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anyone run block heaters in the winter?

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Lawrence0485

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Not that my 350 has a hard time starting in the cold at all. But it takes for ever for it to warm up and the heater work. Since I have to haul my little ones to school I'd like to have it warm in there for them. My question is will a block heater like this keep the engine warm enough to have almost instant heat when I start the truck?

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...uctId=89210&storeId=10001&sType=&pgGrp=search

If needed I could run one on each side of the block to even out the heat.

In the past I've been putting a little 1500watt space heater in the floor board. About an he before we leave I plug in the heater. The truck gets good and toasty but by the time we all get in most of the heat has left. Works great when the truck is covered in ice.
 
i use a block heater but it doesnt do anything to warm the truck up, just makes it so it will start. then again it gets a lot colder here in wyoming
 
You need a recirculating engine block heater such as the following one: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200339137_200339137?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Auto%2C%20SUV%20%2B%20Truck%20Accessories-_-Engine%20Heaters%20%2B%20Blankets-_-174050&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=174050&gclid=COGZm_GkjLoCFYk9QgodURQAUg

You probably can find them at a your local auto parts, or "Farm & Fleet" type stores

They are very popular in my area for pickups, trucks, tractors, etc.
The 1500 watt model should be plenty big enough for a 350 engine.
I have one on a 350, 400, 454, 6.0L gas, 6.2L diesel engines, and on an 85 HP diesel tractor.
Usually have them set on a timer, but when it is near or sub zero, I may leave them on all night.
They will make your electric meter spin, but they do the job when it is needed.

Don't mess with the one you linked to, you will be disappointed.
 
I had a small block ford in a truck that I used to feed cattle in the winter with. I put a soft plug heater in each side of the engine. i'd plug them in for 30 minutes and when I turned the key 'on' the temperature would be right in the operating zone.
 
prairie said:
You need a recirculating engine block heater such as the following one: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...i_sku=174050&gclid=COGZm_GkjLoCFYk9QgodURQAUg
Click to expand...

x2!

We get fairly mild winters here compared to when I lived in Winnipeg, but it still goes down to -30C or -35C (I think that's around -20 or -30F) at night from time to time. I run a 1500W recirculating heater and a plug type block heater in my 6.2. The block heater keeps the engine warm enough to start most of the time, but I'll run the recirc for an hour or so before I go out when it's really cold to go easy on the starter. Getting to those temps the 6.2 takes a looooong time to get up to running temp it seems. Works fantastic.

The block heater won't do jack.
 
I've got a lower rad hose heater in my 97, seems to work pretty good. On an avg night I only plug it in for 4-5 hours on a timer. It's up to operating temp and throwing heat in no time.

During colder -30/-35c mornings it takes a lil longer but not to bad.

Other than that, I run standard block heaters in everything else.
 
I have a 1500w re-circ on my diesel as well. I wouldn't go any other way. the stock block heater is still in there but I don't use it any more. call it a back up I guess.
 
Anybody know about what the life expectancy for those recirculating heaters are? or are the circulating motors replaceable?
 
Well that works then, I figured when they state "circulating" something motor driven, pump-like was moving the water around. :doah:
 
It does absolutely circulate the coolant. But it flows through convection. Where you tap the system and where the heater is placed is critical to make it work. The instructions cover it pretty well.
 
It will actually keep frost from forming on the windshield if the defrost setting is on. And coolant can flow through the heater core.
 
prairie said:
You need a recirculating engine block heater such as the following one: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200339137_200339137?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Auto%2C%20SUV%20%2B%20Truck%20Accessories-_-Engine%20Heaters%20%2B%20Blankets-_-174050&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=174050&gclid=COGZm_GkjLoCFYk9QgodURQAUg

You probably can find them at a your local auto parts, or "Farm & Fleet" type stores

They are very popular in my area for pickups, trucks, tractors, etc.
The 1500 watt model should be plenty big enough for a 350 engine.
I have one on a 350, 400, 454, 6.0L gas, 6.2L diesel engines, and on an 85 HP diesel tractor.
Usually have them set on a timer, but when it is near or sub zero, I may leave them on all night.
They will make your electric meter spin, but they do the job when it is needed.

Don't mess with the one you linked to, you will be disappointed.
Click to expand...



Every vehicle I've ever owned, including 2 Detroit diesels had a single 1500 watt freeze pplug heater...they worked fine in Alaska at -20F.

FYI they are only about $15 at a parts store, and they absolutely give you faster heat...how would pumping 1500 watts straight in to the coolant not make things warm up faster?
 
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