-
Help Support Hardline Crawlers :
Block Heaters???
- Thread starter dirtygoat
- Start date
I've got one in the bus (dta360), it heats and circulates... Works awesome and the bus will start in freezing weather without issue and be up to temp in no time... Thinking about putting one in the wifes car and my truck... Not sure what type though, magnetic, radiator hose, dip stick, others...
zukkev
Cornfuzzled yet again...
The bus have a Webasto heater??? Most do....I want to stick one in the Ford, but the heater is effing huge! :redneck:
CHOP SHOP
Well-Known Member
I dont know what my dodge has but it boils the water and vibrates my grille even!
But man it lights right off and is all warm and fuzzy and frost free. Sure saves on wear and tear.
They draw lot of power tho. Ones like mine draw 5-9 amps and the you have in the bus is most likely larger than that.
Alot of people put them on a timer so they kick on 2 hours before you wake up for work.
Figure ya plug in at 10pm and get up a 6am thats 8 hours VS 2 hours on a timer.
75% savings in power cost.
The ol lady is jealous of my block heater to.
But man it lights right off and is all warm and fuzzy and frost free. Sure saves on wear and tear.
They draw lot of power tho. Ones like mine draw 5-9 amps and the you have in the bus is most likely larger than that.
Alot of people put them on a timer so they kick on 2 hours before you wake up for work.
Figure ya plug in at 10pm and get up a 6am thats 8 hours VS 2 hours on a timer.
75% savings in power cost.
The ol lady is jealous of my block heater to.
zukkev
Cornfuzzled yet again...
Most, if not all the ones in buses run off the diesel tank/batteries--self contained and 'off the grid'...:redneck:
lilyota
Well-Known Member
X2 on the remote start. Then new glow plugs I just put in also help a lot.
The 7.3 has a about a 900watt heater pulls like 8 amps if your plugs not all blackened
The 7.3 has a about a 900watt heater pulls like 8 amps if your plugs not all blackened
ain'tstuckjustresting
RIP Mister 12/5/12
Williams has some that just splice into your heater hose and they're only about the size of and old skool coil. They seem to work just fine.
zukkev
Cornfuzzled yet again...
Yup...they do work quite well...they are the convection style IIRC...Some have little circ pumps too...
2pwrlftrs4u
NWW Meanie
Napa brand, yes it works, we see 40 and 50 below. I have a block heater, oil pan heater, tranny pan heater in the Auto jeep, cabin heater, and a trickle charger on the battery why woud you need one in WA?
Ford superduty diesel trucks come from the factory with a block heater. It basically screws into the water jacket on the block. It draws around 1000 watts. Ford/International claims you only need it on for 3 hours to pre-heat the block, and thats from temperatures below -10 degrees.
You do the math. 10 cents per kilowatt hour (and 1000 watts is a kilowatt) means your eating a buck a day if you left it plugged in all night (say 7pm when you remember to plug it back in, until 5am when you go to drive it away again). So a heavy duty outdoor timer is the way to go. Make sure your extension cords can handle the long term heavy draw, and that the cords going into the block heater itself are in good shape. I've seen lots of pictures of engine fires from faulty block heater cords.
If I had to aftermarket one in, I would try and find one that fits into a freeze plug location, followed by the radiator hose insert style, followed by the oil pan stick on style in that order.
All that said, for a few bucks more, I'd just get a remote start/alarm system. No cords to remember to plug/unplug! Oh the damage I've seen from driving away with the cord still plugged in!!!
You do the math. 10 cents per kilowatt hour (and 1000 watts is a kilowatt) means your eating a buck a day if you left it plugged in all night (say 7pm when you remember to plug it back in, until 5am when you go to drive it away again). So a heavy duty outdoor timer is the way to go. Make sure your extension cords can handle the long term heavy draw, and that the cords going into the block heater itself are in good shape. I've seen lots of pictures of engine fires from faulty block heater cords.
If I had to aftermarket one in, I would try and find one that fits into a freeze plug location, followed by the radiator hose insert style, followed by the oil pan stick on style in that order.
All that said, for a few bucks more, I'd just get a remote start/alarm system. No cords to remember to plug/unplug! Oh the damage I've seen from driving away with the cord still plugged in!!!
KarlVP
Love that TOYOTA
I have the factory one that came with my Duramax.
I use it when it gets below freezing outside. Not because I need it to start the truck, but it sure is nice for a quick warm up time.
Without using the heater the truck doesn't reach operating temp for about 15 minutes. When I do use it I don't have to defrost the windows and the heater blows warm air instantly. It keeps the coolant temp around 170.
I use it when it gets below freezing outside. Not because I need it to start the truck, but it sure is nice for a quick warm up time.
Without using the heater the truck doesn't reach operating temp for about 15 minutes. When I do use it I don't have to defrost the windows and the heater blows warm air instantly. It keeps the coolant temp around 170.
crazybluerider1
Well-Known Member
Are you using a timer or letting it run all night?
ain'tstuckjustresting
RIP Mister 12/5/12
Darren, I have a timer for mine that turns it on 2hrs before I leave.
2pwrlftrs4u
NWW Meanie
this is the way to go if you have to plug in
KarlVP
Love that TOYOTA
skinny_pedal
Well-Known Member
I tempted to get one for my v10. It takes its sweet ass time getting up to temp
stealthrunner1
Well-Known Member
Got one on my 95 ford Diesel tow rig it helps when it's cold!!!:redneck:
datsunon40s
Well-Known Member
I use my block heater in anything colder than 40 it improves fuel mileage
