Block Heater, Oil Temperature
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 80
Likes: 7
From: Michigan
Block Heater, Oil Temperature
I was using my Block Heater with my 2017 F250 6.7L PSD when the air temps were like 25 degrees, and noticed my Oil Temp would go from
25 degrees to approx 60 degrees.
But recently with the temperatures hovering around zero or slightly below, my Engine Oil Temperatures have barely budged while using the Block Heater.
Maybe warming like 2-5 degrees. From like 0 to 3 degrees after 3 hrs.
Anyone else experience this?
Also does the Block Heater heat the Engine Coolant or the Engine Oil?
Thanks for all replies.
25 degrees to approx 60 degrees.
But recently with the temperatures hovering around zero or slightly below, my Engine Oil Temperatures have barely budged while using the Block Heater.
Maybe warming like 2-5 degrees. From like 0 to 3 degrees after 3 hrs.
Anyone else experience this?
Also does the Block Heater heat the Engine Coolant or the Engine Oil?
Thanks for all replies.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,475
Likes: 728
From: Calgary Canada
When it's windy the oil pan can loose a lot of heat and the block heater isn't that much heat to start with. Unless you get into oil pan heaters or aftermarket circulating coolant heaters, which very few folks need, I'd just stop checking and not worry about it.
That's not a very satisfying answer but I truly believe that it is the best one.
That's not a very satisfying answer but I truly believe that it is the best one.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 622
Likes: 6
From: Gladys, VA
Block Heater for Engine Oil. Just heating up the coolant for most colder conditions helps considerably.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,133
Likes: 665
From: NH
The block heater warms the coolant. Over time, heat transfer from the coolant to the block can warm the oil.
I plugged my truck in all night and started it at -20F this morning. Oil temp was at 23F which I felt was decent performance. 3 hours may be enough to heat the coolant but not so much for the oil.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Canada
The block heater sits in the water jacket of the engine block on the side down by the cylinders. The idea is to warm the coolant which in turn warms the cylinders and the film of oil that clings to the cylinders below the piston rings. It’s this film of oil that when cold causes a lot of the drag on the starter causing the engine to crank slower.
Any warming of the oil occurs only by conduction through the metal of the engine block from the warm coolant. The coolant itself will slowly circulate inside the block due to convection.
Any increase in oil temperature that you see is mostly inside the block, little change would occur in the oil sitting in the oil pan.
A typical block heater is between 700 and 1000watts, which is plenty to warm an engine down into the minus 40’s. 4-5 hours plugged in before you need to start the truck is plenty, but other than using more electricity, it doesn’t hurt to run it overnight.
We use them lots up here in the great white north, makes it way easier on the truck and keeps cold start up wear to a minimum.
Any warming of the oil occurs only by conduction through the metal of the engine block from the warm coolant. The coolant itself will slowly circulate inside the block due to convection.
Any increase in oil temperature that you see is mostly inside the block, little change would occur in the oil sitting in the oil pan.
A typical block heater is between 700 and 1000watts, which is plenty to warm an engine down into the minus 40’s. 4-5 hours plugged in before you need to start the truck is plenty, but other than using more electricity, it doesn’t hurt to run it overnight.
We use them lots up here in the great white north, makes it way easier on the truck and keeps cold start up wear to a minimum.
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