New Here - need help

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 19, 2007 | 12:58 PM

coguy

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

New Here - need help

I tried to find the answer to my question in other posts but no success. I need to change the block heater on my 2002 F-250 7.3 diesel. I have never done this before. My question is does the heater heat the oil or the coolant.
OK, go ahead and laugh now........ I do have a bit of mechanic experience - just not with diesels......... Thanks

Jan 19, 2007 | 01:58 PM

hydro_37

Elder User

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 824

Likes: 1

From: Iowa

It heats the oil. And no laughs. The only dumb question is the one you DON'T ask.

Jan 19, 2007 | 02:04 PM

2006PSDSD

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 260

Likes: 0

From: Littleton, CO

Interesting question, but I think that all block heaters heat the coolant. I'm not a diesel mechanic but, all other block heaters that I have heard of, heat the coolant. I don't know though.

Jan 19, 2007 | 02:24 PM

hookd

Tuned

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 453

Likes: 1

From: Montana

are you sure its the block heater or the cord? the cord going bad is a more common problem than the heater

Jan 19, 2007 | 02:39 PM

coguy

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

I did check the cord with a multi-tester - It's fine

Jan 19, 2007 | 02:40 PM

coguy

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydro_37

It heats the oil. And no laughs. The only dumb question is the one you DON'T ask.

If it heats the oil, how much will I lose if I change the element?

Jan 19, 2007 | 04:05 PM

aleutianman

Freshman User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 26

Likes: 0

From: alaska

The block heater heats your coolant. Not your oil. What i did with my freinds truck was to open the drain at the bottom of the radiator and also remove the radiator cap. You will lose some coolant but not as much if you drain your coolant into a container.