Block heater temperatures
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Trailering
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 9
From: New Orleans, LA
Block heater temperatures
Does anyone know how hot the block heater is supposed to get? Should you be able to see an increase on the temperature gauges on the dash? Should the cab heater feel warm/come on in auto? Can't find much documentation on this.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,453
From: Uh oh, CA
It’s been quite a while since I have had to use mine due to my current location. If the temps were expected to be below freezing I would plug in the night before. I had a timer set so that it ran at least 4 hours before I would have to crank the truck. When I would go out the next morning to crank my truck, the coolant temp would already be between 80-90F, and after less than a mile of driving I would easily be over 100F. I can feel the air begin to warm from the vents around 100F. By the end of my 3.5 mile drive to work my vents were blowing hot air out of them. Of course the cab wasn’t warm because it was such a short drive, but the vents were blowing hot air and I could warm my hands. Granted, this was in temps in the 20’s. The coldest we saw there was mid single digits. The block heater was a huge help and I am grateful for it.
Last edited by chadstickpoindexter; Jan 25, 2026 at 01:52 PM.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 743
Likes: 307
From: SE Vermont, South Jersey
It’s been quite a while since I have had to use mine due to my current location. If the temps were expected to be below freezing I would plug in the night before. I had a timer set so that it ran at least 4 hours before I would have to crank the truck. When I would go out the next morning to crank my truck, the coolant temp would already be between 80-90F, and after less than a mile of driving I would easily be over 100F. I can feel the air begin to warm from the vents around 100F. By the end of my 3.5 mile drive to work my vents were blowing hot air out of them. Of course the cab wasn’t warm because it was such a short drive, but the vents were blowing hot air and I could warm my hands. Granted, this was in temps in the 20’s. The coldest we saw there was mid single digits. The block heater was a huge help and I am grateful for it.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,453
From: Uh oh, CA
Nice! Mine lives outside so no garage for me. Even when we were at our last house with a garage I couldn't have fit in inside the garage anyway... But yeah, if you can keep the truck above freezing it does pretty good, otherwise, the block heater works great at getting warm air fast in the truck! I would definitely add it to another truck if I were buying again, and after hearing about the supplemental heat, I would skip on that!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 555
theres alot of variables that determine how warm the water gets. heres just a few. a nice side benefit (atleast on my truck) heat travels to the transmission and warms that oil as well
element watt
capacity of cooling system
ambient temp
length of time element is plugged in
element watt
capacity of cooling system
ambient temp
length of time element is plugged in
Last edited by willynilly; Jan 26, 2026 at 01:56 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 555
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,453
From: Uh oh, CA
The BC3Z-6A051-A is a 1,000-watt (1kW) engine block heater element designed for 2011-2025 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke diesel engines in Super Duty trucks.
Last edited by chadstickpoindexter; Jan 26, 2026 at 11:38 PM.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 67
Likes: 22
From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Also read somewhere that it is 1.000 watts. Temps up here have been consistently -20C overnight. Plugged in, truck coolant temp reads about 0C at startup; not plugged in, reads closer to ambient outside temp but it shoots up really fast regardless. Keep mine on a timer to kick on at 4AM.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 276
Likes: 183
Had the truck plugged in for 3 hours this morning before remote starting. It idled for approx 1 minute while grabbed my coat and headed out. Temp was 15F and the iDash showed coolant temp 70 degrees. I usually plug the truck in if it's going to be in the single digits overnight and have a smart plug that kicks on 3 hours before I leave for work (and if outside temps are <20F). Doing this, I'm getting close to 100F coolant temps within a mile from the house and getting some heat in the cabin.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 1,117
It's 1,000 watts and while you may not see it on the gauge it makes the truck warm up more quickly and helps reduce wear on cold starts; I use mine whenever temps are below freezing and have it on a 3 hour timer. My commute is short and the block heater ensures the truck gets completely up to operating temp.
Dave
Dave
