How Cold?
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 2
From: Huntersville, NC
On Page# 182 of the 2005 Owner's Guide, it states the following:
I would think that anything temperature below freezing is acceptable.
"Use of an engine block heater is
strongly recommended if you live in
a region where temperatures reach
-10°F (-23°C) or below. For best
results, plug the heater in at least
three hours before starting the
vehicle. The heater can be plugged
in the night before starting the
vehicle. The plug for the block
heater is exposed in the front of the
vehicle, beneath the grille. Vehicles
equipped with a gasoline engine have the plug exposed on the driver
side of the vehicle; vehicles equipped with a Diesel engine have the plug
exposed on the passenger side of the vehicle."strongly recommended if you live in
a region where temperatures reach
-10°F (-23°C) or below. For best
results, plug the heater in at least
three hours before starting the
vehicle. The heater can be plugged
in the night before starting the
vehicle. The plug for the block
heater is exposed in the front of the
vehicle, beneath the grille. Vehicles
equipped with a gasoline engine have the plug exposed on the driver
side of the vehicle; vehicles equipped with a Diesel engine have the plug
I would think that anything temperature below freezing is acceptable.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
I don't usually worry about plugging in unless it's going to be close to 0 outside. I've worked midnight shift the past two nights and it was 12 degrees yesterday morning and 9 this morning. It cranked a little slower than normal but fired right up with no problem. Now, had I been home, I probably would have plugged her in but there's nowhere at work to plug in. Biggest thing if you're not going to plug it in and it's going to be really cold is to make sure your batteries are good. Low batteries are going to crank much slower if at all and you'll risk frying your FICM if you're not careful.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 0
From: Rural WV
I don't wait till it drops down that low to plug mine in. Ever seen 15-40 at 35 to 40 degrees? It's more like molassas! Why would you want to put that kind of strain on your engine during a cold start?
I plug mine in when it hits @40 degrees. I've heard that it makes some trucks dependent on it but I've not seen any evidence of that. I've had to leave mine at the airport for a week at a time during cold weather and she'll still fire right up...but she wants to buck, snort, and throw blue smoke for a couple of minutes before she smooths out.
Joe
I plug mine in when it hits @40 degrees. I've heard that it makes some trucks dependent on it but I've not seen any evidence of that. I've had to leave mine at the airport for a week at a time during cold weather and she'll still fire right up...but she wants to buck, snort, and throw blue smoke for a couple of minutes before she smooths out.
Joe
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 13
From: west plains spokane,wa
If it's a gas engine you're ok following the manaul, if it is a diesel I usually plugged mine in around 10. It would start ok without being plugged in but it sure sounds better if ya do. You also might want to look into a heavy duty timer so that the heater comes on a couple hours before you need the truck. Most of the heaters are around 1500 watts so if you run it all weekend you might notice it on the electric bill.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
I don't wait till it drops down that low to plug mine in. Ever seen 15-40 at 35 to 40 degrees? It's more like molassas! Why would you want to put that kind of strain on your engine during a cold start?
I plug mine in when it hits @40 degrees. I've heard that it makes some trucks dependent on it but I've not seen any evidence of that. I've had to leave mine at the airport for a week at a time during cold weather and she'll still fire right up...but she wants to buck, snort, and throw blue smoke for a couple of minutes before she smooths out.
Joe
I plug mine in when it hits @40 degrees. I've heard that it makes some trucks dependent on it but I've not seen any evidence of that. I've had to leave mine at the airport for a week at a time during cold weather and she'll still fire right up...but she wants to buck, snort, and throw blue smoke for a couple of minutes before she smooths out.
Joe
If it's a gas engine you're ok following the manaul, if it is a diesel I usually plugged mine in around 10. It would start ok without being plugged in but it sure sounds better if ya do. You also might want to look into a heavy duty timer so that the heater comes on a couple hours before you need the truck. Most of the heaters are around 1500 watts so if you run it all weekend you might notice it on the electric bill.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
you can plug it in at 100F If you want...
If I had one, I'd use it anywhere below 50F so I wouldn't have to wait so long for the cab to warm up...
If I had one, I'd use it anywhere below 50F so I wouldn't have to wait so long for the cab to warm up...
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