block heater
02-16-2004 | 07:44 AM
#1
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From: Horicon, WI
block heater
I finally got the cord for my block heater. My question is how warm should the truck temperature guage be upon start up if the truck is plugged in all night ? Last night the truck was in the garage, temperature was about 4 below, when I started it up the temp guage was just off the pin at the 140 minimum temp line. Is that normal ? I have a winter front covering 3 of the 4 grill openings and the truck temperature just made it into the normal range after driving 20 miles to work. IS this normal ? Also the manual says to idle down before shutting the truck off to prevent the turbo from overheating. Is this necessary in winter ?
02-16-2004 | 08:38 AM
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From: Sturbridge, Taxachusetts
That's dependent on how long it's plugged it. On a timer, with a few hours each night, you will see little to no needle deflection. However, a few hours on the heater makes a major difference on how long the Wait-To-Start light stays on. I imagine in a protected area, and running all night, you would see a small needle deflection. I typically do 3-4 hours when the temps dip to zero and below.
02-16-2004 | 08:54 AM
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From: Ft Hood Texas
The block heater only heats the water around the cylinders and not the radiator or heater core and is to help start the engine when it's cold outside. You will not see a difference in the water gauge. Mine is on a timer and is on for 4-5 hours. And, yes, it takes a long time for the diesel to come up to normal operating temps..
Turbo Spin/Cool down is for coming off a highway and immediately pulling into a gas station... Just let it idle down for 2-3 minutes. Look in your owners manual, it'll state the procedure. Some guys install a cool-down timer, but they are doing alot of heavy towing.
Turbo Spin/Cool down is for coming off a highway and immediately pulling into a gas station... Just let it idle down for 2-3 minutes. Look in your owners manual, it'll state the procedure. Some guys install a cool-down timer, but they are doing alot of heavy towing.
02-16-2004 | 09:06 AM
#4
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Ditto. 3 hours on a timer. No needle deflection. Idling with exhaust brake. I have warm air blowing from the heater within 2 minutes. The exhaust brake releases at 150 F, that takes about 5 minutes idling in sub-zero temperatures. If left unplugged the truck jumps immediately to high idle, even with the exhaust brake on. Plugged in there is no high idle at start up. I think 3 hours is plenty. I also run a 1500 watt portable heater in the cab (parked outside) on a seperate circuit for a couple of hours. At 15-25 below zero that defrosts the windows and knocks the "chill" off during the first few miles.
02-16-2004 | 01:23 PM
#5
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From: Sturbridge, Taxachusetts
Here's a thought: If you pulled into the garage in the evening hot, then immediately plugged in, you might have fairly warm water the next morning. But IMO you're only trying to raise the block temp to improve start-ability, and a few hours on the average will do it.
02-17-2004 | 10:56 AM
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Immersion Heater Operation
Typical immersion heaters (block heater) will warm the coolant in the immediate vicinity of the element to 200*F. Since internal flow is generated by convection currents (warm coolant rises) it takes some time for the heater to cause any indication on the temp gauge not that temp gauges are all that accurate if you use the factory gauges. I saw one post talking about immediately plugging in the heater after engine shut down. There can be a problem with that practice. If the coolant is really hot, there is a process called afterboil where the coolant in the block can actually begin to boil when there is no flow. This will cause heater element burnout due to the combined heat from the element plus afterboil heat. Wait a while before plugging in or have the heater on a timer.
Here is a good heater troubleshooting website. The heaters pictured for the most part are larger tank type heaters found in larger Cummins Industrial engines BUT the same failures occur with the small 1000 watt immersion heaters.
http://www.kimhotstart.com/hig.pdf
Here is a good heater troubleshooting website. The heaters pictured for the most part are larger tank type heaters found in larger Cummins Industrial engines BUT the same failures occur with the small 1000 watt immersion heaters.
http://www.kimhotstart.com/hig.pdf
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02-22-2004 | 12:58 PM
#8
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Not the most reputable source of parts. but, take a look at JC Whitney's web site. you can at least see the MANY different types of block heaters there actually are, you'll be suprised how much more effective some of them are can be.
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