On my lly the dealer told me to plug it in when its cold. They said the wire to plug it in to is on the passenger side under the hood. I cant find it dose some one have a pic where i can look in that area or tell where abouts to look? How cold should it be to plug it in? Thanks.

This question is asked alot. There is a search button on this site that will help you look up things. I am pasting you some replies I found for you in 20 seconds.

The plug-in is located on the passenger side of the engine. It is easier to access from below, and even easier if you remove the plastic inner fender well. It comes from the factory wrapped up; you have to free it from its stowed condition to use it.


I would not plug it in unless it gets below 20 deg. like BIGMoe said. I would also use a timer device so that it only kicks on the heater two hours before you need to start it. No need to cook the oil all night long and waist electricity.

I'ts tucked down Passenger side inner fender(engine side). Mine was coiled and tie-wrapped. you may need a flash light to see it. Think most uncoil it and tie-wrap the plug through the tow bracket on the front bumper.

On my site under Tech tips or follow the link:

http://www.kennedydiesel.com/dmaxblockheater.html

OK.. found it, just making sure.... all I have to do is plug one end to an extension cord & the other to a wall socket, right?? Nothing else needed?
Thanks alot for the pic it helped!

Does anyone know how many watts the block heater pulls? I am not sure if you might overrate some timers....

Does anyone know how many watts the block heater pulls? I am not sure if you might overrate some timers....

I just talk to a friend he said it's 500 watt's.

Cool, thanks...I would have thought more.

I just use an indoor timer like you'd use for Christmas lights. Haven't burned it out yet.

Tom

I just talk to a friend he said it's 500 watt's.

R U sure? I thought that it had been posted before that it was like 1250 watts? Now you have me second guessing. 1250 would be like running a micro-wave oven.

BTW my cheap $9.00 K-mart G/E brand timer works just fine.

On edit: I did a search and can't find that previous post. I did run across alot of opinions that have it anywhere from 600 to 1000 watts :confused:

Somebody just measure it with an ammeter. I would like to know also, wonder if it is feasible to run it for a short period off a battery powered inverter. Probably dumb idea.

Somebody just measure it with an ammeter. I would like to know also, wonder if it is feasible to run it for a short period off a battery powered inverter. Probably dumb idea.

I think I see where you're going with this......install a third battery (deep cell), dual alternator, inverter, timer relay (1 1/2 hour) controlled by the engine temp sensor..........whalla! No need to plug 'er in anymore
:)

Something like that. I was looking at a device that will automatically isolate the 2nd battery when truck is not running or undercharged.

I have dual alts but not convinced it is necessary. The optima battery, or other gell or dry cell would be necessary, the wet cell is no good for this.

I will try to check the current draw today.

7-8 amps off HH voltage. measured. So, just around 900 W. That would be 80 amps off the 12V battery. Thats less than 1 hour on a yellow top?

don't think it's feasible

7-8 amps off HH voltage. measured. So, just around 900 W. That would be 80 amps off the 12V battery. Thats less than 1 hour on a yellow top?

don't think it's feasible

Thanks for the info. That's alot of current. Agree on the "not feasible" catagory.

Must be electric elements, but I have no idea. There was a strange "whisper noise" coming from thetop of the motor for a few minutes. Don't know what it was, but it went away. Doesn't circulate oil, doe it?

Another idea is an oil pan heater that runs on 10 amps, that would be feasible, but if the rest of motor is cold on start, it won't make any difference, since the oil will be ambient temp on startup when it hits metal.

Back to the timer, great idea, but I bet it needs 2-3 hours to get warm. All household timers are generally 15 amp, this is half that.

I was thinking of hooking up a battery tender. Small inverter hooked up to the battery block. hehehehe

@ Masterp2- You have way too much free time mate. :)

I think Masterp2 is a mad scientist, you need to get out of the lab a little more! Just kidding.:)

R U sure? I thought that it had been posted before that it was like 1250 watts? Now you have me second guessing. 1250 would be like running a micro-wave oven.

BTW my cheap $9.00 K-mart G/E brand timer works just fine.

On edit: I did a search and can't find that previous post. I did run across alot of opinions that have it anywhere from 600 to 1000 watts :confused:

LOL no im not for sure just what some one told me. so i could be wrong lol

Maybe it was the old 6.5 that is 500 watts, I dont know for sure where I got the 500 Watt number. I think I just remember that from posts from last year. (I just did a google and found out that gas engines which have the option for a block heater are 400 watts and the diesel is around 1000 watts.) Someone told me their label on the cord said 1250 watts.

I had my truck plugged in lastngiht, it got down to 0 F. The timer kicked on around 6am. (Outside temp was 1 degree) When I went to start the truck at 830 (outside temp was 5) the Attitude display showed the coolant temp was 79 degrees.

When I left work this aevening, outside temp was 20, the truck was not able to be plugged in, the attitude display showed the coolant temp at 28 degrees. So I know the block heater works, the question to find the answer to next is, is 2 hours long enough.

The truck fired up this morning, short glow plug cycle, but she put out light blue smoke when I ran her around 1200 rpms. (I need to get that high idle switch hooked up)

My high idle switch was not hucked up but told my dealer it didnt work so they huck it up no charge. It works wonders!!! I plug my truck up last night 11pm got up at 7 this moring truck started with no problem.

It was "0" here last night, Truck not pluged in.. ( wife is using outlets for her xmass decorations ) Started this morning no problem, the high Idle kicked in after about 30 seconds. Finished my coffee, left in a warm truck. May need the grill covers though, heater being on kept the temp lower than normal.

JJ

Just found my plug-in. Figured I would wait 'til it was good and cold here before I dug around under the hood for a half hour. The other night it was -22F and the truck had sat outside all night at work. Started right up with a little protest and thats with 15w40. Time to switch to 5w40 synthetic. Thinking about an Espar engine heater. Is it time for summer yet. Brand new truck covered with salt and sand.

A timer will definately work. I use it on mine all the time. Check to see how many amps the timer is rated for. If the heater is indeed 1250 watts then it is only pulling around 10 amps.

While I was digging out the plug the other night, I was thinking that there should be some sort of retractable cord so that you don't have to carry an extension cord along. Like a shop trouble light. Spooling up 25-50' of cord would take up some space, but there is plenty of it behind the bumper/grill area.

For traveling, you have a point, except for a few isolated cases, is it worth it?. Or put the retractable in the garage, where it get more use.

IHMO, a "motor base plug" as referred to in the trailer industry would be a good idea. Many large trucks have them. They resemble a trailer receptacle, but have the pins of an extension cord inside. Lift the door and plug in your cord...




While I was digging out the plug the other night, I was thinking that there should be some sort of retractable cord so that you don't have to carry an extension cord along. Like a shop trouble light. Spooling up 25-50' of cord would take up some space, but there is plenty of it behind the bumper/grill area.

For traveling, you have a point, except for a few isolated cases, is it worth it?. Or put the retractable in the garage, where it get more use.We have receptacles at work and that's where I was thinking it would be handy to have. Park, pull, plug. done.

You're in Phoenix, we're in the Midwest. Different ballgame when you HAVE to live in it all winter. :)

IHMO, a "motor base plug" as referred to in the trailer industry would be a good idea. Many large trucks have them. They resemble a trailer receptacle, but have the pins of an extension cord inside. Lift the door and plug in your cord...

Yeah, that was another thing I've been thinking of as well. Just not sure where I'd like to mount the base. A spring-loaded front license plate (like they have on the rear of Chevelles where the gas tank was located) would hide it nicely. Just some ideas floating around......

Cool, now to rob the timer from the Christmas lights....