Ventech heater
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,414
Likes: 1,018
From: Central KY
Can you leave the block heater plugged in all the time? Like, let's say I'm not going to drive the truck for a few days maybe but I want it to always be ready when I'm ready. Can I just plug the truck in and leave it alone? Or is that going to make the electric meter on my house spin like a frisbee needlessly?
Also, can I remote start the truck if the block heater is plugged in?
Also, can I remote start the truck if the block heater is plugged in?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,678
Likes: 981
From: Walpole, MA
Can you leave the block heater plugged in all the time? Like, let's say I'm not going to drive the truck for a few days maybe but I want it to always be ready when I'm ready. Can I just plug the truck in and leave it alone? Or is that going to make the electric meter on my house spin like a frisbee needlessly?
Also, can I remote start the truck if the block heater is plugged in?
Also, can I remote start the truck if the block heater is plugged in?
Yes you can remote start the truck, just remember to plug it in before you take off.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 931
Likes: 1,883
From: SE PA
I have mine plugged into a timer and have the grill cover installed. On days with temps in the teens and twenties the truck starts out with coolant in the 80's and I set the heat on the lowest setting. After driving 2 miles it is up to 100 and I bump up the blower by one notch for every 10 degree increase in coolant temp. In 5 or 6 miles the truck is fairly warm.
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 9,200
From: Western NY
I have mine plugged into a timer and have the grill cover installed. On days with temps in the teens and twenties the truck starts out with coolant in the 80's and I set the heat on the lowest setting. After driving 2 miles it is up to 100 and I bump up the blower by one notch for every 10 degree increase in coolant temp. In 5 or 6 miles the truck is fairly warm.
I have to say, having the supplemental heat is pretty sweet... not even a mile from my house, truck idled a few minutes before leaving for work, coolant was either at or just under a 100 degrees, engine oil 70 to 80, heat at 74 degrees, I start to have a little heat. Tested it not long ago with the blower on the AC vents at me and could feel a little bit of heat. Temps were in high teens/low 20s...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 931
Likes: 1,883
From: SE PA
I've always thought of buying a XL grill, installing some male snaps in it, having a grill cover made by bringing it to the vinyl place and having them size it to the snaps...
I have to say, having the supplemental heat is pretty sweet... not even a mile from my house, truck idled a few minutes before leaving for work, coolant was either at or just under a 100 degrees, engine oil 70 to 80, heat at 74 degrees, I start to have a little heat. Tested it not long ago with the blower on the AC vents at me and could feel a little bit of heat. Temps were in high teens/low 20s...
I have to say, having the supplemental heat is pretty sweet... not even a mile from my house, truck idled a few minutes before leaving for work, coolant was either at or just under a 100 degrees, engine oil 70 to 80, heat at 74 degrees, I start to have a little heat. Tested it not long ago with the blower on the AC vents at me and could feel a little bit of heat. Temps were in high teens/low 20s...
Here are a couple of pics of how it is mounted and not shown, there are hooks on the bottom that attach to the bottom of the grill.
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 9,200
From: Western NY
Nice set up... I'll have to look for that... Thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,988
Likes: 2,677
From: The Great State of Texas
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,414
Likes: 1,018
From: Central KY
I have the same Ford grille cover pictured. I monitor temps with a Scan Gauge II hooked up to the OBD port. What I have seen is a very small or no improvement in the time it takes to warm the engine. The improvement is so minor it's hard to even prove it's doing a benefit.
So school me on these Espar diesel heaters people talk about. How does that work? You have to run a fuel line from your tank into the cab to connect to the heater? Lots of people say they love those, but it seems like an installation nightmare.
So school me on these Espar diesel heaters people talk about. How does that work? You have to run a fuel line from your tank into the cab to connect to the heater? Lots of people say they love those, but it seems like an installation nightmare.
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,414
Likes: 1,018
From: Central KY
So I finally got curious enough that I called the local big diesel shop around here and talked to them about the Ventech heater. They refused to even install it. Said it doesn't look like a good kit, and will likely cause issues later down the road, and I guess they just don't want the liability of having to repair it or issues related to it. Interesting.
So I guess I'll wait until late this year when we're about to head into cold weather again and I'll get a block heater installed and try that. The coolant will need to be flushed by then anyhow as I'll be at 100k.
So I guess I'll wait until late this year when we're about to head into cold weather again and I'll get a block heater installed and try that. The coolant will need to be flushed by then anyhow as I'll be at 100k.
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 9,200
From: Western NY
I haven't used my engine block heater since at least last year. From what I do remember, when I used it, and it was when the temps were getting down close to zero, the coolant and oil temps were over 70 degrees I want to say... but I can't comment on what they did for me because I have the factory supplemental heater installed because I believe I had heat pretty quick but I have been doing an experiment of sorts to make a comment here.
This morning the truck said 28 degrees, remote started it a few minutes before leaving. The primary coolant temp was around 70... I put it on the AC vent position and already had a little amount of heat coming out of the vents.
The two days prior it was 17, 18 degrees out and well under 100 degrees for the primary and a small amount of heat also at that time... same thing, remote start for a minute or two, slow drive down the street... she heats up fairly quickly...
Anyone who is going to be buying a new to me or brand new, and has a "honey do" who likes it warm, the supplemental heat is a good option to look for and buy the truck with...
Now that I remember, the block heater used along with the supplemental heater, gets the heat going pretty quickly, but I also have a good hill to climb right off the bat in the morning.
This morning the truck said 28 degrees, remote started it a few minutes before leaving. The primary coolant temp was around 70... I put it on the AC vent position and already had a little amount of heat coming out of the vents.
The two days prior it was 17, 18 degrees out and well under 100 degrees for the primary and a small amount of heat also at that time... same thing, remote start for a minute or two, slow drive down the street... she heats up fairly quickly...
Anyone who is going to be buying a new to me or brand new, and has a "honey do" who likes it warm, the supplemental heat is a good option to look for and buy the truck with...
Now that I remember, the block heater used along with the supplemental heater, gets the heat going pretty quickly, but I also have a good hill to climb right off the bat in the morning.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
So I finally got curious enough that I called the local big diesel shop around here and talked to them about the Ventech heater. They refused to even install it. Said it doesn't look like a good kit, and will likely cause issues later down the road, and I guess they just don't want the liability of having to repair it or issues related to it. Interesting.
So I guess I'll wait until late this year when we're about to head into cold weather again and I'll get a block heater installed and try that. The coolant will need to be flushed by then anyhow as I'll be at 100k.
So I guess I'll wait until late this year when we're about to head into cold weather again and I'll get a block heater installed and try that. The coolant will need to be flushed by then anyhow as I'll be at 100k.
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,414
Likes: 1,018
From: Central KY
Did they say what issues they foresee? I can see it stressing out the belt and causing an early failure. It's basically just putting a big resistance motor on the accessory belt to generate heat. I wouldn't want the kit on my vehicle (I really have no use for it), but I'd be curious to hear why a mechanic wouldn't even touch it. It could also just be inexperience with the system also.
