Oil vs Block Heater

[ejg3855]

So in my quest to be nice to the truck during the winter months (silly texans thing 30F is cold) I have been using the block heater and it makes starting much smoother. Not needed but I feel better for the truck when I use it.

Now my problem is that the block heater is 1000w, considering it could be on for 4-5hrs at a time overnight with a timer thats a good chunk of juice to be drawing daily.

Thats about 4-5Kwh a day at an assumed cost of $5/mth. Now don't get me wrong this is clearly not the problem My thoughts are more running a extra 12v battery and an invertor to power the system and at 1000w a battery will last about 75Ah or 900Wh which will power my block heater for a good solid 45mins before it is dead.

Oil pan heaters use a fraction of that power, found a few at 60w. Obvioulsy this is will result in much less energy being put into the truck thus the heat associated with this energy won't be the same. At 60w the battery to invertor setup can run for 15hrs.

What I am wondering is it more efficient to heat the oil rather than the coolant? Is it better for the truck for the oil to be warm vs oil ?

[Term3]

I use both but I just set the timer for two hours before I need my truck.


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[ejg3855]

Yea my main thought was being able to use it at work etc. just have it run off a battery while at work (not the truck batteries) then I could switch a charging system from the truck once it was started and running.

[Term3]

This was talked about on one of the PS forums but I don't recall what the end solution was.


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[PGreenSVT]

At 30* you don't need to worry about a block heater. I don't use mine until it goes down into the teens.

[kcoyner]

I use my block heater year round here in VA. I mean if I can start my truck closer to operating temps, why not? I'm thinking it has to be better for the truck. I know it's costing something but I honestly can't tell any difference in my electric bill. (Probably because my wife never learned how to turn out a light!!!)

k

[JasonY]

I wouldnt even notice an extra 5 bucks on my power bill.

I run it all the time in the winter overnight on a timer, kicks on at 3am and kicks off at 9am. Im usually in the truck around 6am and ECT/EOT are around 100*

Jason

[g2shuck]

Originally Posted by JasonY

I wouldnt even notice an extra 5 bucks on my power bill.

I run it all the time in the winter overnight on a timer, kicks on at 3am and kicks off at 9am. Im usually in the truck around 6am and ECT/EOT are around 100*

Jason

same setup i use

[ejg3855]

Oh I know I don't need it.

$5 doesn't worry me either.

My main thought was when it gets cold sub 20 here for days and I park at work with no powar, what are peoples thoughts on how much just an oil heater would do?

[kcoyner]

My main thought was when it gets cold sub 20 here for days and I park at work with no powar, what are peoples thoughts on how much just an oil heater would do?

I'm a little confused. What is this oil heater and how does it work and/or what energy source is required for it to work.

k