Block heater?

[Buffs F-350]

My 06 did not come with a block heater. With the winter comming up and fuel prices so high I want to install one so I dont waste so much fuel on start up. Does any body have any info on the install I was told I will loose some colant when installing so I may do a bypass at the same time. Will I need to bleed air out of the system any info would be helpful thanks.

 

[pete37922]

i ordered my truck...so i made sure i got the block heater also !!!

 

[bushpilot]

are you SURE theres no heater ???

All the trucks were built w/ the HEATING ELEMENT installed
but after 2004 the cord was an OPTION.

FDDTS - 6.0L Block Heater Cord Location and Routing

FWIW the block heater element replaces a freeze plug. Installing
a coolant by-pass filter would NOT prevent you from loosing
coolant.

you should install a coolant by-pass filter....its cheap insrance
and its an EASY install (45min @ the most to install).

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=324


fwiw a block heater wont reduce the amount of fuel
used to start the truck, it will SLIGHTLY reduce warm up time, its
main purpose is to reduce the amount of CRANKING required &
to help prevent the fuel from gel conditions...although gel-ing can
and often does occur BEFORE fuel reaches the engine.

Engine Block Heater

 

[groundhawg]

Your truck has the block heater, it might not have the cord, but it does have the heater.

Check behind the bumper on the passenger side just to make sure it isn't hidden.

If it still isn't there, you can buy the OEM cord one at Ford for about $50-70. It has the plastic convoluted sheath and the plastic holders that push into the existing frame holes.

For cheaper option, I bought my cord on eBay, total of about $27. I put the plastic sheath on it myself and tied it to the frame with zip ties. After I bought it, I saw in the local farm store a complete block heater setup, with the same exact cord, for just under $20.

Eitherway will work equally well, just a matter of what you want to spend.

 

[rathbone]

I just went out and found mine. It was located right behind the Right (passenger side) fog light. At what temp. should I start plugging in in over night? And my truck was purchased in Florida so I really didn't think it had one.

 

[DaveBen]

They all have block heater, just some don't have the cord to plug it in. I would guess that you should plug it in if it gets in the 20's or teens.

Dave

 

[Buffs F-350]

I am going to look and see if the element is there but I know there in no cord . It was suposed to have one but the dealer "forgot" to tell me it was an option for 06. In warm wheather I get around 400mi to 3/4 tank in the winter it goes down to 325-350 and under 20deg I have to let it run for about 5min before driving the high idle is whats killing my fuel mialage I figure a little extra help in warm up wont hurt. Thanks for the info Bush it will help in the install and I know the bypass wont keep it from losing collant I just figured if im going to do the element and lose some I would do it all at once.

 

[kenholl]

Your truck has the block heater, it might not have the cord, but it does have the heater.

Check behind the bumper on the passenger side just to make sure it isn't hidden.

GREAT info! I found my plug behind the right fog-light, right where a couple of you said. I had no idea it was there. Thanks for the great post!

 

[bushpilot]

I am going to look and see if the element is there but I know there in no cord . It was suposed to have one but the dealer "forgot" to tell me it was an option for 06. In warm wheather I get around 400mi to 3/4 tank in the winter it goes down to 325-350 and under 20deg I have to let it run for about 5min before driving the high idle is whats killing my fuel mialage I figure a little extra help in warm up wont hurt. Thanks for the info Bush it will help in the install and I know the bypass wont keep it from losing collant I just figured if im going to do the element and lose some I would do it all at once.

if you dont have the heating element you'd be quite unique...and you'd be
the 1st ive EVER heard that didnt have the heater in the block.

as for your reduced mpg...winter blend fuel is largely to blame for
this...winterized diesel is forumulated to reduce gel-ing....you WILL
see a reduction in mpg during winter months.

the heating ELEMENT cord was an option beginning in 05.

in 2004 the cord was included on trucks delivered & sold in certain "cold"
states...i bought my truck in virginia...which by ford's definition is not
a "cold" state...just the same my truck had the cord....so who knows...

the block heater cord option is nothing more than the bean counters
pinching pennies & trying to reduce production costs...penny wise pound
foolish as they say...the same thinking caused the demise of: hood
insulation/blanket, door marker/courtesy lights, glove box LIGHT, glove
box lock and fender liners.

 

[bushpilot]

forgot to mention...

the block heater draws about 1100 WATTS...and it really doesnt need
to run all night (disclaimer...depending on where you live)...most find that
turning "on" the heater 3 hrs before they expect to start the truck is
sufficient.

I personally found that w/out the heater even in the mid to low 20s (f) my
truck started fine

consider putting the heater on a HEAVY DUTY Timer... i used an
INTERMATIC 7day timer (rated at 1500 watts)...I set it up
to turn on the block heater monday - friday before i left for work
and then have different program settings for the weekend.

the Timer is available at lowes etc.

for those in EXTREAMLY cold climates you might wanna consider the
addition of a oil pan heater (i would expect this to be needed only by
those in the great white north)...

Engine oil pan heaters & battery warmers. Designed for cars & diesel engines

some might be interested in this thermostatically controlled outlet...
although i'd prefer the temp. to be LOWER (than 35*) before the outlet
turned on.

Heater-Stat OUTLET automatically controls a block heater based on ambient temperature.