I'll be going cougar hunting next month in central Oregon in a mule deer winter range. Temperatures typically mid 20's during the day and single digits near zero at night. Can be warmer or colder. According to my owners manual I should have the block heater plugged in. Aside from running a generator all night and not sure my little 1000 watt honda will power the block heater anyway. Is there any precautions I should take? We are tent camping and don't have the luxuries we have when trailer camping.

I will be sure to get out and get some readings this week.

My son decided he wanted to try out the heater tonight. The outside temp right now is 18* above so it should be showing on the temp gauge. I just looked at the temps in your area JR and they don't look too bad. 3* above is about the coldest for next week for you. Gonna get to about -15* here.

You can keep your negative weather! I'll keep my positive I like it just fine!! LOL

We are heading for +40°F weather and no snow on the ground.

 

As for plugging in the truck I typically saw 100-110°F worth of coolant temperature at start up with 750w block heater.

Well if the block heater is only 750W my little generator will power it. Maybe run it for an hour in the mornings.

I believe Volkswagon is referring to those Canadian rigs...I was referring to the older cars in my original post, being I don't keep up very well with anything new..$$$$

When I was looking for a TDI I came across a good deal on Craigslist for a gently used Frost Heater. I kept the number and when I found a car I called the guy to see if he still had it and he did. While we don't get real cold weather here it is nice for the wife. I have it set up on a timer for 2 hours prior and she can literally go out on a 10 degree morning, start the car and it is making instant heat. Not hot, but definitely warm enough to call heat! Its amazing they put such a massive heater in a car with so little coolant capacity. I keep meaning to take my IR gun out there and get a coolant temp reading out of curiosity to see how warm it really is.

I've seen the temp gauge all the way to operating temp on my car! But I haven't put an IR gun to it do I don't know exact degrees. Then mysteriously one day the gauge didn't register anything but the car still started great as usual so who knows what happened.

I've seen the temp gauge all the way to operating temp on my car! But I haven't put an IR gun to it do I don't know exact degrees. Then mysteriously one day the gauge didn't register anything but the car still started great as usual so who knows what happened.

OK, were really getting off topic (sorry joecool), but does anyone know what temp the blue coolant light for the cold engine in the dash goes off on the VWs? I have noticed on several mornings starting the car with the block heater plugged in and that light is off instantly. On a similar morning without the heater plugged in it will take several miles of driving before the light goes off.

I'm going to have to break out the IR gun and start recording ambient temps compared to coolant temps.

No worries. Good conversation. I'd like to have a VW diesel myself.

OK, were really getting off topic (sorry joecool), but does anyone know what temp the blue coolant light for the cold engine in the dash goes off on the VWs? I have noticed on several mornings starting the car with the block heater plugged in and that light is off instantly. On a similar morning without the heater plugged in it will take several miles of driving before the light goes off.

I'm going to have to break out the IR gun and start recording ambient temps compared to coolant temps.

 I am not sure I remember seeing a blue light on the dash. I will look tomorrow.

 I am not sure I remember seeing a blue light on the dash. I will look tomorrow.

You wont find one on the dodge. We got off topic on the VWs.

Time for sleepy!

No blue light on either of my VW's. Maybe it's a Beetle thing?

No blue light on either of my VW's. Maybe it's a Beetle thing?

I have not seen a blue light on any of the three TDIs in my family. 2 '06 Jettas and one '12 JSW

Hmm, must be something they did on the earlier models maybe...I can't see it being Beetle specific but it is possible. There is a blue coolant symbol on the dash when the engine is cold and goes off when the engine is luke warm. The only thing I found in the owners manual was that VW recomends easy driving until the light goes out. Doesnt mention what temp that may be, and there is only an idiot light for temp, no gauge.