plug in electric motor heater

bags · October 20, 2016

When is it time to plug in the truck motor heater? Being a Texas boy I do not know anything about heating a diesel engine. What temp do I need to plug in? Over nite temps are supposed to be in low 20s here tonight and we are leaving tomorrow morning. Batteries are at 12.4v in the morning.

Thanks

JB

hone eagle · October 20, 2016

This canadian boy plugs in his equipment around there,not so much to guarantee a start but purely for the comfort of quick heat.

Never overnight ,just 3-4 hours before using a timer.

beyerjf · October 20, 2016

Plug it in anytime. Even at 70 degrees the engine thinks it is cold, given that normal operating temps are 190. The one thing to remember is never run the engine with the plug in heater energized. The movement of the coolant creates bubbles and will melt the element quickly, requiring replacement. Kind of like turning on an electric water heater that has been drained.

RickW · October 20, 2016

Hopefully you are headed to warmer temps!

With properly working glow plugs you would be surprised at how cold it can get and still start the truck. My old Superduty would start in lower single digits temps with out problems. The Hotel I was at would not let me plug in fearing the ext. cord would be a trip hazard. Needless to say I woke a few other guest at 4am as the truck warmed up.

As stated it should only need a couple of hours. If you know when you are going to leave, a timer works great. I use to use one all the time when I did not work from home. Basically I was willing to pay for the electricity to heat the motor as it was like getting into a pre-warmed vehicle on cold mornings. Now when I was on call for the Fire Department I would plug the truck in typically when temps would hit the mid 40s and lower at night. It was not needed/required but at least the motor was warmer as I would not have time to get it warmed up some before going. It was also not usual if I forgot that I had plugged it in the night before it would remain plugged in. Even if afternoon temps got in to the 60s or 70s. The only thing it was hurting by remaining plugged in was my electric bill!

My Volvo does not have a block heater or even glow plugs. It was a southern truck. I have started it with any issues or use of starting aids in temps as low as the upper 20's with out issues. It may run a little rough for the first 5 to 10 seconds but then settles out. Once it does just kick on the high idle and give it time to circulate the fluids and warm them up.

Alie&Jim's Carrilite · October 20, 2016

We don't have a working block heater on our truck. Heater element is there but the cord is damaged.

So far I haven't had any starting issues in cold weather. Last winter we were in 20* weather for extended times, and so far this year we are in Bismarck ND where we are seeing low 30's and high 20's at night right now. Truck starts fine. I'll high idle it for 3-4 minutes for air to build anyway. Turning on the sleeper heater along with the dash heat warms the truck quickly. There is warm air blowing before the temp needle moves on the gauge.