Block heater question??
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Block heater question??
I have a 03 6L and was wondering about block heater usage. I live in Flagstaff, AZ at about 7000 feet and it will start to get cooler at night soon. At what temps do you guys start to plug in at? Does altitude have any affect on the amount of time to plug the heater it? Can you harm any part of the engine by having the heater pluged in too long?? What is the wattage of the heater, I don't want a huge electric bill. I have a timer that I can use so that will help.
Sorry for all the questions. I have never used a heater on this type of truck before just farm tractors.
Thanks a head of time.
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
Sorry for all the questions. I have never used a heater on this type of truck before just farm tractors.
Thanks a head of time.
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Georgia
Add a winter fuel additive. That will get you down in the 10 to 15*f with not too many problems. The block heater will keep the anti-freez kinda warm. Not Hot! It will help at start up. It will shorten the time to reach operating temp. I'll plug in if it gets below 15*F. Below 0* I take the gas burner.(Got stranded once in the middle of nowere northern Michigan with jelly fish in the fuel tank.) Not much fun. Have not found a way to pre heat the fuel for operating below 0*?? When it's used. I plug in right after shutting down the engine and unplug after start up the next morning.
Last edited by Lashlaroo; Sep 17, 2004 at 04:10 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
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From: Northern Utah
Good questions and you will get some varying opinions... Here is mine: Live in Northern Utah at 4,500 ft and play above 8,000 ft. I typically plug my 03 250 CC 6.0 in when temps dip below 32 degrees- Starts easy and instant heat (my daughter appreciates since I give her a ride to school each morning). I still let it warm-up a couple of minutes before driving.
I have never heard of engine damage from being plugged in... In fact, I have heard that it is quite beneficial to have it plugged in especially in very cold temps (below zero etc.) Makes sense to me. Good luck.
I have never heard of engine damage from being plugged in... In fact, I have heard that it is quite beneficial to have it plugged in especially in very cold temps (below zero etc.) Makes sense to me. Good luck.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Utah Currently
We plug in at 20F or below, but have found that they start (though not highly recommended) even down to -20 without plugging in (running #1 diesel and synthetic fluids). If you are running #2 diesel when it starts getting below zero, an additive may be beneficial.
We use an outdoor timer to turn on the heater 3 hours prior to starting. No need to have it plugged in all the time unless below -20. Give it a chance to warm up in the morning. Our opinion.
Good luck this winter!
We use an outdoor timer to turn on the heater 3 hours prior to starting. No need to have it plugged in all the time unless below -20. Give it a chance to warm up in the morning. Our opinion.
Good luck this winter!
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Senior User
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
Thats good info. thanks guys. I didn't have too much trouble last winter but I also didn't have access to an outlet to plug in. now I do so I think I should use it. Also I don't think they sell #1 diesel here in the winter just #2. At least at the truck stop I fill at. I may consider a fuel add in if it starts getting real cold.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Central WI
On that thought, what brand or type of fuel additives are you all using. It gets to minus 40 here on occasion, minus twenty 5 or 6 times per winter, and below zero so often it's not worth noting. (Well at least we don't get hurricanes!) Thanks!
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From: Georgia
Hurricanes are not toooo bad. you take the sail boat out the day it gets here, and the kayaks out the day after it leaves. Fuel additive; I get mine from Wal-Mart. White bottle, About $4 not to be confused with the gray bottle by the same name. Someone will come by shortly and fill in the name????? White = anti gelling and Cetane. Gray = more cetane. Have had no problems WHEN it's it in the tank.
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From: Northern Utah
The name of the additive is Power Service- Lash has the description of the two products. I run the gray bottle during the summer months with great success. Very little smoke (if any) on start-up or under hard acceleration.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by mikewrt
I have a 03 6L and was wondering about block heater usage. I live in Flagstaff, AZ at about 7000 feet and it will start to get cooler at night soon. At what temps do you guys start to plug in at? Does altitude have any affect on the amount of time to plug the heater it? Can you harm any part of the engine by having the heater pluged in too long?? What is the wattage of the heater, I don't want a huge electric bill. I have a timer that I can use so that will help.
Sorry for all the questions. I have never used a heater on this type of truck before just farm tractors.
Thanks a head of time.
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
Sorry for all the questions. I have never used a heater on this type of truck before just farm tractors.
Thanks a head of time.
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Gobles, MI
I plug mine in when it gets down to 20 for a couple of reasons; do not drive it everyday and it helps the firing of the engine when the block is warm. Will only be on when the block drops below a certain temperature and then turns itself off when back up to the preset temp. Does not add much to electric bill. Thirty years ago they were on all the time and you could melt snow off the hoods.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Michigan
i found that if i plug my truck in all night that it will warm up quicker than if i plug it in 3 or 4 hrs before i need to leave. has anyone else found this to be true?
oh, like alot of others have said i plug it in when i gets below 32 F.
oh, like alot of others have said i plug it in when i gets below 32 F.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Breezewood (S.Central) PA
Does it hurt to leave it plugged in all the time? I figure I'll be driving my a couple of times a week in the winter but would like to leave it plugged in and ready whenever I want it but don't want to hurt anything. Thanks.
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Freeze Controller
mikewrt:
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
You could check with pool equipment suppliers. I know that they have a freeze controller that turns the pump on when the temperature reaches a preset level to prevent the pool equipment from freezing. Hope this helps.
PS: do you know if any one makes a timer that will sense the outdoor temperature and turn on at a set temperature for some set time?
You could check with pool equipment suppliers. I know that they have a freeze controller that turns the pump on when the temperature reaches a preset level to prevent the pool equipment from freezing. Hope this helps.
Last edited by oldfart60; Sep 20, 2004 at 11:18 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Utah Currently
Once it gets below -40 we do leave it plugged in all the time. I have not heard of any harm coming from it, but you might do a search, this subject was discussed in length last winter. Like any electric appliance, you want to pay attention to it. Personally I would not leave it plugged in for days unattended. Though people do leave them plugged in for days at the airport up here (it is an attended lot).
