How long do you leave your block heater plugged in?

[ghunt]

Just wondering how long you other guys in the cold temps leave your block heaters plugged in.

I have mine on a timer, so most cold mornings it's on for 2 hours, and this seems to work pretty well.

This morning it was COLD for November- somewhere in the 25-27 degree range. I had to go into work an hour early so my block heater only ended up being on for 45 minutes to an hour. The truck started rough, and took 10+ minutes of running before it was even starting to blow warm air out of the vents.

Somebody told me awhile back that an hour should be plenty, but based on that I'm thinking otherwise!

 

[hesutton]

There's a lot of coolant and block/head surface area to warm. I set a timer for 2-3 hours before I plan on leaving.

Heath

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

We leave ours plugged in all night.

 

[EMD_DRIVER]

The few times I plugged mine in, I had it on all night. I wonder what it does to the electric bill...

 

[hesutton]

I wonder what it does to the electric bill...

It's like leaving at least 10 one hundred watt bulbs on all night.

Heath

 

[HammerDown]

Even in the deep freeze I rarely use it but when I do it's on a timer...90 minutes is all it takes.

Fires instantly and heat out the vents..

 

[EMD_DRIVER]

It's like leaving at least 10 one hundred watt bulbs on all night.

Heath

Thanks for that little ray of sunshine Heath!!

 

[troutwest66]

I shoot for two hours at least. When it's bitter cold then longer helps. If we get the sub-zero temps then I'll probably plug it in over night. Now that I have the truck in the garage since we moved in May I'm sure this will help when it gets cold.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Yea no kidding man. Holy crap, and we have anywhere from 3-6 trucks plugged in at one time. Thats up to 60 frickin 100watt bulbs on all night long!!!!
Where do you get these timer things?

 

[FordGuy100]

I dont ever use mine, but it seems like 2-3 hours is about average...unless you live in a place where its in the single to negative digits (Farenheit), then it would be longer.

Something's not right if your truck is having a hard time starting at those temps, it should start easy. Is it turning over fast?

 

[troutwest66]

Something's not right if your truck is having a hard time starting at those temps, it should start easy. Is it turning over fast?

True. I just put the new batteries in and what a difference the speed makes in creating heat when compressing the air in the cylinder. Much faster start up.

 

[EMD_DRIVER]

Where do you get these timer things?

Any good electrical supplier will have them. Besides that, any Lowes or Home Depot should have something rated for that kind of wattage.

 

[NJKen]

Just make sure that you get a timer rated for at least 1200watts. Cheap timers are a fire waiting to happen.
What I did in my house is wire up an Intermatic T101 to a recepticle by my truck. I give the truck anout 3 hours and the Focus about 30 minutes
Ken

 

[FordGuy100]

True. I just put the new batteries in and what a difference the speed makes in creating heat when compressing the air in the cylinder. Much faster start up.

Yeah I hear you. My truck turns over slow so it has a hard time starting. Here is a cold start vid of mine at 18*, no block heater. Starts right when I hit the key.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRy9k3W2kmE

 

[EMD_DRIVER]

This is the timer I will be using, as soon as I figure out what happened to it in the move..

Clicky