Don't own a vehicle that has one these days...heck, from what I hear half the diesels don't come with them anymore (like not even a factory option...I dunno, this is what a coworker claims about the newer Fords)
That might depend on where you live. all my diesels over the years came with heaters, but heard from friends in warm states that it was an option. Even my little 2016 Escape 2L has a eng. heater from the factory.
When I had a diesel, I had it on a hd timer and it turned on from midnight to 2:30 am and then again from 4:00-6:00am. my mechanic told me to plug it in and leave it on all the time but I actually had a problem (can’t recall what right now) where that actually ruined some part, according to what I found online. so that’s why I did the timer deal. Plus, being a vol EMT, I never know when I’m gonna have to start my truck and roll with no time to baby it while it warms up so the timer made me feel safer. As far as temperature, I did it anytime it was below freezing
I'll plug my diesels in if its in the teens or lower. Only had trouble starting the old truck once (01 cummins). Plugged it in for an hour or 2 and it fired up. It was in the low single digits that night.
Wouldn't that be something, all the useless (to me) options that are on a vehicle to add to the insane costs and they can't have one that is actually useful? I don't own a diesel but my gas f150 has one, but I don't plug it in till its around 0 or below. You know it's cold when she still whines a little when you start it up and it's been plugged in all night (usually if it's -20 or under). I've heard others say they plug there's in if it get's below 20 but I don't bother if it's that warm.
Are you saying that it literally "whines" when you start it up? If so, likely the power steering pump, or possibly the trans...my money would be on the PS though...
I"ve had that on various gassers over the years, PS pump sounds about right. Can't hear it on my diesels likely there though. Might be the serpentine belt whining -stiff with cold.
I’m liberal with the block heater. The engine starts easier, smoother, quieter, and I get can heat sooner. All for like 30 cents of electricity and I’m sure I get some of that back in saved fuel. I have a timer and only give it 3 hours of block heat when it’s below freezing. Just today I replaced all 8 glow plugs. After 22 years, 4 of the 8 plugs were completely dead.
My truck has one. Think it was almost standard with the 5.0. I don't use it though, 2 reasons. There was a recall on all of them and I haven't had it in for the recall yet, and the truck fits in the garage where it stays warmer
I always had mine on a timer @4 hours I plugged it in at 25 degrees always started easier and made heat quicker I had several cummins and gm diesels currently have the 6.2 in the 87 gmc it was 12 the other morning and I had to move the truck I was surprised she rolled right over and started but I would have preferred to have plugged it in I now park it near the timer . Also when I lived in upstate Pa I had battery maintainers I plugged in on the diesel overnight (truck did sit a lot) and that also helped some mornings were -10 . The nice thing about the block heaters is it will also somewhat keep the oil warm but in severe cold I have used the magnetic oil pan heaters on the equipment I just got to the job early and ran the heaters on generator for a hour or more and it sure helped the machines start JB
From what I understand...all the Ram Diesels come with the heater...but the chord is an option. Stupid but true (I think)
I plug in my Cummins if it going to be below freezing. Mostly because if I turn the defroster on before shutting it down the block heater keeps the coolant warm enough to keep my windshield defrosted each morning! It will start up easily sub zero without the block heater.
I plug my diesel in all winter, and fall. My log truck, and all tractor trailers always get plugged in no matter what . We have found running fleets that the cold starts are the hardest on diesels. In the summer it can be up to a 100 during the day, but we only have 28 frost free days a year on average. But we are looking for over a million miles to an engine on the big trucks.
The patent for the first "head bolt heater" was filed by a guy from North Dakota. I usually will plug in if the overnight temperature goes below 0°. My mother in law told me how growing up they left the car at the highway for winter and walked or horse and sleigh two miles from home to get there and back. Would take the battery out to keep it charged and warm. If it was really cold, her dad would build a small fire under the Buick to warm up the engine before trying to start it.
