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12V Block Heater?

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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 01:52 PM
  #1  
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12V Block Heater?

**I get an error when I try to search**

Is there a 12V block heater?
I won't have access to 120V and need to park in very cold weather.
Has anyone tried using an inverter hooked up to a battery jumper pack?
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 02:09 PM
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From: Bobcaygeon Ont.
Never heardof one. Your block would be warm and your batteries would be dead!! How long will you be doing this for. A small generator locked in the back of your truck would probaly work. Just fire it up acouple hour before ya go and you should be good. Good luck!
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by lancer
Never heardof one. Your block would be warm and your batteries would be dead!! How long will you be doing this for. A small generator locked in the back of your truck would probaly work. Just fire it up acouple hour before ya go and you should be good. Good luck!
I will be working a 12 hour shift so the truck would sit for that long in 30 degree and less weather.
Then I would fire it up and drive to a hotel when it would sit for the rest of the night or about 11 hours.
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:34 PM
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i may be wrong but if your glow plugs are okay and glow plug relay is okay and you got 5w-30 it should start fine
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:38 PM
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I only have trouble when it sits overnight below 20 F
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 06:57 PM
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Can you get a hotelroom on the ground floor. Maybe you could sneek a cord out the window or something. As for through the day go out and start it every 3-4 hrs if you can. This will help keep some heat in it.
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 09:23 PM
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I used to live in Montana, try this, Warm it up just before you go to sleep, let it cool a little bit, then put a blanket over the engine or like a canvas tarp and space blanket. It will suprise you how much heat this will hold in.

Just remember not to put it on anything too hot and dont forget to take it off.

I have also seen people use bbq briquettes under the engine. THis one scares me though becuase there could be oil or fuel under the engine that could start on fire.
 
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 10:27 PM
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Well, really now. Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just fix the glow plug system so the truck will start in sub zero tempuratures?
 
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Old Oct 16, 2004 | 01:51 PM
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In 30 degree weather, you shouldn't need to worry about starting. As long as your glow plug system is functioning normally, you'll be fine.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2004 | 12:18 AM
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Oh, and if you're really concerned about having a block heater which doesn't need power, Webasto used to make a whole array of propane fueled block heaters. I haven't been to their web site lately though.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
Well, really now. Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just fix the glow plug system so the truck will start in sub zero tempuratures?
I don't recall saying that it wasn't working correctly. Of course, you may be psychic and know something I don't.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnApple
I don't recall saying that it wasn't working correctly. Of course, you may be psychic and know something I don't.
Sorry didn't mean to offend. I went back and read your first post and no you didn't say anything about hard starting. I just assumed since most people have hard starting if they are asking about a block heater. I was wise cracking at the charcoal briquettes idea.
Personally I don't know of any 12v block heaters. As a previous post said it would drain batteries real quick.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2004 | 12:34 PM
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I plug mine in just because it seems to be easier on things when it gets colder, it will start when it is wayyy cold, but it doesn't seem to labor as bad when plugged in. Go to wal-mart or a camping supply store and get a thermal blanket like doc-nomad said. I had a truck go down in Montana during the winter and I covered the motor up while working on it, and it trapped enough heat in to be able to get it lit.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 08:34 AM
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Kwikkordead is psychic. It was 31 last night when I tried to start it. It wouldn't start. Luckily, I was parked near a 110 outlet and was able to plug in for 1/2 an hour to get it to start.
Right now, I have an extension cord running out my hotel window to the truck.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnApple
Kwikkordead is psychic. It was 31 last night when I tried to start it. It wouldn't start. Luckily, I was parked near a 110 outlet and was able to plug in for 1/2 an hour to get it to start.
Right now, I have an extension cord running out my hotel window to the truck.
LOL, I wish!!!
 
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