circulating block heater

[7.3TurboDiesel]

Has anyone used a circulating block heater to quicken the time it takes to heat the coolaint on a svo system?

[hheynow]

In summer it's a waste of electricity because our trucks warm up hot enough in a couple of miles to switch to WVO, but sure it will help. Winter is another story. I always use the block heater at night with a 20 amp grounded timer. Four hours is enough. It goes on at 2 am and off at 6 am. But I also use a winter front to cover 90% of my grille.

[Clay Henry]

Originally Posted by hheynow

In summer it's a waste of electricity because our trucks warm up hot enough in a couple of miles to switch to WVO, but sure it will help. Winter is another story. I always use the block heater at night with a 20 amp grounded timer. Four hours is enough. It goes on at 2 am and off at 6 am. But I also use a winter front to cover 90% of my grille.

yep, i

[Motown Fire]

Originally Posted by hheynow

In summer it's a waste of electricity because our trucks warm up hot enough in a couple of miles to switch to WVO, but sure it will help. Winter is another story. I always use the block heater at night with a 20 amp grounded timer. Four hours is enough. It goes on at 2 am and off at 6 am. But I also use a winter front to cover 90% of my grille.

Where do you live and how cold does it get that you need to use a grille cover???

[Clay Henry]

i use a grill cover in OK as well, it does get to 20 degrees or less a few weeks durring winter. The grill cover works well.

[hheynow]

Originally Posted by Motown Fire

Where do you live and how cold does it get that you need to use a grille cover???

Not in Texas
Winter lows are ~20*F
It's a matter of wanting a 7.3L to heat up as fast as possible to switch to WVO.
It still takes three times as far to drive to switch in winter than summer.
My winter front is homemade. You guys will
I cram strips of foam pipe insulation in the gaps of my grille leaving 20% open.

[AFBLUE]

The truck block heater should be all you need, it heats the oil and the coolant convection moves the heat around inside the block. I had a heater hose sized heater on my old truck and it was really more trouble than its worth.

One thing to remember also is it doesnt do you any good to have hot coolant if the block itself isnt hot. Because the final heating of the WVO is done in the heads. So the truck needs to be drivin at least 1-2 miles so the cylinders can heat up and burn correctly.

On the other hand, Southern Texas has been so hot right now, if I am not shutting down for more than 3 hours, I dont switch back to Bio. The water temp is still well over 150 seeing as its about 105 outside right about now. 203 stat seems to be helping retain some extra heat for me.

[hheynow]

Originally Posted by AFBLUE

One thing to remember also is it doesnt do you any good to have hot coolant if the block itself isnt hot. Because the final heating of the WVO is done in the heads. So the truck needs to be drivin at least 1-2 miles so the cylinders can heat up and burn correctly.

Good point!

Originally Posted by AFBLUE

On the other hand, Southern Texas has been so hot right now, if I am not shutting down for more than 3 hours, I dont switch back to Bio. The water temp is still well over 150 seeing as its about 105 outside right about now. 203 stat seems to be helping retain some extra heat for me.

Gosh I love global warming. We have similar heat spells here.