What?! Plug it in when it hits 40*?! Now that's CRAZY!! Plus a block heater doesn't do anything about oil temp. When I gets down around -20* I'll slap a magnetic oil pan heater on mine alone with pluggin in the block heater. But usually if its above 0 I done worry about pluggin it in.

 

I remember with the old 460 I had, I put a bunch of stop smoke and **** in it, so when it got really cold it could barely turn over. It probably wouldn't crank at all with those temperatures lol.

 

yeah the block heater doesnt heat the oil directly but it does make it turn over way better not only that but if the block has some heat to it before its even fired the oil warms up faster and circulates better

 

So, block heaters go in freeze plug hole? No? Yes?

 

The one in my 6blow is in a freeze plug hole.

 

Yes bock heaters go in frost pluGs.

 

Cool beans. Maybe i'll throw one in when my engine is out in a few months.
Then I can go watch Dono flex his awesome truck. Lol.

 

A Detroit Series 60 is in need of a heater in the winter we always plug it in.

 

I plug my Kobota tractor in a couple hours before I use it, but it has a "canister" syle heater that circulates the water.... That thing is VERY hard starting without it being pluged in. And its been cold, and we just got 5 inches of snow last night, wind today, and forcasted to get down around -30 later this week.........

 

ok, so is it 'bad' for your truck if you dont plug it in when its freezing cold? even if it starts right up and has plenty of time to warm up?

 

As long as the oil pressure comes up right away, its fine. I have only plugged my pickup in once this year. And it was -15. If its above that, I don't worry to much about it.

 

hmm, i wonder if its harder on a diesel with the heavier weight oil?

 

I usually don't plug in my work truck, (Cummins) and I run 15w40 in it year round. It starts good most days. But if its really cold(-10 or colder) I will plug it in if I remember. Most people worry about the fuel gellin up. So I guess if its cold enough to gell up, maybe should plug it in...

 

NOW YOURE TALKIN!

put a webasto on it LOL or an espar, like the "canister" thing hav24wheel described, circulates and heats the coolant, runs on diesel

if its really cold out its pretty hard on the starter, oil pump, ect. when the oil is cold the pump has to work much harder to move it and even then its slow to get where it needs to be, thats why you get that "ticking" from the valves when you start them real cold...my I6 is MUCH louder than a stock diesel if i fire it up real cold...and the oil pressure will rise and drop for the first little while, again its hard on it

starters take more abuse for obvious reasons

i run 10W-30 shell rotella diesel oil year round, that oil gets thick fast around here

just wears parts donw faster than they really need to be, plug it in and it helps alot, even the stock block heater makes a big difference, id like a pan heater but i can live without....for now

 

lol wut???