I live in Northern Canada and there are two main reasons why we should use a block heater. The quicker you get the engine to operating temperature the more efficient it is and then there is the comfort.

It has been below -25 degrees F the past 4 mornings and my truck has started below -38 degrees. It's been below freezing since November. I mostly plug my truck in at home and have it on a timer that turns on the block heater 3 hours before I head to work. It cost me less then $.30 for the electricity. I remote start my truck 10 minutes before I get in the truck to drive 20 minutes to work. I do have the Supplemental Heater.

With plugging my block heater in.
It is easier on the engine.
It is easier on the batteries.
The engine gets to operating temperature quicker.
The hotter the engine the more it heats the fuel.
The quicker the engine heats up, it heats up the transmission.
The windshield is clear.
I use at least a $1.00 worth of fuel less.
At Idle I show twice the fuel flow then at operating temperature.

Most people around here don't plug in their block heater. It is my opinion that not using a block heater for the engine is like not using the steering wheel heater and heated seats for myself. I started my truck with the key yesterday when it was -38F and not plugged in. I will tell you that it wasn't happy, I don't hear it when using the remote.

 

If you have it the cord would be around the passenger side tow hook.


You can also look thru the passenger side wheel well just about the starter and see if the cord is there, coming from the block (the element).

 

Thanks Tim. I just didn't take the time this summer to do it and now I wished I had

 

I've forgotten what temperature the block heater keeps the coolant at. It's warm enough to melt snow off the back half of the hood in single digit temperatures.

 

If I'm not mistaken it is around 78-80* or so. I know I can tell a difference on my Excursion. But that is a 7.3L and a different story all together!

 

Thanks for the reply, I have looked all around the front grill by the tow hooks. No cord to be found. I will look through the wheel well this morning to see if I can find it.

 

I felt that my '04 6.0 started much better with it being plugged in. It seems the '15 starts a little better. I plug it in when it reaches 20 degrees F.

Can someone tell me if it's bad to leave the truck plugged in? It's plugged in now, temps got down to 6 last night. Will that hurt the truck somehow? It may not even be driven today but it might....

Thanks!

 

I have been using mine when it's been in the teens, not so much for the purpose of an easy start as near instant heat. I spent all winter last year with substandard heat in my old truck and I'll be damned if I'm going to be cold this year. It's there and I use it until I put in the remote starter.

 

It will not hurt the truck at all. I've used and left mine on my 7.3 for a few days at a time. If anything, it will eventually burn out the element(several years down the road) and that's an easy fix. It's even ok to crank the truck by remote with the block heater on as the element stays in the engine at all time. Just crank it, let it warm up and them go unplug and drive.

 

Some time ago I wrote an article on installing the heater and cord on 6.7L trucks. I get a lot of requests for these kinds of things. For those who want to tackle it yourselves it is not too difficult. Follow the article and enjoy.

6.7L Block Heater Install - DTS Articles - Articles - Articles - DTS

 

Thank you Keith!

 

Yes, thank you Ford Doctor:

It is a seasonal topic and thanks for posting the link.

It is also useful for troubleshooting, repair or replacing a block heater.

 

MPD56 is right on the money in my way of thinking too.

I leave mine plugged in overnight. I don't have a good timer and $1.00 it costs instead of the $.30 doesn't bug me either. Plus, I noticed that when it gets below zero the truck gets a little warmer if it is plugged in for more than 3 hours. Not that only 3 hours is bad.

It doesn't seem to ever get the truck hood warm enough to melt snow on top of the hood... Only way I know it worked is to check the temps before i plug it in and then check them hours later after the truck is plugged in. Oil temp will get to around +25F to +40F depending on how cold it is and how long plugged in. Coolant doesn't have a digital temp on the dash... And the needle never moves. Yeah, I know that it isn't in the oil - but at least the oil temp moves up a bit. Ohh and the spark I get when I unplug the heater cord from the extension cord...

 

Thank you Monty! You also answered another question I had about using the remote start with it being plugged in.

 

I installed mine without draining the coolant. Just practiced my moves and then did a real fast swap between taking out the plug and screwing in the heater. I only had a few ounces run down over the starter that I had covered with plastic.