what temp do you plug in???
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Bass Lake, CA
what temp do you plug in???
curious when you guys are feeling the need need to plug in your block heaters??
recently we have been dipping into the low 30's, upper 20's at night, so two days ago i decided to plug in the block heater, even tho im sure it is un needed....boy was i stoked to see the temp guage off the "cold" after about 3 mins of idling!
usually, i start it up, go in the house, and finsih getting ready for work...it runs for ~3-5 mins, then i drive away. usually takes about 5-7 miles of driving before the guage needle moves, which is a long time to freeze your **** off!
anyhoo, just wondering if i was lame for using it in such mild temps....
man, i hope its not like 1000watts of power it using for 9-10 hours a day, guess ill find out when the electric bill comes eh??
recently we have been dipping into the low 30's, upper 20's at night, so two days ago i decided to plug in the block heater, even tho im sure it is un needed....boy was i stoked to see the temp guage off the "cold" after about 3 mins of idling!
usually, i start it up, go in the house, and finsih getting ready for work...it runs for ~3-5 mins, then i drive away. usually takes about 5-7 miles of driving before the guage needle moves, which is a long time to freeze your **** off!
anyhoo, just wondering if i was lame for using it in such mild temps....
man, i hope its not like 1000watts of power it using for 9-10 hours a day, guess ill find out when the electric bill comes eh??
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
cold start, no block heater????
I am with you. I say plug it in.
Question though: After a football game(last night Denver. . .ugh!!!!), my truck sitting in the parking lot for 6 hours, and obviously no plug in site, am I hurting anything to start it up???
It did seem to run fine and I let it warm up for 5 mins or so before I put it in gear. Anythoughts on if this is a problem or not???
Thanks!!
Question though: After a football game(last night Denver. . .ugh!!!!), my truck sitting in the parking lot for 6 hours, and obviously no plug in site, am I hurting anything to start it up???
It did seem to run fine and I let it warm up for 5 mins or so before I put it in gear. Anythoughts on if this is a problem or not???
Thanks!!
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Va Beach Va
I picked up a heavy duty electric timer at Home Depot. It looks just like the ones I use for Christmas lights but it is rated at 20 amps. It is made for electric heaters and such. Cost $12 I think. Better than running the heater all night I woould think.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
If you are traveling or someplace else that you can not plug in, a remote start system may be an option.
Mine will start the truck every three hours, run for 30 mins and shut off. It will continue this for 6 cycles or until told to stop. Of course being able to remote start and turbo cool down is nice too.
Mine will start the truck every three hours, run for 30 mins and shut off. It will continue this for 6 cycles or until told to stop. Of course being able to remote start and turbo cool down is nice too.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 3
I don't know about plugging it in at 30F. We go snowmobiling all the time. My buddy never plugged his 7.3 in and it started everyday.I would only worry about it if it was below zero and you don't start it everyday.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 3
OK manual says that you only need to use the block heater when it is sitting in temps below-10F.So in other words you are wasting electricity.Well unless you like having the temp come up right when you start it.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 653
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From: Florida
First time we (6 Florida Boys) went to Canada to hunt (Saskatchewan) and saw all those little electric oxes in the parking lot of the hotel, we thought they were to charge golf cars. That's the first time we had ever seen -15F. i don't know how you guys stand it over tha winter. One week at a time was enough!
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Merced, Ca.
What about this?
Two scenarios: 1. I don't drive far enough to work to really build up some good heat in the motor (am thinking I may have to modify my route from 5 and go to 10 miles) 2. Since it's new would it/could it hurt to use it when it's not necessary?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 233
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From: Silverthorne Colorado
I sold over the road semi tractors for 39 years before I retired 2 years ago. There are a few fleets in the US that have their trucks plugged in ALL the time. Every time they return to the terminal at night it's plugged in untill started the next morning. They say that the cost of the electricity is more than made up in decreased wear and longer engine life. This is not the norm, but it is practiced by a few fleets that have the luxury of returning to a terminal every night. However, they use very expensive 220-volt, thermostaticaly controlled engine heaters.
Also, almost all hospital or computer back-up generator sets are kept warm 100% of the time. It is the best possible thing to do for an engine, but not always practical or ecomomical.
BobJonesSpecial
Also, almost all hospital or computer back-up generator sets are kept warm 100% of the time. It is the best possible thing to do for an engine, but not always practical or ecomomical.
BobJonesSpecial
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 233
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From: Silverthorne Colorado
There are heating units (mostly for big trucks and industrial engines like on drill rigs) that run on diesel fuel and have timers on them that can be programed to come on automaticaly a set time before the engine is to be started (usually about 3 hours) and the temp guage on the dash will be showing 180-degrees when you climb in to start the truck. Two of the manufacturers of these units that come to mind are 'Webasto' and 'Espar'. Typical diesel fuel consumption for a 3-hour heat is about 1-pint. This is far better for an engine than a cold start and/or a long period of idling.
BobJonesSpecial
BobJonesSpecial
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 233
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From: Silverthorne Colorado
By the way. I traded for a number of trucks from a fleet that used these pre-heater units for 8 years. The trucks had over 750,000 miles on them and all the pre-heaters were still working when they traded them in. Also, NONE of the engines had ever been overhauled and were still running well when I got them.
BobJonesSpecial
BobJonesSpecial
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 135
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From: New Jersey
I don't know if they still sell them or not, but I know you were able to buy "Thermocubes" at the better parts stores. These things only alowed electricity to flow when the temp went below a preset temp. Use one of these along with a heavy duty timer and you got your self the super setup.
Also 4 - 6 hrs is all you need in cold weather before you start. Anything over 8 is just making the electric company happy.
Also 4 - 6 hrs is all you need in cold weather before you start. Anything over 8 is just making the electric company happy.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 35
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You can find fuel fired engine heaters for diesel and gas engines for many makes of vehicles at the Webasto web site. They are marketing a line of heaters called "BlueHeat" for trucks, SUV's and cars. www.webasto.us
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3
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From: Montana
Block Heaters
I work on a large fishing vessel in Alaska (350ft.) block heaters are the norm year round, even when we are tied up in Seattle.
We have several diesel generators and two large (3500hp) main engines. alll are kept warm when not in use. It is even better to circulate the oil at the same time. That is what really matters when you warm up your engines is the oil getting up to operating temp.
We have several diesel generators and two large (3500hp) main engines. alll are kept warm when not in use. It is even better to circulate the oil at the same time. That is what really matters when you warm up your engines is the oil getting up to operating temp.