FWP
CRS
At what temperature do you use your block heater?
CK5
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When to plug in Block heater
- Thread starter FWP
- Start date
I plug mine in at anything under 35 or so...but I have several GP's that don't work. It'll still start at 20 F without the BH, but it's not pretty. An hour or two is enough to make all the difference.
Rene
Rene
FWP
CRS
I'm just curious when everyone else does. I plug mine in at 40 or less, if possible. Makes it a heck of alot easier on the starting system, IMHO
With my new glow plugs and now that I fixed the extra insulation between battery cables and battery, my trucks starts easily at 10 deg and up without plugging in. And I'm only running one battery with 2 guage battery cables.
Though that first morning in MN over Christmas was a little interesting without a block heater (had to pull start it). Later found out the battery cable insulation was in between the contact surfaces so only my battery bolt was making connection, plus the block heater that came with the motor had a bad cord and didnt work... Both are fixed now though
Though that first morning in MN over Christmas was a little interesting without a block heater (had to pull start it). Later found out the battery cable insulation was in between the contact surfaces so only my battery bolt was making connection, plus the block heater that came with the motor had a bad cord and didnt work... Both are fixed now though
I don't have a 6.2/6.5 but I like to plug mine up when it gets into the low thirty's . Not for ease of starting but to keep the block at a warmer temp for less start up wear.
Tom
Tom
I would assume plugging it in at any temp would not hurt (granted in warm/hot weather it would be unnecessary). The warmer the block at startup, the less wear on the engine internals and starter, might even help the GP's last longer.
I'm assuming it's regulated at a certain temp, and if it is, anything below that temp would benefit from plugging it in.....FWIW
joez
1/2 ton status
I plug mine in if its gonna be under 40.
dallassnowman
1/2 ton status
Sounds alot like mine. What can you do to get those glow plugs out that are stuck in the block?? I have 4 stuck!!tRustyK5 said:
joez
1/2 ton status
They make a special took for removing them, you should be able to rent it at your local autozone.
dallassnowman
1/2 ton status
Anyone ever taken them out with that tool??
How hard??
How hard??
Yes, screwdriver and a hammer! Pain it the butt to do with the motor in the truck, but it can be done in a couple hours. Mine just happened to be a couple hours in 4 degree weatherdallassnowman said:
I recently had 5 out of 8 glow plugs not working. Now that I have 8 new ones in there I don't plan on plugging the rig in till its around the 0 mark!!
dallassnowman
1/2 ton status
So will they break inside the motor???
What's the best kind of block heater to install on my 6.2L? I don't have one now. Well, I have one of those magnetic ones that you stick on the oil pan, but that seems kind of lame.
BurbLover
1/2 ton status
Just out of curiosity (or lack of knowledge), is there a recommendation on how long it should be plugged in at one time?
I use my diesel K5 as a snow plow rig and was thinking of just keeping it plugged in all the time. Lately I've only been driving for 1 out of 8-9 days.
Ta-hanks!!
I use my diesel K5 as a snow plow rig and was thinking of just keeping it plugged in all the time. Lately I've only been driving for 1 out of 8-9 days.
Ta-hanks!!
In the block heater is the best kind. You have to remove a frost plug to install, but it's worth the extra work. The one you have on the pan is to heat the oil, not at all a bad idea but not as good as a water heater.
I've got a loader tractor that has been pluged in for a few days now. It's been below zero for a while. I never know when I'll need it so it's easier to leave it pluged in insted of waiting for it to get warm. If you know when you are going to be using the k5, it really only needs 2 to 3 hours to warm up.
It doesn't seem like you could really hurt anything if the heater was heating the coolant. When I kept my vehicles outside, I plugged them in all the time when it was below 20 degrees or so. The only time I've heard of problems is with the pad oil pan heaters if they aren't regulated. Then you can simmer your oil and screw it up.
I'm no expert though.
I'm no expert though.
Stomper said:
Yeah, I know it's not ideal. It seemed to be good enough to get going at -5F today though.
Is the freeze plug on a 6.2 the same as on a regular 350? I mean, will it take the same heater?
The 6.2L uses a 41mm frost plug heater 
But I don't know what a SBC uses.
But I don't know what a SBC uses.
