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It'll be below zero tonight and I'll be plugging it in for the first time this year. It's interesting - the book says it's recommended to plug in the truck at 20F or lower, and *required* at -10F. Based upon what others have said, and what videos are available on youtube, it appears these trucks have little trouble starting at temperatures well less than -10F without being plugged in. Perhaps engine damage or excessive wear is caused when the vehicle starts at those temps without being plugged in.
I don't think anything gets damaged at colder temperatures, but it's definitely harder to crank when the block is cold. Fuel economy goes in the tank as well, I used to plug mine in for three hours when it was below freezing.
My new F150 has a block heater, and I've plugged it in for three hours when below freezing. Costs $0.12 in electricity, and I have heat within a minute of leaving the driveway. Fuel economy is up too, I recommend using it.
The winter of 2012 I was up in North Dakota and saw -25° temps. Being that I bought my truck in Utah, It had no plug, So it sat outside and never got plugged in. Neighbor with a 7.3L was out every morning fighting to get his truck started. Usually under the hood with starter fluid etc. As I sat at my breakfast table, I would hit the remote start and watch his eyes fills with jealousy as he stood in the cold fighting a cold blooded truck and I ate breakfast as mine warmed up. Several times I had to jump his truck because he had run his batteries dead trying to get started.
I do believe in using a synthetic oil at those temps. Makes a big difference in getting the engine to crank over when you are -25°
Even this past weekend here in Utah, It was below 0 and the truck starts right up.
I've got relatives in Sandy, near Salt Lake. I'm jealous they have snow and cold while in NH we have had warmth and rain. Cold tonight though.
I plugged mine in for the first time since owning the truck last night. Bought it used in march last year so this the first really cold I have seen since owning the truck. Plugged it in again tonight because it's supposed to be around 13 tonight. Question is am i supposed to leave it plugged in all night, am I supposed to do that or only for a few hours at a time
Question is am i supposed to leave it plugged in all night, am I supposed to do that or only for a few hours at a time
You can plug it in all night without hurting anything but your electric bill. I recommend using a timer to power the heater for about three hours before you leave in the morning. Here's what your owner's guide says:
Originally Posted by 2011 Owner's Guide page 263
How to use the engine block heater
Ensure the receptacle terminals are clean and dry prior to use. To clean
them, use a dry cloth.
Depending on the type of factory installed equipment, your engine block
heater system may consume anywhere between 400 watts or 1000 watts
of power per hour. Your factory installed block heater system does not
have a thermostat; however, maximum temperature is attained after
approximately three hours of operation. Block heater operation longer
than three hours will not improve system performance and will
unnecessarily use additional electricity.
Make sure system is unplugged and properly stowed before driving the
vehicle. While not in use, make sure the protective cover seals the
prongs of the engine block heater cord plug.
I left mine plugged in all night last night. If I lived in a climate that required it plugged in every night, I'd go the timer route.
Temp was 0F this AM and it started like it was summer, except for the high idle. Upon startup, oil temp was 33F and trans temp was 26F. Within 30 seconds those figures had moved to about 50F for both, so the block heater works well. As has been mentioned, the block heater is not near the oil temp sensor or trans temp sensor...so clearly the block heater has some natural heat circulation through the coolant and once the water pump starts, the temps come up quickly.
The reason for "plug in at +20F" is primarily for emission reasons. A warm engine or an engine that warms up faster produces less pollution. That slogan is said in Alaska and to the point that the city every year gives out free timers. Pretty much all vehicles have heaters up in AK...
While plug in at -10F or below is aid in starting and helps minimize or eliminate wear and tear on truck components. Yes, the 6.7 will start in very cold temps without plugging in. I usually cycle the glow plugs a few times before starting if I forgot to plug in or couldn't in sub zero temps.
I, too, wondered the first few times I used the block heater whether it was working or not. I didn't see great temp differences in the temp gauges in the truck. But it was 40 degrees or so above ambient outside temps and I got up in temp quicker. (and the heat started to work quicker - even with the Rapid Supplemental Heater) I also notice that in low, sub zero temps, especially when it hit -20F, 5 hours is better than 3 hours... Just my experience and .02...
I usually cycle the glow plugs a few times before starting if I forgot to plug in or couldn't in sub zero temps.
Just wanted to mention that this is unnecessary. The "wait to start" light isn't indicative of glow plug performance. The glow plugs stay activated for much longer than the light does, IIRC they can stay on for several minutes after engine start to help with combustion. The glow plugs are working long after the light turns off, you don't need to cycle the ignition.
I'm at work right now, I'll post a source when I get home if I don't forget.
Tom - My cycling is old school in me... IIRC They can stay running up to 30 minutes after the truck is running. I mainly do it because it makes me wait longer before I crank it.
I also agree not to run the motor hard until warmed up.
Cold Start Performance
The glow plug system operates for up to 120 seconds and is completely independent of the "Wait to Start" lamp operation. Always wait until the "Wait to
Start" lamp has turned off, before cranking the engine.
