block heater

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 21, 2005 | 09:37 AM

dude73

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 18

Likes: 0

From: zanesville ohio

block heater

i have a 88 f250 4x4 with a 7.3idi 5 speed i need to know if i can leave it pluged in all night? and there is oil in my intake im new and just need so info thanks

Feb 21, 2005 | 10:24 AM

toyrobotus

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 100

Likes: 0

From: northern new england

From what I understand, some of the earlier 7.3 blocks are notorious for cracking around the heater plug. Have you been using the heater? What do you mean by "oil in the intake"? A little more info will help you get the best answers. This is a great place to get answers to your questions (and more). How cold is it that you feel you need the heater? My truck takes one cycle of the GP's and starts after 2 seconds on the starter when its -20 with no block heater.

Feb 21, 2005 | 10:32 AM

dude73

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 18

Likes: 0

From: zanesville ohio

iwas just checking to see if i should plug it in its about 20 to 35 around here as for the oil is there a way to stop it from getting there it has 82000 miles on the truck

Feb 21, 2005 | 12:05 PM

dave200

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 63

Likes: 0

From: Calif, moving to Whidbey

Oil in the intake......

can be caused by a dirty/defective CDR valve. This is the vertical pancake shaped apparatus on the intake manifold right behind the intake thraot. Take it off and clean it good. there is a pinhole that has to be open. also, on an older engine, some mist will be in the manifold.

If everything, glo plugs, fuel system etc is OK, you should not have to plug in your engine. The block cracking issue was with older 6.9's and was corrected sometime in 85.
Dave

Last edited by dave200; Feb 21, 2005 at 12:08 PM.

Feb 21, 2005 | 05:39 PM

toyrobotus

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 100

Likes: 0

From: northern new england

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave200

If everything, glo plugs, fuel system etc is OK, you should not have to plug in your engine. The block cracking issue was with older 6.9's and was corrected sometime in 85.
Dave

Glad I have an 87! With 87K on the truck it should last for another 100 years...just kidding but it sounds like you have something worth taking care of. You can use solvent to clean the CDR, in fact some people have two of them, one to keep fresh, one to use until it gets fouled again. I wouldnt plug it in either, especially overnight unless it is going below 0 and you have trouble with it starting. It should fire up without it, just like dave200 said...

Feb 21, 2005 | 05:54 PM

bigredtruckmi

Lead Driver

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 7,782

Likes: 221

From: Huntington Indiana

on my 93 which has 198000 miles on it. I plug in if it is going to be below 20. It just helps with oil circulation as the oil is very thick. Also I have it on a timer. So at 20 deg I'll start the electricity about 2 hr ahead of leaving. At "0" I'll give it 4 hrs. If left outside with a lot of wind I'll add another hr. Hope this helps

Feb 21, 2005 | 09:50 PM

PLC7.3

Post Fiend

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 5,638

Likes: 1

From: Manitoba

Use the block heater on a timer, 3 hours at -30F is sufficient. Do however use a lower grade of oil when temps drop, using 15-40 is hard on the starter in below 0F weather.

7.3 Engine oil recommendations............

32F to 100F+........30wt

0F to 100F+..........15W-40

32F to way below freezing ........10W-30