Engine Block Heater
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 597
Likes: 22
From: Central Maine
Yes, it gets the block VERY warm. You can hear the fluid right around the connection when everything is working good. It does draw about 1100W I believe. I put mine on a timer so it comes on about 3 hrs before I leave the house. No need to leave it plugged in all night unless power is cheap, you will notice it on your elec bill though!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
for the guy's in need of a block heater.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OEM-ford-power-stroke-7-3-block-heater-kit-99-2003_W0QQitemZ170172894695QQihZ007QQcategoryZ33613 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OEM-ford-power-stroke-7-3-block-heater-kit-99-2003_W0QQitemZ170172894695QQihZ007QQcategoryZ33613 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Last edited by ron's power stoke; Nov 24, 2007 at 06:46 PM.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
How warm it keeps the engine will depend on the outside temperature and the wind chill factor. Here the temperatures can drop to -40 or -50 and add the wind chill factor to that it can go down to -70 or -80. Those mornings, even with a block heater, the truck dont want to start. I will use both the block heater and a 600w magnetic oil pan heater and still then the tuck starts but it dont like it. something else you can consider is an espar heater system www.espar.com with this system i can leave me truck for a couple weeks and come back and find NO snow on my truck! it works great! thats what i use now.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,886
Likes: 180
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Cover your bowl of corn flakes boys, 'cause here's my yearly warning about block heaters. Use them if you MUST, but they can and do catch fire sometimes...
Read all about it.
http://www.croberts.com/blockheater.htm
Read all about it.
http://www.croberts.com/blockheater.htm
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Brett Foote
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
The block heater itself does not catch fire, its from damage done to the cord by the operator that causes to catch fire. As long as your not routing the cord through every sharp point in your truck, and then backing up with it stil plugged in..
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Chicago suburbs
Originally Posted by JAMSRF250
How long can you leave the block heater plugged in?
Dave.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Chicago suburbs
Originally Posted by Lead Head
The block heater itself does not catch fire, its from damage done to the cord by the operator that causes to catch fire. As long as your not routing the cord through every sharp point in your truck, and then backing up with it stil plugged in..
I now take a 3M pad to clean the prongs every month or so.
Dave.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
I think they have auto eject plugs for block heaters, that when you switch on the ignition, they automatically force the cord out. They are kind of expensive though, would be nice if ford offered it for a factory option tho.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 0
From: Amarillo, TX
Originally Posted by kawika
and my special way of unhooking the extension cord (forget to unplug and run down the road with a 25 foot extention cord dragging... I was wondering where that cord went (and found it down the road later).
Dave.
Dave.
New User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: thumbknuckle
I've had my 2002 PSD for a year and a half and was sure that I read that the block heater was an option and only was installed on trucks in the far north. Thanks to you guys a just ran out and traced the wire and sure enough the plug was tied up right behind the tow hook. How embarrassing. It wouldn't start this morning in below zero wind chill and it's not supposed to get any warmer the next three days so what a relief! There were two days last winter it wouldn't start either.
The g/f thinks I'm nuts as her and the kids are already in bed and I'm out rolling around in the driveway.
The g/f thinks I'm nuts as her and the kids are already in bed and I'm out rolling around in the driveway.