</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the block heater isnt designed to help in the actual startup, of the engine its designed to keep the oil heated so it flows as soon as the engine starts, there by keeping the engine lubed it will last longer. my dealer explained it to me this way, makes sense.. he also said dont keep it plugged in all the time, unless you like paying for electricity. he suggested plugging in for 20-30 minutes prior to using it .<br><br> )</font>
If I understand it correctly, the problem is that at cold temperatures, the oil will become "ropey". That is, too thick to run easily. So, when the crank goes around and dips through the oil sump, it will scoop up the oil and fling it against the side of the block. This oil will then very slowly start to run back into the sump. The colder the temperatures, the slower the oil will run. Get cold enough, and the oil sump can lose a lot of its oil to the sides of the block. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Steve