O/T update on block heater

Nancy Howell · Dec 10, 2009

Plugged it in last night. Temp this am was not as cold as expected, only got down to 24. "Wait to start" light stayed on less than 30 seconds and truck fired right up. Truck is parked outside and exposed to "wind chill".

Noticed the temp gauge was not bottomed out which meant the heater got warm sooner and cab warmed up sooner. Nice! I'll be plugging it in more often.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 10, 2009

Thanks for the up-date,, don't really know if I need to know that or not, you must be lonesome.

JD2ACWD · Dec 10, 2009

You live in Texas and you have to plug your truck in ? so much for that darn global warming!!!!!!

fixerupper · Dec 10, 2009

I do think it's good to plug in an engine even though it's not that terrible cold. When that diesel's clattering away struggling to keep going for the first minute or so it can't be good. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Dec 10, 2009

as of now 8:54am temp in sw manitoba canada is -27 with a windchill of -37 yesterday morning it was -30 with windchill of -45 needless to say ive had my ford pickup plugged in all week,my johndeere 4520 has internal oil pan heater and a cirulating block heater and it fired up no problem so far this week doing chores feeding cattle.

ScottyHOMeY · Dec 10, 2009

Was havin' that selfsame thought m'self.

Up here in Maine (or in other cold places I've lived, like near Cleveland and up in the Catskills) I don't usually plug it in unless it's hangin' at 20 or below. I don't know that there's anything to it but, in the absence of any significant wind, I think the little extra heat that the motor throws off under the hood helps to keep the batteries warmer. If that's true, that strikes me as a good thing, too.

gene bender · Dec 10, 2009

Wind chill has nothing to do with your engine starting

Nancy Howell · Dec 10, 2009

I really don't HAVE to, but it helps.

Yesterday it was 28 when I got in the truck to go to work. I had not plugged in the block heater the night before. Had to go through the start up (turn key on, wait until the "wait to start" light goes off, turn key to start) three times before truck fired up.

Remember this is Tx and weather changes fast. Temp Sunday is supposed to be 67.

gitrib · Dec 10, 2009

I know what you are saying Nancy. Back in the 50's I traveled on the road and at that time I had my vehicals rquiped with heat bolts. Back then the Motels in the cold country had a electric outlet that you could plug into. Got caught up in Dakota's one time when it was 32 degrees below zero. Got ready to go and it fired right off and heat almost at once. Had one in wifes car that she kept plugged in. She liked that instant heat. Some people use to claim it used a lot of electricity but I alway felt it took less if you plug them right away.
gitrib

JDemaris · Dec 10, 2009

It certainly can. Park a warmed up vehicle in the wind, and it will cool off faster then if not parked in the wind. Nothing very complicated about it. Once it is totally cooled off and all metal is the same temp as ambient, then wind won't make a difference, and not until then.

James Howell · Dec 10, 2009

She's not lonesome [b:654c4848f0]Joe Dan[/b:654c4848f0]; she's being courteous in posting an update.

Did you like the picture of your IH 240 that was posted?

Bet that snow blade on the back came in really handy yesterday in Winona.

Billy Shafer · Dec 10, 2009

The real cold in Texas is in the panhandle. Nothing up there but flat land. Some counties don't even have trees just scrub brush.

heavy hauler too · Dec 10, 2009

I've got a 98 cummins, They tell in the book to put a little gas pedal to keep it running. My old dodge started 10 below, and not started for o a month last winter!! I have been very happy with it.

DJM75 · Dec 11, 2009

it sat overnight wind or no wind it will be ambient temp by morning and what I believe he was saying is wind chill has no effect on things which is correct. How they come up with that is how fast water evaporates from the skin. wind chill temps only have to do with people not trucks or anything else.

O/T update on block heater

Nancy Howell

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Anonymous-0

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JD2ACWD

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fixerupper

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Anonymous-0

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ScottyHOMeY

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gene bender

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Nancy Howell

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gitrib

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JDemaris

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James Howell

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Billy Shafer

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heavy hauler too

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DJM75

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