Help Needed How to use the block heater

cpadolf3

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I'm considering 20-30 cold, only because I'm on stock glow plugs and injectors. I'm sure a newer truck or engine with newer plugs and injectors wouldn't have a hard time without a block heater

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snicklas

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For me, once it gets below freezing, I plug it in and leave it plugged in. It's plugged in right now..... most will say this will run up your power bill. For me, where I live, the local power company supplies us with only the highest quality, polished electrons, and charges accordingly. I've not seen my power bill raise, but I am happy when my power bill is below 300 dollars, and I have a gas water heater and furnace. The biggest decrease in bill I've seen, is when I switched from the electric cooking stove to a gas one......

Mine plugged in 24/7 in the winter, I don't see a noticeable increase in my bill......
 

BIG JOE

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What would be considered cold enough to need this? I doubt I'll need one in CA. More of a curiosity question.

Depends on Where in Ca. I'm in the Central Valley.. If it's guna be 20 to 30*, I plug mine in.. Only if I know I'm guna need it in the early AM.

I'm considering 20-30 cold, only because I'm on stock glow plugs and injectors. I'm sure a newer truck or engine with newer plugs and injectors wouldn't have a hard time without a block heater

Same as above ? But... IMO.. it's all about How Long it sets between uses. Example: If it sets for acouple'a days/nights/weeks.. the "Cold Soaking" effect needs to be considered. Acouple'a hours maybe won't get it.

It's a "judgement call" kinda thing.. based on Real Time local temps.. where you live ?

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For me, once it gets below freezing, I plug it in and leave it plugged in. It's plugged in right now..... most will say this will run up your power bill. For me, where I live, the local power company supplies us with only the highest quality, polished electrons, and charges accordingly. I've not seen my power bill raise, but I am happy when my power bill is below 300 dollars, and I have a gas water heater and furnace. The biggest decrease in bill I've seen, is when I switched from the electric cooking stove to a gas one......

Mine plugged in 24/7 in the winter, I don't see a noticeable increase in my bill......

snicklas comes under a whole different set of Rules & Needs ? :cold 4:cold2
 

WD40

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Be sure you unplug it before you drive off. I don't plug mine in tell it's down in the mid to low 20 for
3 or 4 hours here. It's 27 here now and should get down to 26 for a low tonight. As of now I don't
plan on starting my truck before 1 AM on Friday.
Doug
 

01yellerCobra

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Depends on Where in Ca. I'm in the Central Valley.. If it's guna be 20 to 30*, I plug mine in.. Only if I know I'm guna need it in the early AM.

We've been getting down to the mid 40's. Maybe a little colder in the dead of night. Does the indicator for waiting for the glow plugs come on for you at those temps?
 

BIG JOE

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We've been getting down to the mid 40's. Maybe a little colder in the dead of night. Does the indicator for waiting for the glow plugs come on for you at those temps?

Yes. Yours should too. (?)

The WTS light should [always] cycle @ the first start of the day.. or anytime the engine has been shut down long enough to cool down to where the ECM/PCM senses the need for Glow Plug/Cylinder head heat. (ULSC Diesel)(sadly)

Here in CENCAL, I don't plug mine in unless I know it's going to be less than 30*... and I'm guna need my truck in those lower temps, say, in the morning.

My truck sets outside.. subject to the ambient temps. We've had temps lately in the mid to high 20s, it fire's right up on just the GP's.

Joe.
 

john griffin

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I never have used mine untill it gets down around freezing. My reason for useing it is the reduced load on the starter and batts.Now it does get cold up here,we have gone a week with temps never getting above zero,but when its that cold I just pull it into the heated shop.If you have a heavy frost or a light 1" of snow you will see melted spots where the defrost vents are.
 

RSG

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If I can't get it plugged in for some reason, and temps below 15F or so...I shut down all power hogs like the fan, the radio, the headlights...and cycle the ignition two or three times at least, waiting for the WTS to go off each time. The GPR is really still active, but I figure it's providing some more heat into the fuel bowl and into those frozen 15-year-old stock injectors and the 3-year-old batteries thank me.

Does it really make a diff? I dunno, but I feel better for thinking so :goodjob
 

BIG JOE

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If I can't get it plugged in for some reason, and temps below 15F or so...I shut down all power hogs like the fan, the radio, the headlights...and cycle the ignition two or three times at least, waiting for the WTS to go off each time. The GPR is really still active, but I figure it's providing some more heat into the fuel bowl and into those frozen 15-year-old stock injectors and the 3-year-old batteries thank me.

Does it really make a diff? I dunno, but I feel better for thinking so :goodjob[/QUOTE ]

I think it makes a diff.

I usta do that on my 7.3.. cycle it 2-3 times.. with everything off.. he'd fire right up.

Don't know what the diff is with the 6.7 but so far.. I'm not sure it needs to be plugged in with the temps around Cen Cal. Temps in the low 20's.. it fires right up. No Block Heater.

Joe
 

01yellerCobra

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Yes. Yours should too. (?)

The WTS light should [always] cycle @ the first start of the day.. or anytime the engine has been shut down long enough to cool down to where the ECM/PCM senses the need for Glow Plug/Cylinder head heat. (ULSC Diesel)(sadly)

Here in CENCAL, I don't plug mine in unless I know it's going to be less than 30*... and I'm guna need my truck in those lower temps, say, in the morning.

My truck sets outside.. subject to the ambient temps. We've had temps lately in the mid to high 20s, it fire's right up on just the GP's.

Joe.
I finally looked for the WTS light. Lately I've been using the remote start in the mornings. But it doesn't stay on long.
 

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