I wasn't lying when I stated my coolant and oil temps on a cold start when the block heater is utilized.

Josh

 

I no way stating you were ..... If one was to leave a block heater plugged in long enough it will warm up the coolant and the oil (to a small degree) but the time required to do it effectively really out ways the losses to the environment.

There are many articles available on how long the optimum time is for the length of time a block heater should be plugged in for....most people would be very surprised at how little time is needed.

 

The block heater does just what the name implies. It heats the engine block. Yes, it happens to be installed in a coolant passage, but the heat transfers to the engine block and whatever oil is in the engine block. The coolant thermostat prevents sudden loss of that energy by preventing coolant flow.

No, it does not heat the oil in the sump enough to matter. There is enough energy stored in the engine block that the small amount of oil flow is going to quickly increase in temperature when it enters the block. No way is that small amount of oil flow going to suddenly lower the engine block temp.

This is why we don't see flow limiting thermostats in the oil system like we do in coolant and transmission fluid systems. Those are relatively high flow compared to lubricating oil.

Cuda, your argument falls apart with just a little bit of logic applied.

 

Hummm... engineering study results...:

"The temperatures obtained at the various thermocouple locations throughout the engine block indicated that the coolant reached its highest temperature at the top of the engine block, with decreasing temperatures at the locations lower down on the block."

"The difference in crankcase oil temperature when using only one heater in
both the six and eight cylinder engines was negligible. Crankcase oil temperatures when using two heaters in the eight
cylinder engine were approximately doubled."

"The rate of increase in coolant temperatures, based on a percentage of the
total increase, was slightly higher for the block heaters in the six cylinder engine than for the heaters in the eight cylinder engine. For the six cylinder engine, 76 to 80 percent of the total temperature increase was experienced in the first two hours of operation while an increase of 67 to 77 percent was experienced in the eight cylinder engine. Equilibrium temperatures of the coolant were reached after five hours of block heater operation. The total rise in coolant temperature, for a given size of heater, was the same regardless of initial cold room temperatures. The total temperature increase of the coolant in the six cylinder engine varied from 45°F (25°C) when using a 400 watt heater to 112°F (62°C) when using a 1000 watt heater.
Total temperature rise in the eight cylinder engine varied from 36°F (20°C) when using 1-400 watt heater to 146°F(81°C) when using 2-1000 watt heaters.
The total rise in crankcase oil temperature in the six cylinder engine ranged
from 3°F (-16°C) to 11°F (-12°C) depending on the size of block heater. In
the eight cylinder engine, the total rise in crankcase oil temperature varied from 6°F (3°C) when using 1-400 watt heater to 25°F (14°C) when using 2-1000 watt heaters.
The temperature of the air inside the engine combustion chambers was found
to be identical to the coolant temperature surrounding the combustion chambers."

Take away from it what you will...just saying.

 

Tests were conducted at several cold room temperatures, ranging from +10°F(-12°C) to -40°F (-40°C), for each size of heater.

 

Rough idea of ambient temps...



KOEO during glow plug cycle...




Approximately 30 seconds after coolant and oil temps settled...





So the block heater doesn't heat the oil huh?

Josh

 

I like how your trans temp is hovering around freezing.

 

Trying to imply something?

Josh

 

Yes.

That the heater is obviously working.....or you took the time to put some ice cubes in the fluid.

 

toss that cheap Christmas light cord in the trash and go buy a 12ga three prong cord ASAP! Take it from me i seen my cousins brand new GMC, two car garage, and half his house burn down because he used a cheap cord when he bought his first diesel.

 

The big question that remains, is whether the OP dash gauge is telling him the true temp. Ford notoriously dummies down their gauges. They show you what they want you to think, not reality.

 

The 6.7 has the ability to scroll thru different operating parameters like EOT and Trans etc.

No different than our use of digital gauges with the 6.0.

Josh

 

I know. Maybe it is accurate. I wouldn't bet on it.

 

It matches DashBoss when comparing EOT to EOT. It can't be too far off.

Josh

 

Good to know. Thanks.