Block heater

[wil440]

4 hours ago, dripley said:

I use mine when I can and its cold, not because it starts any easier but that it is not as angry when it starts. I started mine once at -10* s, no plug in, did not wait on the grids to warm up, my mistake. She fired right off. I did not know an engine could make that much noise and not fall out of the truck. 

 

3 hours ago, IBMobile said:

To block heat or not to block heat....It is better to heat some of the time than to start cold all of the time.

My points...... exactly, the noise,smoke and vibration on a really cold start is the dead giveaway that ole smoky aint happy and thats on any diesel, sound of a big diesel starting just before wax is not nice to listen to, and surely if there is no power then it's cold start, if at home and truck is not used for days and stood outside then why not, over here it might get plugged in 3 or 4 times a year as we don't usually get really cold

[WiscoRedkneck]

Block heaters are like drinking their good in moderation but if your truck can't start at -10 or even -20 without a block heater then you've got issues IMHO.  That being said I'm spoiling my truck with a block heater right now and usually once we hit -5f I break out the timer, cord and plug her in...   Now around Christmas I have to switch to 5w-40 Rotella synthetic merely because I like under 5 second oil pressure build times.  My truck is a bit aged and needs injectors a little drippy or bad spray on start up causes hard starts with no block heater at -10 and won't start right now without a heater at -20(I'm sure with enough cranking and grid cycles I could get it to go but why).  That being said I also agree with Mike what do you do in the field.  For me it is simple ensure you have a winter front in your grill and lower bumper inlets(some will disagree with that...) also knowing how to park preventing wind push dont nose into snow banks either(obviously those are situation dependent) lastly I have a black frost guard blanket that I lay on the hood and cover the grill hold it on with magnets. 

I got the truck good and warmed up on a -20f day last year and used those techniques and the truck started on a single grid cycle after sitting in a field for 14 hours at -22f don't know if I would like to try that now in her condition...  Now it did have good sun for most of that time and was parked tail to the wind, but alot of these trucks running right and doing what you want just comes down to good technique.  IMHO

Edited January 30, 2019 by WiscoRedkneck
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