My "long winded replies" are full, detailed explanations of what happens in the real world and WHY. Yours are nothing but hyperbole and name calling.
But just to set the record straight ...
- I have an engineering degree; call me a nerd if that makes you feel more comfortable (I've been called a lot worse by people far better than you).
- I worked for 16 years at Ford's steering systems plant in Indy; worked many different salaried jobs including supervisor of maintenance of the powerhouse and waste-treatment, machine rebuild crib, automotive garage, and building/facility. I cut my teeth on assessing and maintaining machines and vehicles using UOAs, thermal imaging, vibration analysis, etc. Worked on everything from massive machining transfer stations, to gearboxes, to intricate high-precision dial-index machines, to multi-ton HVAC equipment; multi-thousand CFM centrifugal air compressors; steam power generation, fire suppression systems using DD two-stroke diesel engines as the primary drivers ... I'm pretty well versed in the world of mechanized things
- I do statistical quality control analysis for a major HVAC corporation now
- I've researched and written articles about oil analysis; credited by Noria's "Machinery Lubrication Magazine" ....
- I've been a "gear head" since I was a young kid; have done countless tear-down and rebuilds of engines and transmissions in the last several decades
- I've been the GC for the last two homes I built and lived in, and actually wired/plumbed them myself (and passed code inspection the first time in each case)
Your assertion that I'm somehow not "real world" savvy simply because I also have an education is laughable. I've lived a full life of getting my hands dirty in several careers and many hobbies.

You, on the other hand, claim that living where it's cold makes you a "smart" man. A "smart man" whom cannot to understand why the a/c system runs in the defrost mode in the vehicle. You're a" smart man" that insists that the block heaters keep the oil from "turning to molasses" even though it's impossible for the coolant to warm the oil pan (where all the oil sits when the engine is off), because there is no coolant running inside the oil pan. You are so "smart" that when it's -36F in your world, that somehow is colder than when it's -36F in my world; apparently your "smart" thermometer is calibrated differently than anyone else in the world. Further, you're so "smart" that you blame top-end valve-train noise on lubes, when it's actually a failure of the ADBV to hold oil in place. IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU'RE SO STREET SAVVY THAT YOU HAVE ZERO COMPREHENSION OF HOW THINGS ACTUALLY WORK AND WHY.

And it's so incredibly obvious you only want to cherry-pick out certain portions of my comments, and not take them fully in context. I have REPEATEDLY said that if one operates engines where the temps routinely get below -20F, block heaters do have a meaningful purpose. Why you cannot grasp this is beyond me, but you seem intent on purveying a concept that I somehow say that "people who work in arctic conditions are wrong". WTH does that have to do with any of my comments or statements? Where did I ever claim that there was even a disconnect between my assertions and those of people working in uber-cold areas? Open your mind dear man; go back and read my posts without your hate-tainted glasses. The OP asked if block heaters were a good idea to have; I stated that they can either be useful or a waste; depends upon how and where you operate. Somehow, that turned into your perception that I said block heaters are always worthless. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

I'll remind you that it is educated people that put men on the moon, design bridges and sky scrapers, and even create the engines you're so "smart" about ....

I bow out now so that you can espouse your "smarts" one more time, so that you can feel superior with your "smart" (albeit completely inane) logic about how things actually work. You're so "smart" it almost hurts to read some of the dumb stuff you write.
There is a sign that hangs in my office which reads:
"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you."
Nothing could be more appropriate here.

 

wow...quite the resume....you've done a lot in your life..... all of it from behind a desk.....
You're right.... educated people have advanced technology to a high degree....and engineers have also designed things that fail and kill people.... hence the term "engineering oversight"..... like I said I worked in the field in the oil patch for many years, hands on, building and maintaining gas plants, pipelines, SCADA systems, electrical and electronic control and communications systems.....on offshore drilling rigs all over the world doing the same....its people like me that take things that engineers like you design, and modify and adapt them to actually function and operate reliably in the real world, because guys like you are too arrogant to understand that you're often wrong, and what works on paper often doesn't work in the real world.....
How many times have you looked at something, tried to fix something,tried to get your hands somewhere on a piece of equipment to remove a part, and said to yourself "what moron designed this?"
The answer is an engineer.... someone who has never and will never have to work on what he has designed....it looks good on paper and his computer tells him it should fit and work, so thats all that matters to him, because he's an engineer, and being an engineer, he's never wrong, and besides, the computer tells him it will work and computers never screw up.....
I enjoy challenging you, its fun to read your overreaction....its like watching the democrats and Hillary supporters on TV frothing at the mouth over Donald Trump....bad news buddy.... Hillary lost!!
Back to the original subject, block heaters are good for your engine.... use them lots....

 

The heating element is located in the water jacket of the engine block, typically mounted in one of the holes used to get the casting sand out of the engine block after it is built. (sometimes referred to as frost plug holes). Some engines have a threaded boss cast in the block where a threaded block heater can be installed....

 

No, you just missed it.

 

 

Where is the cord for the 17+. I can't find it.

 

 

Mine was on the driver side right above the tow hook in a clip & taped up securely. Here it is plugged into my drop light. You may notice the clip holder is still on it - came out when I originally un-taped it. Clipped it back where it should be and all is fine:

 

Except for when they catch on fire ....
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ford-tr...s-after-fires/

I guess technically they're warming up the block. And everything else. With flames.

 

I asked where they were because I took my truck to the dealership to have something worked on and the dealership said they did the recall for the block heater at the same time. I didn't know I had one but they said they did it. I still can't find the thing though. I'm not convinced that I have one, I've been on my back and looked under the bumper and still can't find it.

 

 

Interesting ....
Why does the F250 with 6.2L not get the same battery as the F350? What is unique about that same engine in a slightly different chassis that causes a need for more CCA?

 

Battery size difference theories:

1) ATF volume? The F350 6.2’s 6R140 holds ~55% more ATF that the F250 6.2’s 6R100, so the engine might be harder to start when the powertrain is cold.
2) Smaller battery = lower cost; bean counter at work?
3) Marketing? Does the larger battery help reinforce the F350’s heavier-duty image?

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

I would think that ATF volume is mute at startup, but I'm an electrical guy with a surprising lack of experience & knowledge on the mechanical side, especially transmissions.

2 & 3 seem the more likely reasons. There are more & more people, myself included, that buy more truck than they need. We've all watched trucks evolve over the last couple of decades. The 150 has become the quintessential family sedan while the 250 has become an entry-level "work truck." From my observations, if upfitting is a serious plan of action, the 350 is the starting point, so it is likely that the greater CCA is to account for the greater likelihood of accessories (load). Especially since a lot of guys don't necessarily wire accessories in properly. One of the best things Ford ever did was to start putting the upfitter switches in the Supers. I wish they would make them an option in the 150s. It would save my dad (& me) a lot of time spent fixing hack jobs that come into the shop. Although, now that I think about it, that is easy money, especially since I have to charge labor to both remove their bad work & to reinstall it properly....

 

But it's my understanding that F250s optioned with the "Medium Duty Battery" gets two of the same 750 CCA batteries. Can anyone confirm?