3rd Gen Engine and Drivetrain -> 2003-2007 5.9 liter Engine and drivetrain discussion only. PLEASE, NO HIGH PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION!

Another block heater question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-13-2009, 09:33 PM
  #16  
Registered User
 
ramoszx12r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Caneys Point NJ
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My 06 have a heater block that heats up the coolant that is the one that get plug in. When you turn the key there is a heater on the air intake and the oil filter. They come On @ 32 degree.
Old 01-14-2009, 07:44 AM
  #17  
Administrator
 
John_P's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Posts: 8,311
Likes: 0
Received 52 Likes on 50 Posts
Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Ok I am puzzeld,
I will plug in my truck at nite and in the morning at about 38 outside the temp needle is up a little but the wait to start light still comes on? I check to make sure I have power to the heater itself by unpluging it at the block heater and testing for current. I have heard that when your block heater is working your wait to start light will not come on.. any ideas thanks. also has anyone ever had to replace their block heater?

Scott
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scott, you asked about whether "anyone ever had to replace their block heater?" Yes,..... I have had to put two (2) of them in my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve since I bought it new.

--------
John_P
Old 01-14-2009, 07:58 AM
  #18  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LovinTheTorque's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Southern ,IN ( Louisville,KY)
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks.. ok checked my temp this morning yes it is warming up faster so it must be working...it was 17 degrees and I had heat after 5 minutes of idle time. Thanks to everyone jumping on here and helping me out.


Scott
Old 01-14-2009, 08:18 AM
  #19  
Registered User
 
BMH95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by John_P
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scott, you asked about whether "anyone ever had to replace their block heater?" Yes,..... I have had to put two (2) of them in my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve since I bought it new.

--------
John_P

I just put on in my '05 at about 96,000 miles. I'll snap a picture of the bad one some time soon, and then post it.
Old 01-14-2009, 11:11 AM
  #20  
Registered User
 
92'1stGen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Ok I am puzzeld,
I will plug in my truck at nite and in the morning at about 38 outside the temp needle is up a little but the wait to start light still comes on? I check to make sure I have power to the heater itself by unpluging it at the block heater and testing for current. I have heard that when your block heater is working your wait to start light will not come on.. any ideas thanks. also has anyone ever had to replace their block heater?

Scott
On 05's and all other previous Cummins model's, the grid heater's cycle and the wait to start light come on no matter whether it has been plugged in or not. Starting with the 06's, the grid heater's were reprogrammed to only cycle if the intake manifold temp get's below 55 degrees. That's why people with newer one's won't see the wait to start light in the summer or when the truck is plugged up.
Old 01-14-2009, 03:02 PM
  #21  
Registered User
 
johnh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: lyman, utah
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 0
Received 28 Likes on 26 Posts
Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Is there any tell tell signs that indicate the block heater is working? Any thoughts about the magnetic oil heaters?
before you start it, remove the radiator cap and stick your finger in ....should be warm
Old 01-14-2009, 03:10 PM
  #22  
Administrator
 
John_P's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Posts: 8,311
Likes: 0
Received 52 Likes on 50 Posts
Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Is there any tell tell signs that indicate the block heater is working? Any thoughts about the magnetic oil heaters?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve truck, when I plug the heater in to my extension cord in the garage, after about ten (10) seconds, I can hear the heater start up. It makes a real light hissing type noise. This may not be the case on the CR Trucks though. Hope this helps you some.

--------
John_P
Old 01-14-2009, 03:32 PM
  #23  
Registered User
 
Snopczynski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Ok I am puzzeld,
I will plug in my truck at nite and in the morning at about 38 outside the temp needle is up a little but the wait to start light still comes on? I check to make sure I have power to the heater itself by unpluging it at the block heater and testing for current. I have heard that when your block heater is working your wait to start light will not come on.. any ideas thanks. also has anyone ever had to replace their block heater?

Scott

I live in a similar climate temp wise right now. When my trucks not plugged in, 38 degrees out I get the light on when I turn the key on in the morning. If the truck is plugged in, the wait to start light does not come on.
Old 01-14-2009, 10:46 PM
  #24  
Registered User
 
EdmontonCanada's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Low Tech & High Tech Test

Originally Posted by LovinTheTorque
Is there any tell tell signs that indicate the block heater is working? Any thoughts about the magnetic oil heaters?
One of the easiest ways to tell your block heater is working is wait a few seconds and listen after plugging it in. You'll hear a sizzle after about 5 seconds. Of course it has to be a quiet environment to hear it. Mine makes that noise, as did other vehicles I owned with block heaters. The other way to test it is just use an ohm meter and measure the resistance at the two prongs of the plug. If resistance is negligable, you're good.
Old 01-14-2009, 10:51 PM
  #25  
Registered User
 
EdmontonCanada's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, I should add that I would expect that a block heater isn't enough to bring the entire engine up to a temperature where the glow plugs don't go on, which is what I assume the yellow "coil" light is. Typically the engine block heater looks like an oven element about the length of your thumb since the orfaces in the block that flow coolant are not huge.
Old 01-14-2009, 11:02 PM
  #26  
Registered User
 
2006BLKMegacab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bashaw Alberta
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
with my 06 being plugged in in a non heated shop at 15*F (-10*C) the intake heater wont come on before i start the truck, it will start to cycle on and off immediatly after startup but not before. the entire head on my truck is warm before i start it, the hoses and the rad are cold but the engine sure aint
Old 01-14-2009, 11:27 PM
  #27  
Registered User
 
EdmontonCanada's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is amazing, considering the size of a block heater, that such a small thing can generate this kind of heat. But then again, if sizzles in just a few seconds at even -40 deg C (like it was here a couple of weeks back) I can believe what you are saying. I suppose I should "lay hands" on my engine and check!

On these trucks there is the yellow coil light which is the glow plugs then there is of course the intake manifold grid air heater. The glow plugs only ever cycle once at cold enough temps on key ignition just for starting purposes. But the intake manifold grid heater cycles whenever required: I've been at a stop light or drive-through in severly cold weather and the engine temperature starts to drop...when this happens, the grid heater cycles a few times...but never when driving.

Are there any other heating functions?
Old 01-14-2009, 11:32 PM
  #28  
Registered User
 
2006BLKMegacab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bashaw Alberta
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
as weird as it sounds there is no glow plugs in these trucks just the intake heater. the little yellow coil light that comes on prior to start up is just warning you not to start it cuz the intake heater aint done runnin yet, and ya it will come back on after the temp starts droppin as long as the temp is low enuf and the speed is below 20 MPH
Old 01-15-2009, 01:02 AM
  #29  
Registered User
 
stickler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by EdmontonCanada
If resistance is negligable, you're good.
Sorry sir, but if resistance is negligable, it ain't workin! It should be in the range of 19-20 ohms for a 750W block heater. If you have a clip-on ammeter to read current draw, it should draw 6.25 amps.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rjm022
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
5
12-11-2019 09:17 PM
supersonictoys
3rd Gen Engine and Drivetrain -> 2003-2007
7
11-08-2008 09:17 PM
ratat98
24 Valve Engine and Drivetrain
3
12-08-2005 10:22 AM
Reelay
HELP!
5
12-01-2005 06:14 PM
EClancy
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
7
10-25-2005 04:20 PM



Quick Reply: Another block heater question



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:51 PM.