who has an engine block heater?

different_seasons · October 20, 2006

How often do you use it? I don't have one but may have one installed, any estimates on how much that would cost?

Thanks.

pwall · October 20, 2006

I have one in my truck....but have never used it.

It doesn't get that cold here in Eastern Ontario.....-35 during January. ;)

jwhjr · October 20, 2006

I've got one, but I've never used it (even here in MN) because it is parked in the garage overnight. Even when I've been up north for a weekend of sledding I've let it sit for the weekend and there have been no issues starting it up.

pwall · October 20, 2006

I have one in my truck....but have never used it.
It doesn't get that cold here in Eastern Ontario.....-35 during January. ;)

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I should mention though that one of the first things I did was to replace the 600CCA stock battery to a 1000CCA. After 4 winters, never any issue with starting. The first winter, there were a couple of times I didn't think the stock battery was going to start the truck.

flatlander · October 20, 2006

How often do you use it? I don't have one but may have one installed, any estimates on how much that would cost?

Thanks.

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Have used the factory installed block heater several times as it seems brutal to start the engine in sub-zero weather. The engine starts good without the heater but just put some 5-30 oil in your freezer and see how stiff it gets at zero degrees. Am not sure how much the block heater warms up the oil but having a warm block for the oil to flow through must help the oil flow. I am thinking the factory block heater has a special plug that does not allow current to flow until the temperature reaches zero. Can't imagine that installing one costs more than $150 but it is a messy job as the radiator and engine block must be drained first and some coolant would be lost in the process.

HotRodCarts · October 20, 2006

My truck has one but I never used it yet

dewfpo · October 20, 2006

I've got one on my 05 and I park it in an unheated garage. Even if it's in the -teens F outside, the garage still stays in the + single digits (if I used the truck every day, which I often don't), so the darn thermostat on the block heater plug doesn't kick in (0F).

I've considered modifying the plug so that it will come on when I want it to. On my 85 Ford (it has 2 factory block heaters), I use an HD outside timer in conjunction with a ThermoCude since the truck sits outside and doesn't have the thermostat nonsense in the cord. I've got the time set to come on 4 hours before I need to leave and it energizes the Thermo-Cube. If it's cold enough for the Thermo-cube to come on, then the dual block heaters come on, if it's not cold enough, the Thermo-Cube doesn't turn on the block heaters. Works sweat.

DEWFPO

naturalbornmudder · October 20, 2006

I have one in every vehicle I own. We use it up here pretty much from mid December through March. Durig January and February, we have week long stretches of -40F and -50F so a block heater is a necessity.

MS3DALE · October 21, 2006

I got one,I've ordered all my trucks with one.I used it alot up home in Southwest Pa. but probably will never need it down here in North Carolina.

dewfpo · October 21, 2006

I've got them in both my trucks, my diesel tractor, and one car. We will soon be replacing one vehicle with a Jeep and it will have a block heater in it as well.

DEWFPO

the blur · October 22, 2006

I have one. used it just once.

I have also NOT used it at -10 outside. truck started fine.

just takes a little while to warm up.

although the dealer did have to change my powersteering fluid to the cold climate version because the PS pump didn't like below zero.

it doesn't warm up the tranny, or the diffs, so you still have a cold truck.

although the tranny should warm up faster with the warm antifreeze.

different_seasons · October 22, 2006

My concern wasn't with it starting but just trying to reduce wear and tear. It does get pretty cold here in dear 'ol Maine. I'm going for an oil change wednesday and I'll see what they'll do. Thanks for the imput gentlemen.

GMCStepSide · October 23, 2006

Something to keep in mind is that the 2005 and newer GM trucks all come with a plug that won't allow the block heater to kick on until the outside temp is at zero or below. In their infinite wisdom, the engineers did it to due EPA issue with the engines thus you can plug it in at 5 degrees but it won't kick on until the temp drops below zero.

Yes, I agree that plugging in a truck when it's cold outside (below twenty degrees) helps to prolong engine life but the EPA and GM don't.

And, if you replace the plug with a plug that doesn't have the little thermostat in it, you run the risk of throwing codes. I cut the plug off on my 2005 and never had a problem but have heard from others that they did.

Go to http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...hl=block+heater and you can learn alot about the thermoplug. And yes, I'll be cutting it off my 2006 as well...simply use a timer that allows the block heater to work for 3 or 4 hours and not all night long, and all will be fine.

Trouttrooper · October 23, 2006

Go to http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...hl=block+heater and you can learn alot about the thermoplug. And yes, I'll be cutting it off my 2006 as well...simply use a timer that allows the block heater to work for 3 or 4 hours and not all night long, and all will be fine.

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Ah yes, I remember that discussion. I haven't removed the "tumor" on mine. I was kinda waiting to see if after a certain amount of time other people would start having the code throwing problem. Thank you for being my guinea pig

Do you think the key is not running it all night? I've always used timers on block heaters as well as you, just have them come on 2-3 hours before I plan on starting. I don't use my truck very much in the winter so I want to help the engine out as much as possible the few times I do use it. I just get leery about messing with the truck too much while it still has a warranty (first vehicle I've ever owned that even had a warranty, kinda a new thing for me

GMCStepSide · October 24, 2006

I'm no GM Engineer but I feel the key is not leaving it plugged in all night long. I haven't left it plugged in all night without the timer as I don't want to invite problems but it works fine with the timer and nothing more than 4 hours of juice to the block heater...all is still working fine.