Fact or Fiction?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
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From: Albuquerque
Fact or Fiction?
I have a 97' F-350 4x4, and I like to plug the block heater in overnight as it gets down into the teens here in Albuquerque. With that being said, the reason I do it, is it dramatically shortens my warm up times in the morning. Several of my friends that own Powerstrokes swear up and down that this is bad for the engine. They say it developes a memory and the truck becomes harder to start if you are out in the mountains, without power. I say it is hogwash myself, but I am curious what others opinions are.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
tell your friends yea, i know that. and keep on plugging it in for your warm engine in the morning.
the only thing plugging the truck in over night does is make your electric bill a little higher.
the only thing plugging the truck in over night does is make your electric bill a little higher.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 549
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From: Mississippi
live in mississippi, use block heater anytime i know the temp is going to be below 35 or so degrees. haven't noticed any adverse effect, even helps the heater work quicker.
so what if it makes the electric bill a little higher? diesel is expensive too, and besides, the wife pays the electric bill. LOL
speedrdr
so what if it makes the electric bill a little higher? diesel is expensive too, and besides, the wife pays the electric bill. LOL
speedrdr
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
I will have to say I have heard a lot of old wives tales about diesels, but that is a new one on me.
That is like saying you can't take your truck to a different climate.
Diesel engines do not develop a memory or become addicted.
People do though.
That is like saying you can't take your truck to a different climate.
Diesel engines do not develop a memory or become addicted.
People do though.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Maybe this is a case of operator error. If you can get in and turn the key right away and go when you are at home and it's 20 degrees, why can't you in the mountains? Tell the friends that Ford diesels have glow plugs that take care of the case when you're "out in the mountains", but you have to let them warm up before starting...
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Albuquerque
I agree with all of you, I frigging argued this until I was blue in the face with a couple of Friends of mine. There is NO way that your engine can build a memory and get "spoiled" by using the block heater. Has anyone slapped on one of the Moroso oil pan heaters? They look pretty damm good, reportedly raises your oil temp to about 160 degs, in a couple of hours.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Albuquerque
LOL, you know the type, they know EVERYTHING about Powerstrokes. I have been plugging it in along time, and I have noticed NO trouble.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Byron New York
Diesels getting memory from the block heater? Is that like "sort of pregnant" ? You had better hang on to those friends they have promising career at NASA. Their list of abilities will be: "Able to transmit a memory condition to a block of steel through glycol via 1000 watt heating element" Tell them to work on the next trick. I want to be able to hold the cord to my forehead and have it bark like a dog! 
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,644
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From: Moro Bay, AR
That's almost as good as the one I hear regularly. A diesel getting addicted to starting fluid, yeah right! I own both a 2 cycle Detroit and a Mack and I'll use a small shot of starting fluid before I will whirl on the starter until it decides to start cold.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: New Jersey
Yeah, tell your friends that when you forgot to plug in your heater, it had the shakes in the morning and the "I Need a Fix" light was on.
You only need to plug in the block heater for an hour or two. I put mine on a standard household timer and set it to turn on early in the morning. It works just fine.
You only need to plug in the block heater for an hour or two. I put mine on a standard household timer and set it to turn on early in the morning. It works just fine.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by matts156
Yeah, tell your friends that when you forgot to plug in your heater, it had the shakes in the morning and the "I Need a Fix" light was on.
Originally Posted by matts156
You only need to plug in the block heater for an hour or two. I put mine on a standard household timer and set it to turn on early in the morning. It works just fine.
That's what I do too. On at 3am, off at 5am.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: New Jersey
Mine starts fine down to 14ºF (usually on the 2nd try) without the block heater. Much colder than that, say 9ºF, and it takes about 5 tries to get it started without the block heater. Of course, I take the precautions necessary to prevent burning up the starter. As a rule, I plug the block heater in when it's forecast to be 20ºF or lower.