How cold for a block heater

[chucko]

My new powerstroke has a block heater and I know it "should" never get cold enough here in Fl to make starting a problem. But, I do travel to NC and TN form time to time. At what temp do you guys plug your heaters up?
When do you think about adding antigel?

 

[Boondox]

I plug in my block heater below 40 if snow is in the forecast simply because the forecast up here in Vermont is so often wrong. The tractor starts without it, but idles smooth so quickly after startup with it that I got in the habit. Ditto for the winter conditioner; not sure it's necessary but on days like today (minus 27) it pours so much easier I figured it won't hurt and possibly does a world of good. And it's cheap insurance!

Hmmm, our conditions are worlds apart, so your concerns never did get addressed, did they?

Pete

 

[PBinWA]

My F250 Diesel likes to have the Block Heater plugged in when it gets below freezing. It will start without it but it complains a lot more too.

Most modern engines and quality fuels will work fine in the southern half of the US without problems. You will rarely see weather like Northern Canada where the mall parking lots have outlets for the block heaters.

I doubt you would ever need a fuel conditioner in the lower half of the US. Unless you have some bio-diesel in your tank or your getting cheap diesel from questionable sources.

 

[texbaylea]

My GMC diesel specifies using the block heater below 35 F. Can get by with out but it sure starts easier and sounds better.

 

[chucko]

It was 32 when I got up this morning the only thing I noticed was it took a little longer for the glow plugs to warm up. but not much

 

[gsxr1100]

When I had my powerstoke it was anything lower then 20 F and/or when it snowed. It was easier to plug it in and get instant heat for the snowy morning or frost. Outside of that, it was never plugged in. The old 7.3 where to start un-aided down to like -10 below per Navistar I think. I am not 100% on that since I sold the truck 2.9 years ago. ..and do not miss it! The coldest I stared my Powerstoke was -5 and it started fine but made some WEIRD noises.

And the anti-gel (Power Service) was only added one winter and I noticed ZERO. Waste of $$$ in my book.

 

[bgott]

About 48 degrees. The engine runs better, makes less noise and you don't have to spend as much warm up time before you can pull a load. The most important reason is that the heater and defroster work immediately when the block is warm. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Libertine]

chucko:

<font color="blue">what temp do you guys plug your heaters up? </font>

Most of the posts focus on easier start, etc., however, the real reason for use of the block heater is speed of oil pressure. Every fraction of a second the engine is running without oil pressure it is eating itself up. I don't know the exact figures, but it might be one second without oil puts as much wear on the engine as 100 miles or more of running. Look at your oil pressure gauge and see how long it takes to come up. As it gets colder, the viscosity of the oil increases and it takes longer to begin to circulate.

To answer your question, I plug in whenever it gets down around freezing as the speed of oil pressure really slows down below that. I also plug my NH tractor in before using when it gets down that low and give the engine block heater time to warm things up a bit.

JEH

 

[johnday]

Chucko; I usually don't consider plugging in until the temps drop to the lower 20's. I've started as low as -10F, but had to cylce the plugs a couple times, just like yesterday. It likes to smoke and lope a bit, but it's all part of the mystique I guess.
Fuel conditioner? I use Fleetgard when the temps dip below freezing. It ain't fun when your fuel gells up. You should be set to go without any special prep, but all in all the fuel conditioner beats having to go the TA and hunt for some meltdown! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif