Block Heater?
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Block Heater?
I Know What It Should Be Doing, But I'm Not Sure Its Working Though? Is There Any Way That I Can Check If It Is Actually Working? Noise I Cant Here Anything Not A Cycle Noise Or Pop From Plugging It In It Has Been Extremely Cold In Chicago For About A Month Between 5 F And 30f And Really Am Not Sure If My Block Heater Is Working On My 03 Cc 6.0 Any Input Would Help Thanks...
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: nebraska
Can you follow your cord to actual block heater itself. The heater should be warm to real warm if its working. After its been plugged in for a while. Mine is located in the drivers side wheel not far from the oil filter. Mines a 7.3 though. I know what you mean I wndered if mine worked I couldnt here anything either. Good Luck. More replies should be coming.
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From: Big Red country
I assume that you don't have an ammeter, particularly a clamp on. Therefore, you will have to be nontechnical with it. On my 6.0 it is on the pass side, rear. Very easy to get to from underneath (right above the starter), but I have a 350 so I sit higher. Let it run and after a while put your hand on it, it will be warm. While you are under there, make sure that the cord hasn't been damaged by rubbing (it has plastic tubing over it) or come off the heater (my old trucks heater cord was removable). It will not always "pop" when plugging/unplugging it. Check for a connector behind the bumper where the cord from the heater is changed to regular rubber cord. Maybe it came loose. If you have access to a volt/ohm meter, the correct reading on ohms is around 14.4-15 ohms between the 'two prongs', for a 1000W heater. Not the round one, that is the ground. Each prong should read nothing or infinite to the ground, which is displayed on a digital meter with a "1".
There are all kinds of ways to be nonscientific about this. Perhaps others will post some. Good luck.
Matt
There are all kinds of ways to be nonscientific about this. Perhaps others will post some. Good luck.
Matt
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From: ABQ NM
Block Heater & Engine Temp indicator
It's been down in the teens here last week and I left the block heater plugged in overnight. While waiting for the glow plugs to warm, I noticed that the engine and transmission temperatures were pegged to the bottom of the scales. My old Isuzu Pup/Chevy Luv showed the water temp was slightly above the bottom mark on the scale when the block heater was plugged in. It also seemed that it (the engine and the heater) warmed up much faster than my Ford, but then it was about half the engine.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Middleburg, FL
I can hear a very faint hiss when I plug my block heater in. Sounds a lot like the electric water heater in my house when it cycles on. When I say faint, I mean faint. If I had any background noise, I wouldn't be able to hear it.
Also, when I get in my truck in the morning and start it up, I immediately turn my vents on and get warm air out the vents. This is further confirmation the block heater is working.
Also, when I get in my truck in the morning and start it up, I immediately turn my vents on and get warm air out the vents. This is further confirmation the block heater is working.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 340
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From: Texas
I am in the exact same boat, I cannot tell if mine does anything. I followed the cord and there is not obvious breaks in it, when it reaches the block it looks like it screws into the block.
Is this where you would put your hand?
Is this where you would put your hand?
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From: Northern Utah
Originally Posted by Z-MAN
I Is There Any Way That I Can Check If It Is Actually Working?
Last edited by utahtom; Dec 14, 2005 at 06:48 PM.
Senior User
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I dont want to blow anyone away with this technical way to check..but put some snow on your hood, if it is melted in the morning, I would say it works just fine. At least on my truck (No hood insulation) the entire hood is always melted.
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Block Heater?
Depends on how long you let it set between drives. In MN we use the block heater when its going subzero. Use lighter weight oils in cold temps. Sorry I'm off the subject. Its going to crank slower than summer, but I'm with if it starts on first cycle it's probably working.
The 6.0 seems to like to crank a few times before starting even when warm. If your cranking time exceeds 15 seconds with no start, then I'd look for a heater problem.
The 6.0 seems to like to crank a few times before starting even when warm. If your cranking time exceeds 15 seconds with no start, then I'd look for a heater problem.
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Thanks For All Your Input, The Truck Doesnt Take Long To Crank Over At All But It Is Smoking White And It Stinks Like Sulfur For At Least 4-5 Min And Is Knocking Bad When Its Cold I Know This Is Somewhat Normal When Its Zero Out But Ive Had The Truck For Almost Three Years And This Is The First Time Ive Had This Problem, I Will Check The Warmth Of The Motor Tomorow I Just Dont Think Its Working, I Will Also Change To 10w 30 Asap. I Do Leave The Truck Plugged In For About 12 Hours At The Firehouse Doesn't Seem To Make A Difference . Thanks Again For Your Info. What Do You Know Puking Coolant Out Of The Cap Again...
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From: Frisco, TX
Just use a 2 prong cheap extension cord like 6-12 ft and plug it in with that. In no time (10-15) min the cord should become warm to the touch, as it would be acting like a heating element itself.
The other thing like others recommended is on the 6L under the starter on the passenger side rear of the block is where the heater element is located. Just reach up around the started and see if the block is warm.
On my 05 after about 4-6 hrs on a 15 degree morning, the temp gauge will read normal almost, but as soon as I start it will drop to about the C mark but will warm up rapidly.
If its not on and I start it sounds like its going to chuck a cylinder across the street its so loud and clattery.
Chris
The other thing like others recommended is on the 6L under the starter on the passenger side rear of the block is where the heater element is located. Just reach up around the started and see if the block is warm.
On my 05 after about 4-6 hrs on a 15 degree morning, the temp gauge will read normal almost, but as soon as I start it will drop to about the C mark but will warm up rapidly.
If its not on and I start it sounds like its going to chuck a cylinder across the street its so loud and clattery.
Chris
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Other side of the sunrise
Like was stated earlier, I have noticed that when I am plugged in, the ice/snow/frost doesn't appear on my hood. The trucks parked right next to mine are frozen = my block heater is working. Also, I have noticed that the temp gauge needle sits at about the cold line instead of waaaay down below it, after being plugged in for 10 hours or so..
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From: ABQ NM
Vindicated!
Took the truck to the 'ship for 2nd oil change and asked them to check on the block heater. My tests (snow on hood, temp gague pegged at bottom of scale - not on first cold bar, bottom right of engine block didn't feel warm to touch) were not encouraging. (I never did pull out the multi-meter and check current.) They found a loose connection. Warentee service
[img]images/smilies2/wink2.gif[/img] <-- My 3-year-old wanted a smiley here
[img]images/smilies2/wink2.gif[/img] <-- My 3-year-old wanted a smiley here
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