engine block heater,
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engine block heater,
hello all ,, i'm new to the site, have been reading alot , but now its time for a question,, just wondering about engine block heater, i have read here, that every truck (diesel) has a heater but may not have the cord,, my question is this,, what if, any damage could i have done , by not havening or useing a heater, i live in nj and it does get cold,,, i have never had a problem starting truck , has 8,700 miles on it ,, basiclly a weekend truck, so it does sit for sometimes a week without starting ,, but when i try ,she starts right up,,, thanks for any info,,, ps love the truck,
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From: So Cal
I have never lived where it gets below say 10 F, but from what I have read...
If your antifreeze is up to spec, usually 50/50 and not too old, your engine should be protected to somewhere around 0 F or less. I would only worry if it got down into the double digit minus numbers, like you might see in Minnesota or Alaska or Canada. I think NJ rarely gets below say 10 F, but I don't know.
If your engine coolant were to actually freeze solid, it would first push out the freeze plugs if you are lucky and stop there. If you are unlucky, then the coolant freezes like a rock and cracks the cast iron block. Then you need a new engine.
All of my previous vehicles including my current truck have survived temps down to around 10F for days at a time. They startup just fine. Starting is usually not the problem if you have the correct oil. Cracking is the issue.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
If your antifreeze is up to spec, usually 50/50 and not too old, your engine should be protected to somewhere around 0 F or less. I would only worry if it got down into the double digit minus numbers, like you might see in Minnesota or Alaska or Canada. I think NJ rarely gets below say 10 F, but I don't know.
If your engine coolant were to actually freeze solid, it would first push out the freeze plugs if you are lucky and stop there. If you are unlucky, then the coolant freezes like a rock and cracks the cast iron block. Then you need a new engine.
All of my previous vehicles including my current truck have survived temps down to around 10F for days at a time. They startup just fine. Starting is usually not the problem if you have the correct oil. Cracking is the issue.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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heater
thanks for the response, great nfo,
just wondering , thank god i havnt had happen what you say could have,, but isn't or wouldn't ford or dealer be lieble for not having trucks equiped withs cords if they are needed that bad?? just trying to figure why all trucks don't come with cords ,but have heaters
just wondering , thank god i havnt had happen what you say could have,, but isn't or wouldn't ford or dealer be lieble for not having trucks equiped withs cords if they are needed that bad?? just trying to figure why all trucks don't come with cords ,but have heaters
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From: So Cal
I don't think you could make it stick since theoretically you should know if you live in severe cold climates. Also I would think the dealer would try to sell you the cord if they thought they could. It is also probably mentioned in the manual.
I have heard that where the cold is really bad, the bigger cities often have plug ins in the garages and parking meters.
Don't know, I have lived most of my life in sunny So Cal. A cold day to me usually meant a trip to the snow and maybe mid 20s. Course 14 years in Oregon taught me a few things about medium cold. I have once seen antifreeze turn to a slushie, in New Mexico of all places.
I should probably say that the proper antifreeze mix will protect you way below 0 F. Usually the bottle has a chart that shows how cold you can go and I think it is way down there. I just use 0 since I have never been that cold so have no concept of below 0 ;^)
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
I have heard that where the cold is really bad, the bigger cities often have plug ins in the garages and parking meters.
Don't know, I have lived most of my life in sunny So Cal. A cold day to me usually meant a trip to the snow and maybe mid 20s. Course 14 years in Oregon taught me a few things about medium cold. I have once seen antifreeze turn to a slushie, in New Mexico of all places.
I should probably say that the proper antifreeze mix will protect you way below 0 F. Usually the bottle has a chart that shows how cold you can go and I think it is way down there. I just use 0 since I have never been that cold so have no concept of below 0 ;^)
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Last edited by jim henderson; Jan 30, 2006 at 06:51 PM.
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I believe the engine heater is to keep the 15 quarts of oil from getting to thick and make it flow better. The book says to use the heater when it gets below 10 degrees. It has little to do with the radiator. All vehicles have liquid in the radiator not just the big trucks that have the block heaters. A 70/30 Preston mix will protect you to below -20 degrees. Here in WI it is common to get to -5 degrees, however do to global warming my '06 f250 psd has only been down to 7 degrees so far. I keep forgetting to look for the plug. I won't be happy if I don't have one.
