Adding a plug-in heater?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: THUNDER BAY
Well, this morning it was at 22 and all four doors were froze shut. I finally got a back door on the CC open and was able to climb through and open up. Turned the key and "Wait to Start Light" came on for < 2 seconds and she fired right up. Also I've never had instant heat but certainly a quicker overall heat up with the block heater as I motor down the road to work. I think the key here is not how warm the water is but how warm the oil is. For me it has always been this way.
That being said .. maybe I do have issues and just never knew it. I would be interested in other opinions and their experiences.
That being said .. maybe I do have issues and just never knew it. I would be interested in other opinions and their experiences.
My gauge has never read anything plugged in I have a real gauge in there now and it also has never moved till running down the road.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: THUNDER BAY
I have an inline coolant heater that was given to me last winter but still haven't put in this style of heater may make the gauge move because it circulates the coolant while heating.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 38
From: Nampa, ID
I wanted to let everyone know that my old block heater was not working. I tested the new block heater element before Mike (mcdavidson) installed it. The new element read 16 Ohms. The old element read 14.3 Ohms. I took another reading at the truck plug end. It now reads 15.5 Ohms at the truck plug. The old block heater element was definitely the problem.
A big Thank You to Mike for swapping that out for me.
I have the block heater plugged in on a timer set for four hours of "On" time. This is enough to move the needle from "Cold" to just under the "N" on the stock temp gauge.
I also have three glow plugs on the right bank reading infinity. I didn't bother checking the left bank. My back was acting up from the cold and having to lean over the engine. I didn't feel up to removing the intake hoses to make room to check the left bank. I think it's time to replace the GPs, anyway.
I highly recommend everyone test the block heater element. If it's reading 14.x Ohms, I bet it's not working.
If your block heater is plugged in for a few hours and your stock temp gauge is not reading higher than "Cold", I think your glow plugs are working well enough that the block heater is not needed.
A big Thank You to Mike for swapping that out for me.
I have the block heater plugged in on a timer set for four hours of "On" time. This is enough to move the needle from "Cold" to just under the "N" on the stock temp gauge.
I also have three glow plugs on the right bank reading infinity. I didn't bother checking the left bank. My back was acting up from the cold and having to lean over the engine. I didn't feel up to removing the intake hoses to make room to check the left bank. I think it's time to replace the GPs, anyway.
I highly recommend everyone test the block heater element. If it's reading 14.x Ohms, I bet it's not working.
If your block heater is plugged in for a few hours and your stock temp gauge is not reading higher than "Cold", I think your glow plugs are working well enough that the block heater is not needed.
