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Engine block heater noise?

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Old Jan 16, 2017 | 11:12 PM
  #1  
Jacob Lowell's Avatar
Jacob Lowell
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Engine block heater noise?

I have a quick question/opinion poll about using my old factory block heater. The short of it: I have a 1990 F350 with a 460 in it, and it came with a block heater, which has not been used for quite some time. A couple years ago, the passenger's side freeze plug/heater element sprung a leak and was replaced with just a standard brass freeze plug. My two questions are: Is it okay to/would you run an old block heater in only one side of the engine, and is it normal for this heater to make a hissing-like noise when operating? It sounds like water boiling in an electric kettle. I am just concerned about this because like I said, this equipment has not been used for a long time. The reason why I am using now is because we are in for some pretty low (sub-zero) temps here in Anchorage for the next week, and I would like to give the truck a little boost in the morning. Any and all thoughts/comments are appreciated. Cheers!
 
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Old Jan 17, 2017 | 07:09 AM
  #2  
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78 PEB
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From: Ideeho
Yes, you will hear them "cooking" I personally have never seen one with more than 1 freeze plug heater.....If I am not mistaken that's how Ford sends them out of the factory ........there may have been an option for 2 of them ......not sure.......and I'm sure that someone somewhere has installed 2 at some point.......you are fine!
 
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Old Jan 17, 2017 | 08:08 AM
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timbersteel
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^^^^^^ What he said.

Mine has only one, passenger side. There has been discussion about 2, and it's overkill.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2017 | 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by timbersteel
There has been discussion about 2, and it's overkill.
Maybe not in Alaska.

​​​​​​​Remember, -40 is the same in the U.S. & Canada
 
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Old Jan 18, 2017 | 01:05 PM
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From: Saskatoon, SK
Originally Posted by ArdWrknTrk
Maybe not in Alaska.

​​​​​​​Remember, -40 is the same in the U.S. & Canada

It gets to -40 here once in a while, 1 block heater is plenty.
 
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