block heater
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 69
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From: Baton Rouge, LA.
block heater
hi, new to this forum & diesels, i have a 93 F350 7.3 idi non turbo flatbed dually. This truck is hard to start when cold, i know that i should plug it in but i'm pretty sure my block heater dosen't work. i had asumed that it was a oil heater ( in the pan ) but have recently been told that it is a coolant heater. so the question is , which is it? thanks
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 241
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From: Canada
It will have a frost plug heater above the starter. Most oil pan heaters you would find on a 7.3 would be a stick on pad on the oil pan. That would be an add on. You should have between 20 and 30 Ohms across the plug end.....Don
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 69
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From: Baton Rouge, LA.
OK, I just climbed under the truck to trace plug wire, traced it to the starter where I found a 3 prong (red) female plug that was attached to nothing, just hanging in the air. this truck has a rebuilt engine, i could see the new shiney freeze plugs, apparently when the new engine was installed they decided to eleminate the heater. I want to install one, went on the net & found a heater with a thermostate that is installed in the lower radiator hose, is anyone familiar with these?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 241
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From: Canada
They tend to be a little hard on the Rad hose. It is simpler to install, but the frost plug heater is a better long term answer. It all depends how much you need it, my truck needs to be plugged in from Nov to April. If you only see a few cold days, go for it.....Don
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To my understanding, it is a coolant heater, thus a "block heater", not "pan heater".
I thought mine didn't work either, but just try to plug it in overnight if it has been giving you trouble, a good 6-8 hrs, and then give 'er a shot.
Also, have been told, and didn't believe it, but now have read as well, that winter weight of oil should be anywhere from 0W-30, SAE 30, to 10W-30. Now I know htat sounds wrong, but it's a hell of a lot easier to start your engine off a lighter weight in the cold, than the sludge that 15W40 turns into at 0F and below temps.
Anyway, that's my buck-two-eighty.
I thought mine didn't work either, but just try to plug it in overnight if it has been giving you trouble, a good 6-8 hrs, and then give 'er a shot.
Also, have been told, and didn't believe it, but now have read as well, that winter weight of oil should be anywhere from 0W-30, SAE 30, to 10W-30. Now I know htat sounds wrong, but it's a hell of a lot easier to start your engine off a lighter weight in the cold, than the sludge that 15W40 turns into at 0F and below temps.
Anyway, that's my buck-two-eighty.
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