Block Heater/Timer

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Dec 16, 2004 | 12:50 AM

#16

Twin Tritons

More Turbo

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 688

Likes: 3

From: Fairbanks, AK

I like to set up my timer to run 2 hours on then 2 hours off during the night and then on steady for 4 hours before I need to start the truck in the morning. You never know when you might get called out for something in the middle of the night.

Dec 16, 2004 | 08:56 PM

#17

bikenbob

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 111

Likes: 0

From: San Diego

I bought a 15A Intermatic light timer at Home Depot for $9.00. I never thought that I would ever use this heater here in San Diego, in-land, but 2 weeks ago we had temps in the high 20's to low 30's and the heater sure does make a difference! I just ran it for about 2.5 hrs. before I left for work. This timer is now lost in my garage as the morin

ng temps are in the mid 40's.......

Dec 16, 2004 | 10:56 PM

#18

Daryl Hunter

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 2,203

Likes: 0

From: Carlsbad, California

I think that it even got down to around 40 along the coast in Carlsbad during the famous cold snap of '04 a couple weeks back

It was down to 26 at my in-laws out in Ramona.

Dec 17, 2004 | 06:50 AM

#19

IB Tim

FTE Leadership Emeritus

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 161,999

Likes: 75

From: 3rd Rock

We have had 18 and still no snow...ug....we need moisture

Dec 17, 2004 | 07:32 AM

#20

wildcat421

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 471

Likes: 0

From: Laporte , Indiana

I have not used my heater yet . My baby is always in the garage .When it gets below 32 the heat in the garage turns on . We have already had an 8 inch snowfall and a 7 inch snowfall . With significant lake effect snow forcast for this Sunday and single digit temps . Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 18, 2004 | 06:12 AM

#21

Crownie

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 115

Likes: 0

From: Central WI

Speaking of plugging it in, I hope that the designer who decided how to hang the cord at the factory is pleased with himself (herself) for making the cord as difficult to get to as possible. It took me 45 minutes to get it out, having to snake my arm under the bumper and in front of the radiator through a three inch opening. They must think a normal user has three foot long x two inch arms. The scratches on my hands still haven't healed!

It's been in in the teens through thirties here for two months and I haven't seen the need to use it yet. Starts just fine and actually the heater generates heat quicker than most gassers that I've owned. However we're supposed to get below zero here tonight so I guess it's time to buy the timer!

Dec 18, 2004 | 08:49 AM

#22

Big

Tuned

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 491

Likes: 0

From: Fort Fun

I have been plugging in my truck off and on for the last month or more. It definitely starts better when it is plugged in but it doesn't seem to warm up any faster. The reason that I don't plug it in is that the high idle doesn't kick in after it has been plugged in. I plug it in for 3-4 hours on a HD timer. That works really well for me - lower elect bills. I can't park my truck in my garage cuz I have a CC LB - I would need a 26' garage to fit my rig in there and be able to get around. Anyway, the genius that speced the plug for the block heater obviously doesn't have to plug his truck in. It is a real PITA to get to that cord.

Big

Dec 18, 2004 | 07:48 PM

#23

guydiver12

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 285

Likes: 0

From: north louisiana

We got temps in high 20's here in N.La. last week, so I hooked up the block heater. Last year, I didn't know any better, so I left it on all night, got up the next morning, the glow plug light stayed on a couple of seconds, and the temp gauge was almost on the first mark when the truck started. Last week, I plugged it in, left in for two hours, then started truck. Didn't see any difference in time to warm up from leaving the heater off. So I tried four hours the next day, and it seemed a little better, engine temp came up sooner, about 32 degrees outside. So I'm thinking, four hours works O.K., but my truck really likes it on all night,which works out to about 8 hours,give or take.. Besides, it gets really loud when it's cold on start-up, and I don't really want to change from 15-40 yet, but I am going to try 5-40 syn at 30,000, just to see how it goes.