botts
Active Member
I'm not actually sure how often I use my block heater -- it's pretty regular (almost daily from November to February) though. I plug the block heater in every night to a TPLink Kasa smart plug and trigger it with an Apple Shortcuts HomeKit automation that only switches on the block heater on when it's below -10º C on a weekday, 3 hours before I usually head to work.
Even with synthetic, the Expedition starts way better, and with the water at at least 8º C / 46º F at start time, it warms up and defrosts significantly faster.
At 600w for the three hours, it's only 1.8kWh, or around 25 cents per day. Cold idle burns at least a litre per hour, so 15 minutes of idle time costs the same as 3 hours of block heater time.
Your battery will love you, your starter will love you, and anything that needs lubrication will love you if it doesn't need a 10-15 second crank.
With your power costs (way lower than AB) 3 hours of block heater time is probably the same price as 8 minutes of idling to warm up.
Even with synthetic, the Expedition starts way better, and with the water at at least 8º C / 46º F at start time, it warms up and defrosts significantly faster.
At 600w for the three hours, it's only 1.8kWh, or around 25 cents per day. Cold idle burns at least a litre per hour, so 15 minutes of idle time costs the same as 3 hours of block heater time.
Admittedly we're talking about different vehicles, but comparing my 5.4L Expedition with a freeze plug block heater to my sister's Hyundai with a pan heater, at -30º C the Expedition oil and water temp from OBD-II is at 8º C at start, but the Hyundai is in the -4º C range for oil and colder than that for coolant.
Ooof. Mine starts on synthetic as well, but try it at -40 after plugging in for three hours vs -40 without plugging it in.
Your battery will love you, your starter will love you, and anything that needs lubrication will love you if it doesn't need a 10-15 second crank.
With your power costs (way lower than AB) 3 hours of block heater time is probably the same price as 8 minutes of idling to warm up.
Last edited:
