For the average electric customer, it's about $.09 per hour to run.

 

The reason for using a timer is not to save money IMO. The block heater is a heating element, just like a toaster coil only bigger. After X number of hours, it will burn out. I have found that even on the coldest days, I do not get any added benefit in plugging in over 4 hours. By using the timer set to 3-4 hours, I am extending the life of the element. On the other hand, I would not even consider not using it when the temp is below 20. The truck and I are much happier after being plugged in.

 

How many watts is the coil in the heater on my 99? The only one that I'm familiar with are the coolant heaters on the John Deere's which are 13-1500 watts.

I'm thinking this one is about 1000 watts, see if you follow my logic here: If you run mine for 1 hour, that's one kilowatt hour, right? If my electric bill last month was $34 for 396 KWH last month, that makes it 8.5 cents per KWH. That sound about right? So plugging in at night on a 2 hour timer would be 19 cents? That ain't bad for making the engine not sound like a pullin' tractor starting up in the morning.

brandon.

 

If I remember right the CTD block heater is rated at 750 walts

 

Last year it stayed plugged in all winter,this year my outside plugs on the house quit working so I have put it off fixing them,but she starts right up.I finally fixed the outlets and it sounds much nicer on startup

Funny,my buddys new Duramax hates the cold,he had to put a charger on the batteries,he refuses to plug it in because he thinks it is a new truck he shouldn't have to.
He is afraid his electric bill will go up..I just shake my head in disbelief

 

35-40 grand for a truck and worried about a few cents on the electric bill? You're right, that's strange!

 

Hey, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the sound of the 2nd gens! I wish mine wasn't so quiet! -Steve

 

Steve:

Just blowing you some friendly grief!

Matt

 

He is different,he asks for your advise,and I advised him that I would buy a Cummins,and he goes out and gets the Dmax because he gets the GM discount and he saved a wopping $46 when it was said and done,and it is a stripped down Chevy against an almost loaded Dodge.He is different

 

Thanks! I figured it wasn't the full 1500w because I didn't ever hear the sounds of water heating in the block when it's plugged in like I'm used to with the tractors.

brandon.

 

interesting....I thought I had a post in here.

 

Yep, the one I just put in my sons truck said 750 watts right on it for sure.

 

I leave mine plugged in whe I work under the hood. It's nice not having cold steel sucking the heat out of you. When it's plugged in awhile, I'm sure the residual heat gets to the oil, those snow flakes are gone in a blink when they touch the valve covers. Another thing to consider, is it's probably not the best for the battery to get drained frequently, and it's quite a load for the starter when it's that cold. Syntheic oil will help it turn over easier. I wouldn't woory about wear on the block heater, how often do you change the element on your water heater? It's probably a lot of strain for the grid heaters to cycle frequently though. You could get by a bit without the block heater, but when the grid heaters go out, it'll make life a bit rougher.

 

I just got an oil pan heater from Wolverine.
http://www.wolverine-engine-oil-heaters.com/

The folks are real knowledgeable. The product is easy to install, and will heat your oil to over 100 degrees. I asked one of the owners specifically about burning the oil, and he new exactly how much heat per square inch it would take to burn the oil, and they designed theirs to be well away from that amount.

I like it because you do not have the problem of wear due to thermal shock from the cold oil. Like the guy said a block heater is nice for the driver... starts easier, and heats up the cab quicker, but it does not do much for the engine.

From now on all my trucks, gas or diesel will get one.

Jay

ps. The one I got will heat over 20 quarts of oil, and is only 500 watts. Still below a block heater which you could use in conjuction if you were so inclined.

 

Redleg -- I've got that magnetic heater you saw in Tractor Supply. 200 watts and I stick it to the bottom of the pan on cold nights. Works very well, especially with the synthetic I run -- yeah, I know it's overkill, but . . . .

I've got under-the-hood ambient air gauges around the filter & turbo -- at about 15*F with the block heater and the magnetic heater running all night, the ambient underhood air up near the air filter is 54*F. No problem starting, obviously, and the grid heaters don't cycle very long at all.