Block heater

[1955moose]

I've got a question for all my brothers/ sisters in the cooler climates of the country. Why not plug into a block heater, when you park overnight. Is it not practical, or dangerous. I know I'd park in a garage if I could. Comments anyone.


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[Habbibie]

I can see this being worth if you don't want to warm up the car before going anywhere but for me I warm it up for 20 minutes before I go anywhere so yeah...

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

In previous winters we've had temps at 5 degrees F with windchill making it -10. At those temps, I'd start the truck and it would shut off after a few seconds. I'd do this 4 or 5 times until it would stay running on it's own. I try not to move until Engine temps hit 80F. Yesterday when I first started the truck, the coolant temp read 10F and the overhead display said 12F. It took a couple minutes to get above 80F in the coolant.

 

[reece146]

Years ago I used to use a block heater regularly. With climate change we don't get the cold weather we used to...

Never gets much lower than about -25ºC anymore with ~-15ºC being typical. Now I don't bother with a block heater.

If your vehicle won't start in those temperatures then there is something wrong with it in my opinion - unless it is some old fashioned thing with a carburetor or similar. Even then...

Btw, machinery doesn't care about wind chill.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

Btw, machinery doesn't care about wind chill.

I understand that. Just giving the conditions.

 

[Habbibie]

The truly only heater I would remotely even consider using would b a battery blanket if weather drops to -20 or lower. Or just have a jump starter charged and ready which is more ideal since it can be used on multiple vehicles not just the one

 

[1955moose]

Do they make a battery blanket that you can leave on all winter?


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[reece146]

I have had a blanket on my XJ "forever" until the last few years. It was standard equipment on my winter package XJ (MY 2001) but I removed it autumn before last.

Didn't make any difference and that vehicle only gets driven every week or so.

Mind you, may be more a recommendation of the Odyssey battery that is in it more so than the blanket usage.

 

[Habbibie]

There's heated blankets plug in style, that's what I was referring to

 

[reece146]

Right, forgot about those.

I don't need it in my temps. I might see it being useful in Yellowknife or similar.

 

[CaperCanadian]

Thank you for reminding me to go plug the EX in, currently -28c that's what like -10f, or around there. Its going down to -30c tonight. If it wasn't for the block heater the old girl kicks and bucks for a few minutes before she warms up enough to settle down. I only plug her in when we go below -15/-20c just so the cold start is not to hard on her.

Oh and for anyone else in cold climates, I highly recommend the electric fan switch. When I had the manual fan it would be around 10 to 15 minutes before I had heat. Now I have heat in less then 5 minutes. Guess that fan blowing cold air blowing past the block did make a difference.