pooperscooper

Just wondering what it would cost to run a truck on a block heater for 6-8 hrs a night. Or if anybody knows what wattage the heater is rated at, that would help as well.

Also, as of right now, i have mine set on a timer for about 4hrs a night. comes on at about 2 and unplug around 6-7. seems to warm up faster, is it worth even putting it on the timer that long or should i set it for longer. temps are in the 20's during the night

53 willys

I think they are 500-600 watts. There has been a ton of threads about this try the search feature you should find what you need.

TexasCTD

I believe the heaters are 750 watts.

Somebody calculated it out at 4hrs a day for a month.....and it came to like $15.00. But I don't have a link to the thread. It's not free, but it is probably worth the cost.

53 willys

I think it is more then worth it when your heater is warm soon as you start the truck.


I did the search for yah!!..............just one of many threads
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...k+heater+watts

BigDave12768

No need too run it all night. If you have a regular time you leave every morning. Go out and buy a timer. Home depot sells them. Then just have it power on about an hour before you leave for work. I am not sure about the 3rd gens since I just got mine. But my old 12v would fire right up no matter how cold it was. I never plugged it in. Sure it would puff white smoke for about 30 seconds and idle rough. But it would clear up.

earleb1

My heater draws 675 watts. Electric here is $0.0774/KWH. so 8 hrs a day X 30 days = $.42 a day X 30 days = $12.53 a month. YMMV depending on your electric rates.

Baja

I ran mine for a month straight to see what would happen. My bill went through the roof, I was very shocked. Now I just run it a few hours before startup. Get a timer.
All this was discussed on earlier threads, some said not much cost, others said a lot of cost. The best way is to check it out for yourself.

4x4dually

Got to Wal-Mart or Lowes or somewhere and get a small AC timer. I leave for work at 7:00 am and the timer is set to come on at 4:00 am and go back off at 8:00 (in case I sleep late). That is always plenty of time for my truck to start easily and warm up in a couple blocks instead of clear across town at any temp around here. If it gets down in the 20's, I'll leave it on all night. It should only be about $10-$20 a month, tops, depending on what you pay per Kilo-Watt/Hr. The timer will pay for itself in a couple months.

RMachida

Electricity rates in Calif. are among the highest in the nation, just below Hawaii. I believe they are over double the rate used in earleb1's calculation.

4x4dually

Mine was figured at $0.12 per KW/Hr. That was the rate around here at the time I figured it. If your truck heater shoots your electic bill thought the roof, you got problems or you are pluggin' it in WAY TO LONG! My God, it only needs a couple hours before you start it. If you leave it plugged in all the time, heck yes it is going to kill your electric bill!

madhat

Until I get the heater cord, I just crank my truck, let it idle for 30 sec, then set the parking brake and put it in reverse. Go back in the house and smooch the ol' lady for a minute, and the truck is ready to ride. It takes maybe 5 min if it is below 30. It does not get that cold here, but my remote starter has an option to start and run the truck for a predetermined time at set intervals. I'm thinking about just building a heated garage!!

goose2

Why in the world would you put it in reverse wile your not in it? Sounds like to me that is some unsafe practice. Ah who knows, maybe we all can learn something new on here.

4x4dually

Wow. Never heard of that one either. I sure hope your parking brake is good!

Captain

I assume he puts it in a gear (and that its an automatic) in order to put a load against the motor. Thats got to build up quite a bit of heat in the converter and trans though. Also theres a reason you shouldnt start the truck if the oil temp is below 10 degrees. (for standard 15-40, synthetic 5-40 is good down to -20) its because its to cold, thick, to lubricate and you will scuff your bearings.

Geico266

Got to agree with the others here due, that is a bad practice. The same thing can be accomplished (without risking damage to your tranny or passersby) by getting a stick and placing it between the seat & throttle. Use the power seats to set the idle to around 1300.

or just plug it in.