Leaving My Truck Plugged In For 10 Days?

[kelch420]

Hey guys just wondering if leaving my block heater plugged in for 10 days straight is ok? I am going on vacation and I live in Calgary where it is -25 right now. Also should I have someone start it up once everyday too?

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Are you planning on driving it right away after you get home or could you just plug it in when you get home for a few hours? No sense in wasting power, these things are 1000-1500 watt block heaters! I'm assuming this is a Diesel? If so, put some seafoam in the gas tank. It's a great fuel stabilizer and will help keep things from gelling up. Yes, it IS ok to use Seafoam in the tanks on Diesels! No need to have someone start the thing everyday, it should be fine until you get home. May want to disconnect the battery cables if you think it'll stay cold that entire time, perhaps even move the battery into a warm area.

[07Graystone]

What about putting it on a timer - so it comes on 1or 2 days before your return? Just a thought.

[salden77]

+1 on the timer idea but i would def. put something in the tank such as sea foam, diesel 911 to make sure the fuel doesnt gel up on you.

[kelch420]

What about putting it on a timer - so it comes on 1or 2 days before your return? Just a thought.

 

It is not a diesel, so should I just plug it in for a night when I get back? Maybe take out the battery while I'm gone?

[Crazy Canuck]

Hey guys just wondering if leaving my block heater plugged in for 10 days straight is ok? I am going on vacation and I live in Calgary where it is -25 right now. Also should I have someone start it up once everyday too?

 

It is not a problem to keep it plugged in for ten days, but as the previous poster mentioned, it is a huge waste of money. Unless you are going to drive it right away, you can plug it in when you get home, if not, get the person who was going to start it everyday to just come once the night before you return and plug it in. Having them start it everyday is a waste of time and money. In all honesty, if it was me, I wouldn't worry about it at all unless it was a deisel. I have never plugged my truck in and it went down to -40C here a couple of times last year. No problems at all.

[Digger3]

I wouldn't worry about plugging it in while your gone. By the time you get back the mercury is supposed to climb to 0C. Personally, I never plug mine in until it drops below 20C, & that's usually only for a couple hours before I leave in the AM.

[salden77]

my bad i thought it was a diesel truck maybe put some gasoline anti freeze in your tank then fill it up, i wouldnt worry bout it til you get home either, i wouldnt recommend it, what if something something shorted out on the block heater and the breaker doesnt trip? then you have a fire and prob. no truck at all when you get home i would leave it unplugged.

[P71_CrownVic]

Hey guys just wondering if leaving my block heater plugged in for 10 days straight is ok? I am going on vacation and I live in Calgary where it is -25 right now. Also should I have someone start it up once everyday too?

 

DON'T DO IT!

 

We almost had a GMC Sierra start on fire last year (and it was close to the house...) due to an engine block heater (no fault of the Sierra though...just the cord).

 

I agree with the others that if you are not needing the truck right away when you return, just plug it in when you get back.

[c4cruiser]

I would get a good battery maintainer and plug that in. That way you won't have to have somebody start the truck everyday. As long as the temps don't drop a bunch below the level of the protection the coolant provides, you should be fine. When you get back, plug the block heater in a couple hours before starting it and driving.

[rodram]

... it's a 2007... gas engine and fairly new, so I assume the coolant and battery are in good condition

SOOOOO

... go on your holiday/vacation and don't worry about your truck

 

... when you get home plug it in overnight if you want ... or 2 hours should be OK if it is below -20*C ... warmer than that and it should be good to go right away ... my truck is 10 years older than that and I never worry about doing anything more than what I just suggested

[salden77]

those block heater cord ends go bad all the time. not just on gm trucks either, my buddies dodge cummins cord end blew up right when he plugged it in the other day, it actually shot sparks and blew a hole through the cord end.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

If it's an 07, I would use caution with the battery, probably best to take it out and put it in a warm area. Sounds like your in an area that gets cold frequently, which just kills the battery life. I have to get a new battery every 3-4 years here in Colorado and we don't get as cold as it does up in Calgary.

[kelch420]

Great information guys, thanks a lot for the help. I will unplug the battery, bring it inside for the time away and just plug it in when I get back.

[lostnfound]

I would just plug it when you get back, or have a buddy plug it in for you the day before your due back. I would never leave it plugged in for 10 days.