Block and Battery Heater

[UKShooter]

I've noticed since the day I got the truck that there is a pad around the passenger side battery. I always assumed it was a heating pad but never paid any attention to it because I didn't need it. Recently I have started working in a colder region so I invested in a block heater cable because it didn't come with one. Now I'm wondering if the pad around my battery is a heating pad and if it is how do I plug it in or is it always plugged in?

[ZMANN]

it's likley just the OEM maxi pad no electronics.. just a
pad

[southend]

I suspect it is there to catch any battery leakage.

Sent from my phone that somebody didn't help me get.

[snafu!]

You have to be in extreme cold before you need battery blankets, a battery tender makes a huge difference on cold starts.

[shawnb99]

what temp on the low side does everyone start plugging in ???? i have tried several nights when it is in the 30's, and my truck fires better with out it ??? my cummins loved being plugged in, i would think with oil fired injectors, a little heat would be better

[snafu!]

Originally Posted by shawnb99

what temp on the low side does everyone start plugging in ???? i have tried several nights when it is in the 30's, and my truck fires better with out it ??? my cummins loved being plugged in, i would think with oil fired injectors, a little heat would be better

That's odd, I've never heard a truck not starting as well after plugged in. I usually don't plug my truck in until the 20 degrees, mine starts just fine with no stiction right around 20 to 10 degrees. Any colder and it will studer a little bit for a few seconds.

[dagmar72]

Originally Posted by shawnb99

what temp on the low side does everyone start plugging in ???? i have tried several nights when it is in the 30's, and my truck fires better with out it ??? my cummins loved being plugged in, i would think with oil fired injectors, a little heat would be better

i start at 40 degrees with the timer set to kick on one hour before i need to start. roughly i move up the timer one hour for every ten degrees it drops. most of the time i don't change it until we are regularly below 20 for a morning low, then i set it to three hours. figure if i can't afford 50 cents for the electricity to help the truck fire like a summer day, then i can't afford the fuel to drive it. alot of people complain about the 1000 watt heater spinning their meter. it's super easy to figure being 1000 watt heater, for every hour its on, it cost whatever you pay per kilowatt hour. my last bill was 18 cents per kilowatt hour. cheap and easy on the truck so it's a no brainer to me.