[Remy's Cummins]

at what temp is it normal to plug in the engine heater?

thanks

 

[Mopar1973Man]

According to Cummins at any temp below 0*F is suggested. But you find a bunch here plug in at any cold temps because they want instant heat. I no longer bother with plugging in at all and use the high idle function instead.

 

[SuperISBee]

Grid heater kicks in around 60* F +/-.

So, if you have the means to do so you can eliminate the load on the batteries by plugging in when temps drop at or below 60 degrees F.

There is another advantage to block heaters for vehicles that are driven infrequently..... It reduces or entirely eliminates the formation of internal engine condensation by maintaining a "steady" block temperature (minor fluctuations in block temp vs. drastic.):thumbsup:

The block temp swings are much slower when plugged in....

Drastic temp swings on thick/heavy steel = condensation... Does it really hurt anything... probably not... just throwing it out there...

 

[716Cummins12V]

Both of my Cummins, 12V and 24V aren't too picky about being plugged in during the winters in Buffalo, NY. They still start easily, but my 7.3 Powerstroke sure did struggle if I didn't plug her in on the cold nights.

 

[jcvititow]

High was around 15 today and with about 8" of snow. Bout the first time I have plugged mine in since it had not been started in a few days but mostly cause it was cold and I wanted heat. Truck has started just fine down to single digits so far this year with out plugging in

 

[rhagfo]

I have close neighbors, and a commute of only about five miles. To cut down on the Cummins Clatter, I will start plugging in at about 40 degrees. No I don't need to I have been down to about 5 degrees and no issues, expect it would be fine even colder.
I do it to keep neighbors happy, and help with warm up, also run the exhaust brake which helps a lot.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Here I'll give you a feel for Idaho weather... Still not plugged in.

 

[woodardhsd]

I feel a little silly now plugging it in when it gets into the 20's here in NC. It does start and run a bit nicer when it's plugged in at those temps, though.

 

[Ramitt]

I usually dont plug mine in at all. When I do its to keep the snow/ice from building up on the hood and windshield. Mike what weather app/site do you use?

 

[Fplante92]

I plug in below 50* just for instant heat, how long do y'all usually leave it plugged in? I've got a timer on mine that starts heating it at 4 am and I get in the truck about 6am and its pretty toasty by then.

I've been told leaving it plugged much longer then that can ""cook"" the motor by overheating. Any truth to that?

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[woodardhsd]

I plug in below 50* just for instant heat, how long do y'all usually leave it plugged in? I've got a timer on mine that starts heating it at 4 am and I get in the truck about 6am and its pretty toasty by then.

I've been told leaving it plugged much longer then that can ""cook"" the motor by overheating. Any truth to that?

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I hope not, I've plugged mine in when it's in the low 20's and left it plugged in all night before. Not often, but once or twice.

 

[Ramitt]

No the element wont cook anything. Usually gets the coolant to about 100 degrees. Some days at work we have our trucks plugged in for 3 or 4 days before they get used.

 

[Fplante92]

No the element wont cook anything. Usually gets the coolant to about 100 degrees. Some days at work we have our trucks plugged in for 3 or 4 days before they get used.

Cool figured it was an old wives tale lol

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[Mopar1973Man]

Cool figured it was an old wives tale lol

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When I was really busy with the Fire Dept I use to keep my truck plugged in 24/7 and leave it like that even into the summer time so the warm up period was as short as possible. The coolant temp at most might get to 120*F max that I've seen but the biggest down fall is the cost of power to do this. Since now I don't run as much I just use the high idle system to warm up the coolant to 100*F and roll on. I totally skip the block heater all together.

 

[Remy's Cummins]

good question

I wonder how much electric they use per hour

 

[woodardhsd]

I saw 750W mentioned somewhere on this forum, but don't quote me on it.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

good question

I wonder how much electric they use per hour

Here in Idaho it roughly 6 cents a kilowatt hour. So 24 hours times 0.75 kilowatt so its roughly $18 bucks a day to run a block heater.

Hence why I would rather use high idle than a block heater.

 

[Fplante92]

Here in Idaho it roughly 6 cents a kilowatt hour. So 24 hours times 0.75 kilowatt so its roughly $18 bucks a day to run a block heater.

Hence why I would rather use high idle than a block heater.

So roughly I'm paying about $2 a day to have a toasty warm truck first thing I. The morning.... I can live with that

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[Mopar1973Man]

So roughly I'm paying about $2 a day to have a toasty warm truck first thing I. The morning.... I can live with that

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Opps! I screwed up the math...

24 hours x 0.75 kilowatts = 18 kilowatt/hours x 0.06 cents = $1.08 per day.

I hate when I'm interrupted by a phone call and try to think of both the post and the conversation on the phone.

 

[24hrsparkey]

I plug in below 50* just for instant heat, how long do y'all usually leave it plugged in? I've got a timer on mine that starts heating it at 4 am and I get in the truck about 6am and its pretty toasty by then.

I've been told leaving it plugged much longer then that can ""cook"" the motor by overheating. Any truth to that?

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No. You will just have a warm ext cord and a high elec bill !