I have noticed that u guys mention setting your block heaters on a timer. Will it hurt the engine to leave it plugged in all night? Hope to get an answer quick as I want to drive it to work in the morning, but toooo cold (have to wait too long to warm up) Thanks.:)

it shouldn't hurt to be on all night, but unless it is really cold a few hours should warm it up pretty good. The block heater draws about 1KW, so running it all night every night could add run up the electric bill. Get a good heavy duty timer to come on a few hours before you leave, adjust the time as needed.

And, don't get in a hurry to leave and forget to unplug the unit before you drive off.

Doooh! I hate when that happens. :eek:

And, don't get in a hurry to leave and forget to unplug the unit before you drive off.

By my first hand experience.... 3hours is not enough when it was -28 below.... See my post in the 911 forum.

I find 2 hrs when in the 20's 3 hrs when in the teens and 4 hours when in the single digits works fine for me: At start the glow plugs hardly comes on, truck starts quickly, water temp guage is already at the first mark, heater starts blowing warm air in short time :D , transmission and crankcase oil temps are good and warm by the time I finish a 15 mile commute to work.

Tip for not driving off with it still pluged in:
I bought a long enough extention cord for it to reach around to the drivers side door. I then loop the cord into the door handle.

The engine manual recommends about 4 hours plugged in for temps below 0* F, but I've experienced that 1.5hr works well enough for temps around -10* F. Just this weekend we hit a low of -31* at night and I plugged my truck in for about 1.5hr in the morning... the glow plugs didn't even take 2 full seconds to heat up before starting the engine, and the engine warmed up quickly. I also use the winter cover and have the elevated idle feature enabled.

-AJ

For what it's worth, I had to start my LLY at -12°F this week while skiing. I had no good place to plug it in, so I just had to start it. It fired instantly and had no problem with the cold weather. I've seen gas engines have a lot harder time under the same conditions. I'm now using Mobil Delvac 5-40W synthetic, so I think this really helps out in the starting department as well as initial engine protection. I had instant oil pressure as well.

While I wouldn't do this on a regular basis, it's nice to know that a D-Max will start with no problems when it's that cold.

Sweet. I love this forum. :ro)

I Think It Was Thursday (12-23) It Was -22 Here--glow Plugged It Twice---started Right Up--- My Wifes Tahoe Didn't Do So Well (battery Dead- Cell Phone Plugged In (it's A Bag Phone))!!

Plugged It (my D/m) In Last Night Started Right Up..i Can't Believe It Starts So Easy...

Put Cover Over Grill On Last Week.

This Is My "first" Diesel --
I'm A Born Again Antidiesel Person--(they Stink, Never Start, Put A Brick On The Gas Pedal- Go For A Smoke It'll Be Just Clearing The Intersection When You Get Back, No Place To Buy Fuel)
--- Boy Was I Full Of S##t!!!!

Trully Awesome Vehicle...brings Tears To My Eyes Just Looking At It!!!! Wow Am I Ever Lucky To Own One!!!!!

Sorry----the "first Times" In A Man's Life Can Be Earth Shakers!!!

1 1/2 hours before work does me good in an unheated garage. My tip for not driving off unplugged - Throw the coiled-up extension cord on the hood when plugged-in (I have my heater plug routed to the tow hook).

Timer was $9 at walmart

When it's about 0 I have my timer set for 2.5 hours. Seems to work great. I also installed a tranny and oil pan heater.

You guys should invest in a Kussmaul Auto Eject Unit. It pops the extention cord off the plug when you start the vehicle. A lot of firetrucks have them for both electric and air lines. Kinda neat and it saves on cords..

I keep mine in an unheated garage that never falls below 32 degrees (it is a split level). Would there be any benefit to plugging it in while garaged? I didn't think so, but would the heat come up quicker or any other benefit? Thanks.

I never have driven off with the cord on my dmax, but I have done it on my 6.5. For the Dmax, I make sure the cord is visible when I get in the truck. Right now my heater cord hangs above the passengers side headlamp.

For a timer, I use an X10 module and a X10 clock in the house. I can then easily set the time after I check the weather, without going back outside. (Yes, I know the X10 module is only rated for 550 watts)

X10 Module (http://www.x10.com/automation/am466_s.html)
X10 Timer (http://www.x10.com/automation/mt10a_s.html)

If I had the time, I'd write a piece of software that ran on my PC that would turn the timer on based on the current temperature at a given hour, rather than me programming my timer.

I already have a weather station.

http://banners.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wxstnsticker_both&weatherstationcount=KOHXENIA1 (http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KOHXENIA1)

You guys should invest in a Kussmaul Auto Eject Unit. It pops the extention cord off the plug when you start the vehicle. A lot of firetrucks have them for both electric and air lines. Kinda neat and it saves on cords..
You beat me to it. I use them extensively on my Ambulances. the cord comes with a break-away extension that will separate just incase the Auto Eject fails to do the job.

http://www.kussmaul.com/ejector.htm

I'm going to put one in my rig.

-P.

[QUOTE=RONDE]I Think It Was Thursday (12-23) It Was -22 Here--glow Plugged It Twice---started Right Up--- My Wifes Tahoe Didn't Do So Well (battery Dead- Cell Phone Plugged In (it's A Bag Phone))!!

A Censored Bag Phone! I think it may be worth some money since you have kept it so long! Look what that old technology does to vehicles!:D