plug in??
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
as for pluggin it in usually right around freezing and i have it on a timer for the usual 3 hrs before hand.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: THUNDER BAY
-15c is when I start to plug in if I am around a plug in,the last two winters I ran 0/40 and it started awesome this year I am running 10/30 and it has been -18c over night here so last night I figured I would plug in when I did the block heater cord shorted out and caught fire! so tonight it is getting down to -24c I borrowed a magnet heater from work put it on the oil pan hope it helps out.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Emmett, ID
BRILLIANT!~!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,138
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Colorado
-15c is when I start to plug in if I am around a plug in,the last two winters I ran 0/40 and it started awesome this year I am running 10/30 and it has been -18c over night here so last night I figured I would plug in when I did the block heater cord shorted out and caught fire! so tonight it is getting down to -24c I borrowed a magnet heater from work put it on the oil pan hope it helps out.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: THUNDER BAY
You probably will have to go with what Mad van suggested ,unless you can find 0/40.
By the way your truck starts the same as mine at those temps probably smells the same too LOL
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,138
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Colorado
I really cant tell if my truck had bad injector O rings because that is how it has started always when it would start with bad glow plugs, and I still have the rougher idle and the non loaded in neutral hesitation at 2600 RPM...
But I ddi end up replacing them.... And now it has not failed me yet except when the fuel gelled.
But I ddi end up replacing them.... And now it has not failed me yet except when the fuel gelled.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
'95 4x4 5-speed with 157,000-ish miles, Stancor GPR, Mobil 1 TurboDiesel 5w40, Mobil 1 ATF in the ZF5, ZeroStart wraparound warmers on both batteries and a triple-tap short extension, so both battery warmers and the block heater all plug in from one plug poking out of the bumper. Aprx. 3 hrs on the timer, aprx. 5*F yesterday morning, outdoors on a snow-covered driveway, it started up like it was July. White smoke was gone within aprx. 30 seconds.
Only bummer is, the thermostat must be stuck open; it never gets past about N on the cr@ptastic gauge, and the EBPV stays open way too long.
Only bummer is, the thermostat must be stuck open; it never gets past about N on the cr@ptastic gauge, and the EBPV stays open way too long.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
I live in military housing and don't pay for electricity, so it gets plugged in every night. I don't have any starting problems and prefer to keep it that way. If you have one might as well use it...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: THUNDER BAY
'95 4x4 5-speed with 157,000-ish miles, Stancor GPR, Mobil 1 TurboDiesel 5w40, Mobil 1 ATF in the ZF5, ZeroStart wraparound warmers on both batteries and a triple-tap short extension, so both battery warmers and the block heater all plug in from one plug poking out of the bumper. Aprx. 3 hrs on the timer, aprx. 5*F yesterday morning, outdoors on a snow-covered driveway, it started up like it was July. White smoke was gone within aprx. 30 seconds.
Only bummer is, the thermostat must be stuck open; it never gets past about N on the cr@ptastic gauge, and the EBPV stays open way too long.
Only bummer is, the thermostat must be stuck open; it never gets past about N on the cr@ptastic gauge, and the EBPV stays open way too long.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Fah, it's < 1200W, aprx. a hair dryer. Shoot, we run it off a generator when we go to our rustic cabin. Here's the cord to use; just the right length, and 12ga is plenty thick enough. You may also need a short (6-foot-ish) extension cord to plug the passenger-side battery warmer into, depending on the length of cord it comes with.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara and Ottawa
If the truck has been sitting for a few days and it is -20 C, then I plug in for 3 hours and she starts instantly. I tried it once after sitting for a week and she wasn't too thrilled. I'm guessing she would have started but I let the batteries charge overnight and plugged the block heater in for almost exactly 3 hours the next day and she started instantly the next morning.
If I drove the day before I can start right up without plugging in even if it's -20 C.
Thermometer temp, not windchill.
My only problem is the damn cabin heat. I've got a wedge in the blend door lever until it gets warm enough outside to work on it !
If I drove the day before I can start right up without plugging in even if it's -20 C.
Thermometer temp, not windchill.
My only problem is the damn cabin heat. I've got a wedge in the blend door lever until it gets warm enough outside to work on it !
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ol-blu
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
9
Jun 12, 2020 11:17 PM
Chevy_Eater
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
41
Jul 25, 2015 09:14 PM
52 Merc
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
31
Jan 18, 2012 09:03 PM
