I live just outside of Savannah, so I don't deal with cold like a lot of you guys do. However, I like to put my babies in a warm vehicle in the morning. Will using the block heater enable me to warm the truck faster in the mornings? This may be a stupid question, I will go ahead and admit that.

Most people will tell you that your block heater won't really kick in until the temps get below 0

hawkeye680 - yes, the block heater will let you warm up faster, but will double your electricity bill. I have stopped using mine all together after one month my bill went from 100 to 180!! That was even on a timer for 4 hours before work! I hear you with putting the kids in a warm truck - so it's up to you. Try it, see how you like it.

i honestly think you will throw an engine code if you use the block heater without it being in the 20's or lower....

Do you have a new energy saver frig, washer and dryer. Cause any one of those things by itself uses more power then your block heater will.

hawkeye680 - yes, the block heater will let you warm up faster, but will double your electricity bill. I have stopped using mine all together after one month my bill went from 100 to 180!! That was even on a timer for 4 hours before work! I hear you with putting the kids in a warm truck - so it's up to you. Try it, see how you like it.

Wow, really? May still have to do it though, it has been a little chilly in the mornings.

So what about the engine code? Anybody else ever seen that?

Thanks for the replies.

From 06 and up engine codes have been an issue if you plug in with outside temps above 20 degrees. I was hoping GM would do a reprogram for it, but I never heard that they did.

Get a remote starter. It will accomplish the same thing, warm up the engine and the truck too.

According to my owners manual (2008), it will NOT function above 0.

From 06 and up engine codes have been an issue if you plug in with outside temps above 20 degrees. I was hoping GM would do a reprogram for it, but I never heard that they did.

Get a remote starter. It will accomplish the same thing, warm up the engine and the truck too.

I do have one, but didn't think it was good to idle too long in cold weather, plus it seems like it took a while to warm up.

According to my owners manual (2008), it will NOT function above 0.

Thanks, good info.

I do have one, but didn't think it was good to idle too long in cold weather, plus it seems like it took a while to warm up.



Thanks, good info.


put a high idle kit on it...

According to my owners manual (2008), it will NOT function above 0.

Here's what mine says:

At temperatures above 32* use of the coolant heater is not required. Your vehicle [B]may[B] also have an internal thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This will prevent the operation of the engine coolant heater when the temperature is at or above 0* as noted on the cord.

My truck does not have this sticker, or indication on the cord, at all, and I have used it once (to make sure it worked) and it was 40* outside...coolant was nice and toasty.

Maybe that sticker, and thermostat in the plug, are ways that GM can avoid the codes. Mine didn't set a code when I used it, but I guess it can be hit and miss.