block heater info...

[rusty richard]

Hey all, at 20* how warm should the block heater in an 03 7.3 get the engine. Basically, should the factory temp gauge show some movement...

[bigcountrysg]

My factory temp gauge never moves doesn't matter at what temp it is outside.

The block heater keeps the engine warm but not warm enough to make the temp gauge register it.

Also the block heater is it's own circuit. It has a heating element that is hooked to a cord that runs to the front of the truck.

There is no fuse for the block heater. If it stops working then it is either cord or the heating element.

[rusty richard]

Thanks for the quick response, I thought it was a stand alone system but was told it could have been the reason Im having battery issues during cold startups. Again, thanks for the help

[icysmooth]

Originally Posted by rusty richard

Hey all, at 20* how warm should the block heater in an 03 7.3 get the engine. Basically, should the factory temp gauge show some movement...

If I plug mine in overnight it will almost come up to the middle of the cold mark on factory gauge.I have an average of 15-20* mornings.
I can tell it's working after about an hour or so because if I stand beside it I can hear a quiet boiling noise from driver's side.
But if I don't plug it in,my batteries drag along on first cold fire up too.

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by rusty richard

Thanks for the quick response, I thought it was a stand alone system but was told it could have been the reason Im having battery issues during cold startups. Again, thanks for the help

What is the amperage on your batteries?

[Zaairman]

If I leave mine plugged in all night, it'll move the needle. How much it moves depends on how warm it is outside...

[rusty richard]

batteries are twin motorcraft max life 875CCA and are about 2 years old. I bought this truck about 4 weeks ago and had no issues starting it in cold weather (illinois) until I left it parked at a hotel for a week while I was out of town. When I returned the batteries were drained not totally but too week to start the truck. I looked for any obvious drains but found nothing. But since then I have had to put a charger or jumper pack on batteries to start it when its cold. I even charged them overnight with a 2amp charge but that only worked that morning with no change the following morning. I'm thinking battery time.

[Mike Hickman]

I live in Texas it was 28 one morning so I pluged mine it for awhile and the truck started up worse that it did without being pluged in. The engine sounded like hell , did this three times and have yet to plug it in again ...Sounded real bad.

[HVAC SuperTech]

when I plug mine in, the temp guage goes up a little over halfway on the "C" on the temp scale. I can feel warm air within minutes of a startup on a cold morning.

get your batts tested first, then check the alternator.

[vince harding]

Not to sure but probably only around 100 other wise if it was that hot the thermostat would open instantly and it doesnt