Block heater question

[adavis11]

I have a 99 7.3. I was just wondering at what temp should I plug my truck in and for how long. I am running rotalla t-6 syn and have had no problems starting it yet. If I dont plug in the block heater is it hard on my motor?

[Bill Kay]

Don't use it till you need it. I have started my truck at 16 deg. on regular dino oil and have never used the block heater but I live in GA. Some say your engine will get "addicted" to the block heater if you use it when it don't need it.

[SyN]

Anytime the outside temp is 0*F or below... I plug mine in... I use a battery operated digital timer... It is set to come on for 3 1/2 hours... and go off just before I leave for work in the morning....

I sometimes plug it in when temps are around 20*F to 30*F just to have the warm air blowing through the vents first thing...

Some owners don't use a timer and leave the trucks plugged in all night.... That wastes alot of electricity.... Wait till you get your electric bill... Buy a 30amp timer and save yourself alot of $ in the long run.... If the temps are ridiculousy cold---> -10*F to -20*F 3 hours is enough time to heat your coolant... If that cold or colder... Ya might be best for longer then 3 hours.... I don't know I never see them temps... Thank goodness...

I'm not going to say it's hard on your motor by not plugging it in... But when you do plug it in... It starts much faster and you don't have to wait for warm air to heat the cab...

[JEL]

Originally Posted by Bill Kay

Don't use it till you need it. I have started my truck at 16 deg. on regular dino oil and have never used the block heater but I live in GA. Some say your engine will get "addicted" to the block heater if you use it when it don't need it.

Never heard of a diesel getting "addicted" to the block heater, ether yes, but never the block heater.

[Term3]

It gets to -35 C in the winter here and my block heater comes on four hours before I leave for work. I also have an oil pan heater. Any longer then that and you're just throwing money away.

[C.Gift]

I think that Ford literature says 2 or 3 hours before you're planning to use it in below -20. Don't quote me on that though. The more important thing is giving it some idle time before you head out with it.

Hope that helps!

[Bill Kay]

Originally Posted by JEL

Never heard of a diesel getting "addicted" to the block heater, ether yes, but never the block heater.

Yeah, The more I thought about it the more it didn't make sence to me either. If I was guessing, the problem was probably injectors going bad which would keep it from starting while cold. If I recall correctly the conversation with the guy started with it smoking white smoke when cold and his mechanic told him to plug it in to keep that from happening, then after a while it would no longer start without plugging it in.

[adavis11]

Thanks for all the input!

[SuperCrutyPS]

When it gets cold(er), you might want to add an anti-gel additive to your fuel tank. DieselKleen in the white bottle is one. It is available at Walmart.

[C.Gift]

Originally Posted by SuperCrutyPS

When it gets cold(er), you might want to add an anti-gel additive to your fuel tank. DieselKleen in the white bottle is one. It is available at Walmart.

Agreed, I run Power Services' 'Diesel Fuel Supplement plus CetaneBoost' year round, and the few times the truck's been in below zero conditions, it hasn't had any gelling/waxing issues.