So I have a 2017 250 diesel and it never seems to get warm when I plug it in for 2 hours. Engine still ice cold when I get in and start it up. Is this normal?

 

I leave mine plugged in all night and the engine temp gauge is still fully cold when I start it. If you check the oil temp readout, you'll notice the oil is warmer...and the coolant will be too but just not enough to register on the gauge. Definitely normal.

 

So what's the point of plugging it in?

 

...so it doesnt freeze. Its not to keep it at operating temp.

 

I see. It's in my garage, which rarely ever gets below the temp the manual suggests for plugging it in. so that tells me I shouldn't waste the electricity.

 

A warm engine is a happy engine, and less wear at start-up. Keep in mind less wear on the glow plugs too, so plugging in is waaaaaay cheaper than replacing the glow plugs and paying someone to replace them!


I figure coolant temp is in the 100*F to 120*F range....do you heat your garage to 120*F ??? I doubt it. The point is plugging in a vehicle is the best thing besides changing the engine oil, there is for your engine.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

Block heaters reduce some of the wear and tear from a truly cold start, but they don't get anything up to full operating temperature.

Also, if you do use them, about two hours is all you need before you start up. Running them all night is a waste of electricity and doesn't help anything. A cheap timer that comes on a 4AM or so will pay for itself with the electricity savings.

I know some people who also wire up one of those 120V interior warmers to run at the same time, which helps take the chill off the inside, although in really cold temperatures, they don't get the inside "full warm" either.

I've found that having a battery tender/maintainer hooked up makes a bigger difference than a block heater, although obviously doesn't warm the engine oil/coolant at all.

I mostly just remote start my vehicles and let everything warm up that way.

 

How warm the block heater gets your coolant / oil is going to obviously be dependent upon how cold it is outside. I plug mine in all night long - I realize I'm not gaining anything by leaving it on all night, and I'm too lazy to buy a timer.

I don't think glow plugs are preserved much by plugging in a block heater, BII Plow Truck. They operate based upon a variety of parameters, but ambient temp is the crucial one since their purpose is specifically to warm the air being compressed in the cylinder. I do agree plugging in saves engine wear, and that's primarily the only reason I plug in. These engines start up well even when temps are below zero.

 

2 hours is all I've ever done per the manual. I work from home so it's easy to plug it in if it's really cold before I leave the house. I've also remote started it if I forget to plug it in. Do you think it makes more sense to do one or the other?

 

They really do different things. Remote start doesn't help reduce engine wear and really increases it because of the extended idle time. Remote start DOES help heat up the interior and keep the humans happier. That's why I use it.

 

I read somewhere that Ford advises to plug it in at least 4 hours prior to starting for full effect. I wish I could remember where I found that information. So with that in mind I have mine on a timer to turn on 4 hours before I have to leave for work. Seems to work for me. We are typically in the Teens and twenties most of the winter for overnight low's.

 

My truck is kept in a heated garage where I have the thermostat set at 45, as low as it will go. I always back in, so the engine is toward the overhead door, where it much cooler that the other side of the garage where the thermostat and furnace reside.

I use a timer set for about three hours before I leave for work. I have the temp (Forscan) activated above the water temp gauge. I've seen the temp at startup as high as 135 degrees. As soon as the engine starts, that temp reading drops a LOT, like in half, or more. Too bad there isn't a circulation pump like there is on the backup generator at work!

I only have an 8 mile drive to work, but the block heater definitely helps it warm faster.

 

Circulating heaters are available ... Kat's Heaters| Engine Heaters, Oil Pan and Battery Heaters
My commute is only 9 miles and I find the heater starts blowing (automagically) when the coolant temperature hits 100°F.

 

Block heater raises my KWH usage alot, too much in my opinion to leave on all night, 3 hours seems to be right.