Do engine block heaters run constantly or start & stop?

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#16

01-05-2014, 10:30 PM

Bigpipes 35

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Restlesswildman

IIRC the factory block heats up to 125 in the first hour and then drops off to around 90 there after.

That's not possible as all it is is a cord and a heating element, for it to change its temperature you would need some kind of control panal with number one a timer and number two a way to reduce the voltage going to the heating element..

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#17

01-05-2014, 11:00 PM

powerram50

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my X will start without being plugged in even if its -20 but will be pissed about it for a few mins. started it earlier to go to the store.has not been started or plugged in all day.neg 10 as soon as the light went off i fired it up. my poor little d50 on 35s is a differant story.i have to plug it in if it hits 10 out side.but i have a timer on that for 3 hours.

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#18

01-05-2014, 11:10 PM

Diesel Newb

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hav24wheel

Never heard of that before.

It's just a heating element, running the vehicle shouldn't hurt it even with it plugged in. It can't reach any temps higher than it sees any other time.

Infact, when you first start the engine, it will start moving the warm coolant out of the block and replace it with cold stuff from the radiator. So theoretically, leaving it plugged in during warmup would help it warm up faster.

Zerostart (the OEM manufacturer) states on page 2 of their catelogue: "DO NOT RUN YOUR ENGINE WHILE THE ENGINE HEATER IS PLUGGED IN. This will create an air bubble around the element which will then cause the element to burn out prematurely." The CAPS & bold are from them, not me. I used to leave it plugged in w/ engine running until I was done brushing off the truck, but no longer do. Honestly I wouldn't mind it burning out, love to put a 1500W replacement in so when it's not plugged up & we only get 45-60 minutes heads up that we're going somewhere it has a fighting chance of giving me something instant heat!

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#19

01-05-2014, 11:20 PM

MalwareDRay

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Newb

Honestly I wouldn't mind it burning out, love to put a 1500W replacement in so when it's not plugged up & we only get 45-60 minutes heads up that we're going somewhere it has a fighting chance of giving me something instant heat!

Is that even an option?

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using IB AutoGroup

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#20

01-06-2014, 03:21 AM

CLINT-THE-GREAT

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Curt's05

Only when you get the electric bill! I use a timer on both my work van/excursion.

The current place we are renting has utilities INCLUDED!!!! lol....

-The Great

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#21

01-06-2014, 05:59 AM

hav24wheel

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http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/user...RT_CATALOG.pdf

Yep, it says it. Plain as day.

Still isn't going to make me go outside and unplug it after I hit my remote start button. If I did that, might as well not have remote start. Lol.

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#22

01-06-2014, 06:05 AM

Diesel Newb

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MalwareDRay

Is that even an option?

For the 7.3L, yes. Any other engines, no clue. I contemplated it this year, but it's hard to replace a perfectly good working-part just becuase. I don't have PMS that bad, yet!

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#23

01-06-2014, 08:59 AM

mgraveman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultraboy

I have a frost plug type engine block heater. Once it is plugged into the wall outlet, I'm wondering if it runs constantly? Or does it get the coolant up to a certain temp, then shut off for a while and re-start when the coolant temp drops?

Don't overthink the block heater thing. I think they are not needed at all south of I-70 and not needed much south of I-80. It was -10 here this morning and I didn't bother to use one. They are most definitely needed below -20 and probably a good idea below zero.

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