MT
When I plug in the block heater on my 2002 PS the coil light which I have assumed is the equivalent of the wait to start light on my 1997 PS does not go off as quickly as the wait to start light in my 97 when it is plugged in. Is the heater in the 2002 not as heavy as the one in the 97 or is my entire assumption wrong.
Just throwing numbers out there, but run a NAW4 PCM in your 1997 and then put a TDE1 PCM in it after you get used to the "wait to start" light operation.....there is a HUGE difference between those two calibrations as far as the "wait to start" light is concerned and they're completely interchangeable with each other. The 99-03 trucks are also mapped completely different to your older truck in that regard.
It's possible to change the mapping so the "wait to start" light mimics the actual glow plug relay energized time (not that anybody would ever need that.....)
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 25
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From: Panaca, NV
Block Heater
Maybe there is little difference on my 2002 but on my 97PS the WTS comes on and shuts off in 2-3 seconds when the truck is plugged in and conversely when it is not plugged in it takes up to 7-8 seconds to turn off. This is in sub-zero weather....16 below zero a couple of nights ago. As I mentioned the difference is not as pronounced in my 2002PS when it is plugged in but there is a difference for sure. I feel that it is not apples and oranges but that there is a direct connection between the time the WTS is on and whether or not the block heater is plugged in on very cold nights. This is my experience but I appreciate every ones imput......Dennis11
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Reed Point, MT
Engine oil temperature has a HUGE effect on how long the light stays on.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: north of Minneapolis, MN
This....it's easy to see that there is SOME temp value being monitored when at -20 not plugged in the WTS lite takes forever to go out as compared to when it the truck is plugged in.