Block Heater Question
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Block Heater Question
So in the very near future, I plan on picking up an '08 leftover F-250 SD. My father and I were talking about my purchase, and he mentioned something about having to plug the trucks in. I remember reading somewhere that alot of people don't plug the trucks in, in the colder climates.
I live in NY, and the temperature usually stays in the 20* area at it's coldest (save for the past week of low teens). Will I need to plug the rig in?
Also, I've been looking at getting a truck from the south, as they seem to have some better deals. Do these trucks come with the block heaters? I would think not if they are designed for use down in the warmer climates, but that's why I ask.
Thanks,
Chris
I live in NY, and the temperature usually stays in the 20* area at it's coldest (save for the past week of low teens). Will I need to plug the rig in?
Also, I've been looking at getting a truck from the south, as they seem to have some better deals. Do these trucks come with the block heaters? I would think not if they are designed for use down in the warmer climates, but that's why I ask.
Thanks,
Chris
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
What kind of engine? Any 08 is designed to start well in colder climates even without being plugged in. Most southern states trucks won't have block heaters. Block heaters can be added to almost any vehicle.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Looking at the Powerstroke. And can you define "colder climate". So I would be okay without a block heater in NY?
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought all of the 6.4s, like the 6.0s, came with the block heater already installed. May not have the cord already attached to it but that can be easily remedied by getting one off Ebay or from the Ford or International dealer.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
I rarely plugged in when I lived in Fredericksburg, VA but now that I am in Chicago...I recommend plugging in anytime the temp falls below 20. At least two hours before you have to start up. When I am at work it is plugged in for 10+ hours. I had to reach up behind the bumper to get the cord out the first time I went looking for it. It was tied up behind the license plate.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
How about anywhere that normally sees snow is a colder climate. (not counting Las Vegas and New Orleans this year!)
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
I'm sure the 6.4/6.0 is like the 7.3 where the block heater is different than the gas engines that go into a freeze plug.
Trending Topics
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
I'm not sure on the 6.4. I know that all of the 6.0s had it installed when built and some shipped with the cords (i.e. the northern states, etc.) and some didn't. Our weather here is so weird during the winter, I just went ahead and ordered mine with it. I found out after the fact that what I really ordered was the cord because the heater was installed on the engine assembly line. Glad I did though. Friday morning it was -4 when I went out to work. Only about 30 miles north of the NC line and about 70 away from TN. The older I get, the more I understand the snowbirds going to FL for the winter.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
