hi guys, i have a quick question
its goin to get around the low 30's, so i was wondering if its ok to plug in my truck all nite.
ill probably plug it in at around 10-10:30 and will start it up around 7:30 tomorrow morning
thanks, sal

 

Other than the power bill, not a problem.

I usually don't plug in until it gets closer to 10°F. But we do that about 4 months of the year...

 

you can put a timer on there and put it to run 2-3 hrs before you gotta leave.

 

nice idea with the timer but i dont have one lol

im just wondering if plugging it in all night will harm the truck at all
its the first time that i will plug any truck in so thats why all the questions
thanks, sal

 

Up here where its very cold there kept plugged in 24/7

I bought this timer at Home Depot and set it to turn on about 3 hours before I leave in the morning for work (as its usually not very cold here on the coast)

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...k=P_PartNumber

 

no probs. if you have a good set of batteries its not really needed. good synthetic oil helps too. i plug mine in whenever i know its gonna drop below 30 just to have the piece of mind. its way easier on the batteries and i like the quicker warm up time too. if you dont plug it in and yer still worried just cycle the grids twice waiting 15-30 secs in between. ive started my truck some mornings at 0 or below and had no problems after runnin the grids a few times. just my .02

 

You will not hurt the truck by plugging in overnight. However, I feel that at 30F, there is no reason to plug in. Like stated above, 10F is a good time to start thinking about it.

 

In the winter I leave my plugged in 24/7 it can get cold around here and the truck cab seems to warm up alot faster. It does not seem to hurt anything except maybe the eclectic bill, I haven't checked that out yet....Ray

 

You should be ok in Aromas. I live in Santa Cruz and my truck starts fine when it gets this cold. I drove my truck up to Tahoe for a weekend lst winter and it started fine without plugging it in. Cycle the grid heaters twice and it should start fine.

It was cold this morning. Did it drop below 30? I had to scrape frost off my windows this morning before I left. I hope this cold doesn't mess with my lemon tree.

BTW I have close friends that live on Cole Road near 101. Are you near there?

 

Being here in MN. , seeing as low as -35*F , no wind chill in the last couple yrs.
And once in a while forgetting to plugin at around -25*F a few times .
This is how I look at it , as soon as the temp gets low enough to tell the gridheaters to come on I plug in , the reasons are several , easier on the batteries , starter , alt. , use the heaters less , and a big one with fuel prices , is better fuel millage , a double hit , the winter fuel gets millage & so does a cold engine .
Just an extra note , I also will put one of the old packing blankets over the eng. compartment , then close hood , once it get to around 10-20*F , helps keep heat in eng. & batteries .
With all of that when it does get below about -20*F , its cold enough that the air temp sensor will cycle the grid heaters .
You add that all up and the savings of put toward a new block heater , is still saving , I have yet to hear of a failed block heater , but lots of cords going bad at the plug end .

 

Since I work where I live and don't drive on a set schedule my truck is plugged in 24/7 except when driving. Been that way for 14 winters, still on the same heater element.
Even though our power in the great north west is dirt cheap I do have it hooked up to a thermostat set at 35°F though.

 

I like heat when I get in the cab or shortly there after... So I plug mine in when I think I'll need heat!!! normally 40* and below! I dont like the cold that much!

 

this morning it was 32. i know cole road but im on san juan road, about 3-5 miles away from cole

thanks for all the info guys. the truck started up really nice this morning. i think i might need new batteries because other mornings it seems to lag when i start it

 

I would not even worry at around 30 degrees. Heck I cant wait for a morning where it will be 30 degrees. Last night I was an idiot and left the truck outside not plugged in, and when I woke up, the thermometer read -15 degrees farenheit. I cycled the grid heaters twice, and she turned over a few times and popped off. To get to your question, running you block heater all night won't do anything bad, but you will not like the extra juice you pull from your electric box $$$ Its all based on your opinion, but I dont plug it in unless it gets down around 15 degrees...

 

i don't think the money it adds to the electric bill is all that significant....besides, IMO its not whether or not the truck will start. I KNOW she will start in very low temps.....its just so much easier on everything when it is plugged in.....