I have just moved to a colder climate and was wondering when and how often I should use my block heater. I have new anti-freeze but it is going to get below freezing tonight. Should I use the block heater although I'm not going anywhere tomorrow?

Thanks!

 

Block heaters normally use about 1000 watts of electricity, some more, some less.
This can get expensive to just have it plugged in all the time.
The general thing is about 2 or 3 hours before you want to start the truck, plug it in.
A good heavy duty timer in the circuit will make this easy. The timer is great for people who leave at the same time in the morning every day, leave for work at 7, set the timer to turn the heater on at 4:30. You can turn the defroster on and start melting the ice off the windows as soon as the engine starts.

Also get a good 12 guage extension cord to plug in with, not one of those cheap 16 guage cords. If it is going to be over 50 feet long it should be a 10 guage cord. These are not cheap, but changing a block heater laying on the cold ground is no fun either. You always wear some of the antifreeze when the heater comes out of the block.

Also if your glow plugs are working correctly you do not need to use the block heater, but it is easier on the engine to use it. Also keep your glow plug system working good, there are always places you can not plug your truck in at.

I plow snow, so when it is snowing I have mine plugged in all night. That way when the phone rings, I and my truck are ready to go in a couple of minutes. Sure beats working with a scraper for 15 minutes so I can see out only to have my breath freeze on the inside of the windows and still not be able to see where I am going.

 

I have mine on a timer and find it helps, I do 3 hours on time before a known departure time which has worked well down to -40*F.

If your local temps are above 32*F BH is really not required, unless truck has a hard starting problem. When temps a sustained below 32*F a 3 hour timed heating will do wonders for pennies a day........

I find our trucks are similsr to Nicad batteries they have to have a memory built into them so the day we forget to plug it in it knows how to start...........

Question did you put SCAs in the new coolant..................