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

 

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?