Being in western Oregon, we don't usually have weather that is so extremely cold that we require a block heater (usually the coldest is in the upper 20's in the winter, but more like upper 30's and low 40's on average). But now the forecast is calling for 20's tonight and even colder into next week.

Do our trucks (or at least mine in my sig) come with block heaters, or is it an after market add on? If it is built in, where and how do I plug it in? Needless to say, I have driven buses, semi trucks, and the truck I have now and have never used a block heater.

well the cord is going to be coiled up somewherein the vicinity of the fuel filter. maybe below it. I woul dnot get worried, I start mine below zero sometimes here in Maine with no problem. The lowest I have ever seen is -18 deg F over night ad started fine, smoked heavy but started.

If it's never been used it will be folded up and zip tied around the oil dip stick tube.

So in other words, until I see 0 degrees F, I shouldn't worry about it? If I do see that low a temperature at all, it is usually in the desert of eastern Oregon and I am usually just passing through in that case.

So are you guys saying that I should have it?

yeah it is standard on all of these.

Yes you have a block heater.

I think it says in the manual that these trucks will start at -20 (mine does)

Cool, that is good to know. I would imagine that this would make it so the truck heater is somewhat warm in the morning, as well as increasing fuel mileage and not making me idle to warm.

So I just unravel the cord and plug it in to a standard extension cord huh?

Cool, that is good to know. I would imagine that this would make it so the truck heater is somewhat warm in the morning, as well as increasing fuel mileage and not making me idle to warm.

So I just unravel the cord and plug it in to a standard extension cord huh?


Remember like 15 Amps is what you need to be rated for.

I am not an electrician...

I use to run my block heater when it was going to be 20f or lower. The truck starts a lot lower than that (actually I have started mine without plugging in down to -30f or lower when power wasn't available). Using it makes the truck start so much easier and forsure helps it warm up quicker. I have and espar now so don't use my block heater much anymore. There is a difference of opinions on weather to use it or not but I am of the opinion that I am going to help the truck in the winter and increase longivity.

So I just unravel the cord and plug it in to a standard extension cord huh?


That's it.

Yeah, that makes sense.

For the record, I went out and looked and saw a cord with some zip ties tucked way down there next to the oil dip stick.

Thanks for your help guys.

One worry though, what is this about 15 amps? I didn't look at the plug adapter, but isn't this something I can plug into an extension cord from my garage?

Yea, it's a standard 110 plug. You just don't want alot of thing on that curciut as the block heater pulls 15amp it might trip the breaker.

The Block Heater actually pulls 8.1 Amps. I measured it last night. The cord is a standard 15 amp rated cord.

Guy