at what temp should I plug in and what if I cant when I am at work for 8 hrs @ 15 degrees or so. thanks

 

I have a 1999 Cummins. I do have a place to plug it in at work so I consider myself lucky there. However I make a habit whenever possible to plug it in whenever its below freezing. I have started my truck when it was 6 degrees. The only reason I did that was beacause a had to pull a guy out of the ditch where he slid off the road(It paid good). It did start right off like normal well I say normal it did crank slow but it did start without no more cranking than normal.

 

I like to plug in when it is below 40F for the reason that it allows the engine to warm up faster and you can get heat in the cab faster!

I live on a highway... So I don't get the 4-5 miles of puttin' around to warm up. I've got to leave my driveway and get up to 65-70 MPH! That gives the truck all of 150 FEET to warm up!

So plugging in is a owner selection... It's best to warm up your truck as much as possible on cold days so the oil can stablize a bit also allowing the computer to manage the fuel better. (Get out of the cold start program).

 

Once the temps drop below 40* at night, I plug in using a heavy-duty timer set to come on 3 hours before I leave @ 0600 each morning.
If the temps are forecast to drop below 15*, I don't use the timer and just let it eat electrons all night long.

At work, I have no place to plug in, so I cycle the grid heaters two times before attempting to start.
Either way I let it idle for a couple of minutes with the Auto trans in Neutral to get the Oil & ATF circulating.

I also use winter fronts and/or a piece of cardboard with a 5" hole cut in it slipped between the radiator and the AC condenser.
That helps get the engine temps up a little quicker.

 

I do exactly the same as Shovelhead.

 

I don't plug in until temps drop below 20. But like the others, I leave it cycle for 3 hours. If temps are expected to be zero or below, it's increased to 4 hours. You will need a timer that can handle at least a 7 amp resistive load. The Intermatic DT17C is a digital timer capable of handling 15 amps. You can turn it on and off at precisely the time you want. I have mine set to turn it off several minutes before I leave for work. Last year I grabbed the plug live that was wet and salty and got zapped even with a protected outlet. The other advantage to the timer is that it has Saturday and Sunday settings too.

 

I Plug mine in when its below 40 degrees. I also use a timer that turns on every 2-1/2 hours for 1 hour then repeats. Never had a problem. I have left it unpluged a few times but takes too darn long to get heat in the cab. My timer in just a 1200 watt all weather. I bought it at Wal-Mart at Christmas in 00. If it ever gets cold enough down here I just zip tie the timer to the bumper.

 

thanks for the in put guys i didn't think of a timer thats a good idea

 

....leave your defroster "on" and the temp at the highest position when you plug it in - you'll wake up with frost-free windows (given reasonable humidity and not-in-the-REALLY-cold temp ranges)

 

can you start it wile it's plugged in

 

Yes, as a matter of fact Cummins reccomends leaving it plugged in while warming up.
I start mine in the AM, go in and finish my cup-o-coffee then come out UNPLUG THE CORD
Then drive away.

Did I mention to remember to
UNPLUG
THE CORD

There will be several posts related to people who got distracted in the morning and forgot to
UNPLUG
THE CORD
and end up dragging 25 feet of extension cord down the road to work with them.

Each member has come up with their own way/trick/method to remember to
UNPLUG
THE CORD
so this dosen't happen to them (more than once).

You'll have to find the one that works best for you.

 

Hey Ed, you ever forget to.....unplug the cord?

 

Anyone who hasn't used a block heater would think that sounds dumb. Well it aint. Real easy to do.

I have never driven away with the block heater plugged in, but I have driven away a crop sprayer still hooked to a 3" suction line.

(don't worry, it cam free after it snapped the top elbow off of a 3" Honda water pump)

 

Yeah? I just lost a very nice impact wrench that I left sitting on the rear bumber.... Whoever was following me just got a very nice tool for free.

 

I could be wrong, but I think Shovelhead's been chased by a 25 ft morning snake. At least once.

When this happens, what's it called? Something like an AM Anaconda?