Timer for block heater: How long?
 

Hey folks,

Just wondering how many of you use a timer for your block heater and how long you let it run?

I leave the house at 7:30 and was thinking 5:00 might be a good time for it switch on. If I don't plug it in and it's ~20 degrees...I don't really get heat on the way to work...and that's annoying...but I ain't made of money, either! ;)

I use a timer and have it set to start two hours before I leave and it's warmed up pretty good when I start it. (We've already had several nights in the teens).

I had mine set at 2 hours and that seemed sufficient.

I run mine for 4hrs, but you know how warm it gets in the winter here.

i ran mine for 1.5 hours this morning (single digit temps but out of the wind) and the temp gauge had moved up. thats about all i ask out of it.

I just got a little timer at ACE hardware so i'm gonna start using it, but 2-3 hours should be enough

i bought one too for the block heater. it was something like 16 dollars but the gf has christmas tree lights hooked up to it[duhhh]

Block Heater
 

Set mine to turn on about two hours before start up. Also I throw a moving blanket,from harbor freight couple bucks, on top the motor. Really made a difference. Before the block heater,alone, would melt the snow off the hood. It also helps warm the battery,auxility fuel filter. Try not to forget it. I've drove a couple miles to work until I remembered it was still covering the engine. Luckily it is stiff enough to stay out of the belts.

This is something I should look into. I left mine plugged in all day today for no reason.

2 to 3 hours is all we ever ran them up here in northern NJ. We have a water heater timer setup to turn it on/off.

Not sure what I'm going to do this winter, truck's in a detached garage for the first time, warmer than outside, but I might set a timer for an hour to see if I get heat faster.

Don't the block heaters turn themselves off when they reach a desired temp? and back on again when needed?

no, they just get to a point where the heat they make is radiated off.

I usually only do 1 hour but I will do 2 hours when its below 10 or so.

Mine really makes the coolant sizzle. You can really hear it.

I hear this all the time from people that should know better; it's sort of like the "full-time" 4x4 systems that "kick out at 30-mph."

No; there is no thermostat of any kind on a standard block-heater.

They are a simple water-heater element molded into an expandable rubber freeze-plug. :)

i agree on 2 hrs. look at the specs on the timer you buy, some are not rated for over 600 watts. some are rated at 1500 watts. i dont know how many watts our block heaters draw but my stupid ( sold ) 6.0 powerstroke had a 2000 watt draw and fried a few timers...

anybody know the draw?