Engine Heater

[Got Snow?]

as i pokeing around, i noticed i have two wire hanging down in front of the motor. they have 110v plugs on them. each wire goes to each side of the engine(460 v8, i didn't see where they went) i'm assuming these are engine block heaters or something?

since i've never used this before on this truck (or any others) i will ask:
do i just plug 'em in? unplug when starting truck? pros/cons to using them? same motor oil ok? anything else?

[wyldman]

I doubt they are both block heaters,most trucks will usually only have one.The other could be for something else.Try folowing each cord to find out exactly where it goes.

A block heater usually needs 3-4 hours to warm up the engine.I'd would use it,as it makes it easier to start,and it will warm up faster as well.

[CNY Joe]

I agree with Chris there is usually only one plug for the block heater the second maybe for a airpump.

[HerkFE]

I agree with the Wyldman.... One is probably a block heater (I used mine all the time). The other may have been an aftermarket block heater that was installed before you bought it (or is it a new truck?). Or just a magnetic heater on the oil pan. I have also seen people who put "battery blankets" around their battery(ies) and plugged them in to keep the batts warm.

Find where they go before you plug them in. No sense doing something if you don't know what you are doing. I used a timer on my truck to help cut electricity costs. Those block heaters are around 1000-1500 watts. Lots of $$ if you leave it plugged in a lot. I bought a 15 amp heavy duty model, had it programmed to start about 3 hours before I get up every morning and loved it.

Here's another little tip... get a short heavy duty extension cord, Like a 3 footer and plug your truck plugs into it. Then find a place to hide it away behiond your grill and use it as your single point plug in. Then, neatly zip tie your cords to something solid under the hood. If you (or someone you let drive your truck) forgets to unplug in on a cold morning, you can help reduce the chance that a truck plug will be damaged. Hopefully the long wire to the house or the shorty behind the grill will get the damage. Been there, done that...ex-wife, need I say more?


Good luck!

Pete :usa

[John Banks]

Not sure about other trucks, but on Fords like my 550 Diesel, I plug it in and then turn my vent control to defrost and a light plume of warm air keeps the windshield defrosted. I simply brush off the windshield with ease before I get in. No scraping is nice.

[festerw]

Make sure you use the correct guage extension cord from the house too, I couldn't tell you how many electric motors I've seen burned up because somebody used a cheapy $4 extension cord for something pulling alot of amps.

[4evergreenlawns]

I use the block heater in both trucks, the gas and the diesel. The 03 F-450 6.0L PSD has a 15 quart oil pan, that is alot of oil to get warm up running over cold steel. Also agree its nice to get into the truck and have warm air blowing.

I never thought of the timer thing, now that I have two truck pluged in all the time, I think I will be getting me two timer.

I always run the cord over the drivers side mirror and block the door. Can not get in without more they funny orange cord.

While on active duty with the Coast Guard, in Oregon, left the dock on a person in the water call, pulled the 220 shore line clear off the moring and left it there sparking up a storm. Had to call back to the station to get the fire department to cut the power off and put out a pieling that caught on fire. That cost me a few days without pay. We did pick up two people out of the water and one floater a few day later. Hero to a**hole in a flash......

[CPSS]

I installed this power inlet on the bumper of my truck. Makes it easy to plug in and if you forget to unplug, it just pulls out when you backup.

[BOUNDS-ELECTRIC]

I had a truck that had 2 plugs! Some one had put a #2 block heater in one of the freeze plugs! I had the stock one over the oil filter and one on left side in freeze plug! I keep all my trucks plugged in all the time! Like the instant heat!!

[WoofsPlow]

Hey CPSS - that plug is slick! :D

[CPSS]

MARINCO Power Inlet. It's sold at West Marine, and Bass Pro Shops. About $19, and easy to install

[ZR2DK]

cpss, do you have a part number for that power inlet? thanks.

[Jay ALC]

I used to have a 93 F-250 with the V8 460 and I inquired at the dealer about block heaters and found out that after factory has one element that goes in one of the block plugs and that you could add more than one so that you had one on each side of the engine. At the time they had told me that the factory ones used two of the knockouts but that you hadta buy 2 after factory ones to make it exactly the same. That being said I don't know how accurate the parts guy's statement was, but that might explain it.