Block Heater ?'s

sahls01gmc · February 2, 2013

I have a couple of questions about my block heater. 01 GMC SIERRA 2500 (non HD) 4x4 w/6.0L. When I plug in the heater, I notice a clicking and popping sound. Upon further inspection, I am about 90% sure that it is the thermostat. I say that because when I squeeze the lower radiator hose going into it, I can make the thermostat make a similar sound, but in a rythym according to my squeezing. The sound is similar to welding. Any ideas why it is doing that? Is that an electrical issue, or is it associated with the heat moving?

I've owned the truck for 7 years, and just now decided to plug in the block heater for the first time. I just want to make sure that everything is functioning normally.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

James

dewfpo · February 2, 2013

It's functioning normally. It's the expansion of the block heater itself, not the thermostat that makes those noises. Perfectly normal.

DEWFPO

sahls01gmc · February 3, 2013

Thanks for the reply. I am in no way questioning your advice, but how come I could get the "noise" to be in rythym with me squeezing the coolant hose? When I put my hand on the thermostat, I swear I could feel it. Now I can fully admit that may be how I rationalized it in my head, just to say I figured out what the noise was. I guess it is possible to have the noise be altered by me moving coolant because that would limit the expansion of the heater as it would be colder than just standing still.

I should have probable started using this more often. With over 250,000 on the clock, it's starting to not like waking up in the cold mornings. All original though, so I can't complain.

Thanks again DEWFPO!

dewfpo · February 3, 2013

The heating element gets hot pretty fast, which is what all the popping sounds are. Expansion of the plug and the bubbling of the coolant immediately around the heating coil. When you squeeze the hose you are moving the coolant around just enough to move the coolant around a bit around the heating coil causing the sounds to vary a bit. Perfectly normal.

DEWFPO