block heater question

[deadwoodbuck]

I have a block heater on my 2500 dodge diesel.  how long do you need to plug in this heater before the temperature reaches a good operating level?  the heater checks out fine...it is heating up the block.  with these temps. in the lower 20's and teens I have been giving the heater an hour 45 min before I go to work.  but it still takes a good while...10 min...before any heat comes out of the heater.  or is it just for the warming the oil?  just curious how long I need to have it working on the block before I reach a good operating temp?  never really used a block heater before so i'm just guessing.  thanks

[huntnphool]

Leave it plugged in all night, the cost is minimal and you will have a little more heat in the morning. It won't do enough in 45 minutes to give you any amount of "heat" through your defroster/heater unit.

[hntrspud]

Leave it plugged in all night, the cost is minimal and you will have a little more heat in the morning. It won't do enough in 45 minutes to give you any amount of "heat" through your defroster/heater unit.

  Plug it in when youi get home. I do every night with my diesel. Thats what the heaters are there for. It also, at times, will keep your windshield somewhat defrosted. Like he said, heat comes faster when the water is already warm. 

[6x6in6]

About 3 hours to get a complete heating job.
IIRC, the Dodge heaters are 750w which is a little over 6 amps of electrical draw.  For the amount of time you really need to use it, the cost is fairly minimal.

Or, you could be cheap like me, and get a good timer that can handle the power requirements and set the timer to turn on the heater 3-4 hours before you leave in the morning.  But I have 2 Dodge's that me/she drive daily.....

[KFhunter]

About 3 hours to get a complete heating job.
IIRC, the Dodge heaters are 750w which is a little over 6 amps of electrical draw.  For the amount of time you really need to use it, the cost is fairly minimal.

Or, you could be cheap like me, and get a good timer that can handle the power requirements and set the timer to turn on the heater 3-4 hours before you leave in the morning.  But I have 2 Dodge's that me/she drive daily.....

 

Those heavy duty air conditioner timers work well for this.

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-TN311C-Heavy-Grounded-Timer/dp/B00002N5FO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1386289955&sr=1-1&keywords=heavy+duty+timer+120v

[STED9r]

About 3 hours to get a complete heating job.
IIRC, the Dodge heaters are 750w which is a little over 6 amps of electrical draw.  For the amount of time you really need to use it, the cost is fairly minimal.

Or, you could be cheap like me, and get a good timer that can handle the power requirements and set the timer to turn on the heater 3-4 hours before you leave in the morning.  But I have 2 Dodge's that me/she drive daily.....

This,
Not gaining anything over 3 hours other than paying a bit more for juice and depending on coolant conditions, cacking heater element with suspended deposits.

[6x6in6]

About 3 hours to get a complete heating job.
IIRC, the Dodge heaters are 750w which is a little over 6 amps of electrical draw.  For the amount of time you really need to use it, the cost is fairly minimal.

Or, you could be cheap like me, and get a good timer that can handle the power requirements and set the timer to turn on the heater 3-4 hours before you leave in the morning.  But I have 2 Dodge's that me/she drive daily.....

 

Those heavy duty air conditioner timers work well for this.

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-TN311C-Heavy-Grounded-Timer/dp/B00002N5FO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1386289955&sr=1-1&keywords=heavy+duty+timer+120v

Exact same one I have.  Plugged into the garage.  A 25' 14/2 with a 3 way on the end ran out under the garage door to a pair of 25' 14/2 plugged into the trucks.
Use another one for the Christmas lights too.

[6x6in6]

Remote start is kind of a nice feature too.  Particularly for the truck that has the seat heaters which it will turn on.   

[KFhunter]

 


gotta keep the boys warm 

[JLS]

About 3 hours to get a complete heating job.
IIRC, the Dodge heaters are 750w which is a little over 6 amps of electrical draw.  For the amount of time you really need to use it, the cost is fairly minimal.

Or, you could be cheap like me, and get a good timer that can handle the power requirements and set the timer to turn on the heater 3-4 hours before you leave in the morning.  But I have 2 Dodge's that me/she drive daily.....

 

Those heavy duty air conditioner timers work well for this.

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-TN311C-Heavy-Grounded-Timer/dp/B00002N5FO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1386289955&sr=1-1&keywords=heavy+duty+timer+120v

Exact same one I have.  Plugged into the garage.  A 25' 14/2 with a 3 way on the end ran out under the garage door to a pair of 25' 14/2 plugged into the trucks.
Use another one for the Christmas lights too.

I have a very similar one, I think I got it at Home Depot or Ace.  I like to give it at least 2 hours, and 3 is better.  I agree, 45 minutes isn't enough to accomplish much.

[JLS]

Remote start is kind of a nice feature too.  Particularly for the truck that has the seat heaters which it will turn on.   

Sure wish I had heated seats.  My dog does too.

[6x6in6]

Her truck has the butt warmers.  Me and the boys get the cold seats.
 
My dog does a fine job of seat heating when I run in the store though.

[deadwoodbuck]

hey thanks for some great information.  I do have a timer that I can use but just plugging it in all night is a pretty good idea.  I didn't know how much of a draw it would be but it sounds like not really all that much.  I don't have to worry about my seat heater since I don't have one of those.  so now I can be alittle more in tune with the truck.  I had to search for the block heater cord that the previous owner never used.  thanks to you guys...I am that much closer to being qualified on my dodge diesel...

[huntnphool]

hey thanks for some great information.  I do have a timer that I can use but just plugging it in all night is a pretty good idea.  I didn't know how much of a draw it would be but it sounds like not really all that much.  I don't have to worry about my seat heater since I don't have one of those.  so now I can be alittle more in tune with the truck.  I had to search for the block heater cord that the previous owner never used.  thanks to you guys...I am that much closer to being qualified on my dodge diesel...

The cost really is a non factor it's so low, and it's only a few months out of the year. Pass on the Starbucks just once over the same period and you will likely be way ahead.

[Heredoggydoggy]

My neighbor has a diesel Ford.  He plugs it in every night.  Bet it's a lot easier on the engine start-up, even with glow plugs.