Block Heater performance
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Block Heater performance
I've used the stock block heater in my 6.7L all night (plugged in around midnight until using the truck at 6 a.m.) and the display reads an oil temp of around freezing, just over 30. The temperature outside was just above 0 the entire time. Is this heater operating correctly? I've tried it a few times and I get similar results each time. I.e., If it's around freezing outside, the oil temp might reach 60 by morning, when I unplug it and start the truck.
For what it's worth, the truck warms up normally after that point, so I don't think the engine is warmer than the gauge reads right away (it doesn't jump once the engine stirs everything up, which used to happen with a block heater I installed on a diesel Jetta).
The dealership told me "anything warmer than the outside air temp means it's working fine." I assumed it'd be a little warmer, though. Any thoughts?
For what it's worth, the truck warms up normally after that point, so I don't think the engine is warmer than the gauge reads right away (it doesn't jump once the engine stirs everything up, which used to happen with a block heater I installed on a diesel Jetta).
The dealership told me "anything warmer than the outside air temp means it's working fine." I assumed it'd be a little warmer, though. Any thoughts?
Fleet Mechanic
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Oil temp or coolant temp? The block heater is in a coolant passage. I am sure you heat some of the oil with it but not a lot and as soon as you start the truck all that cold non heated oil from the pan circulates and brings the oil temp down at first.
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I hadn't even stopped to think about that - I'm reading the oil temp from the dash display. I don't get a digital coolant temp - do you know what temperature the minimum is for the coolant needle to move? I'll look at that next time.
Thanks for your insight. Duh.
Thanks for your insight. Duh.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Whittier, CA
The ECT and EOT sensors are both in the engine block. Not the oil pan. They should read approx the same if the block heater is working. But what I'm not sure about is whether the digital dash gauge will show a correct temp.
But it doesn't sound to me like the block heater is working. I would plug it in and put an ammeter on the extension cord. See if it is drawing any current.
But it doesn't sound to me like the block heater is working. I would plug it in and put an ammeter on the extension cord. See if it is drawing any current.
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The block heater on these truck is in the engine coolant so oil temp won't show anything. It is also just an element so no circulation throughout the system.
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
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The block heater on these truck is in the engine coolant so oil temp won't show anything. It is also just an element so no circulation throughout the system.
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
Josh
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Because the cold weather is recent, I haven't tried starting it without having plugged in the block heater the night prior; but, it's unplugged tonight and will be a little below freezing, so I'll time the light in the morning as a benchmark.
The extension cord is long and cheap; probably 25' and 16 gauge, I'd guess.
I'll measure the resistance and post that as well. I assume I measure it by pulling apart the plug & extension cord just enough to get the needles against the blades...?
The extension cord is long and cheap; probably 25' and 16 gauge, I'd guess.
I'll measure the resistance and post that as well. I assume I measure it by pulling apart the plug & extension cord just enough to get the needles against the blades...?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Spanaway
The block heater on these truck is in the engine coolant so oil temp won't show anything. It is also just an element so no circulation throughout the system.
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
If you want to truly test it grab a digital multymeter and see what kind of resistance or ohms it has at the plug....should be fairly high resistance number as these things draw a lot of current.
I know mine works well because it started the other day like it was a summer day at -35c....did it have heat right away, no, because it's not a VW and Ford doesn't use glow plugs in the heating system side of the coolant passage.
How long was the glow plug light on for after it was plugged in? longer or shorter than normal?
If you put an AMP meter on the line you need an adaptor if you use an
inductive meter so that you are only sensing on one wire or it will self
cancel the reading. The total draw is going to be less than 15 AMPs
in fact more like less than 10. I put a little extra in for cord loss.
The point that Josh (Bullitt390) is making is also true.
That #16 cord has to go. You need to be using a #12. A #14 will work
if it's VERY short.
Calculate Extension Cord Voltage Drop
A small cord will heat over time and as it heats it will increase resistance
and heat even more.
Sean
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Agreed, I can hear mine come on, and it works well. Truck warms up a lot faster without having to overcome that initial frost. I liked it so much when I rebuilt the motor on my 79 f150 I installed a block heater.
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Very true guys the point I was trying to make is that there is no pump.....
Heat the oil...sure but let's get real here at -35c and how many gallons of oil in the pan, which hangs bellow the coolant passages in the block and is exposed to the ambient air....the oil temp increase I bet is so minute that you'd never see it. (Don't forget the oil pan is none insulated and at the bottom of the block for more than one reason)
Now an oil pan heater with a block heater......that's the true ticket.... :-)
Heat the oil...sure but let's get real here at -35c and how many gallons of oil in the pan, which hangs bellow the coolant passages in the block and is exposed to the ambient air....the oil temp increase I bet is so minute that you'd never see it. (Don't forget the oil pan is none insulated and at the bottom of the block for more than one reason)
Now an oil pan heater with a block heater......that's the true ticket.... :-)