boy the 6.2 sure can be a cold blooded pig!!! About 10f out this morning, and it didnt want to start. fired twice at first, then nothing but crank. Live and learn, I should have let the glow plugs cycle 2-3 times, but I had no idea it was that cold out, it was 54 yestarday!!! If I get the good glow plugs from Kennedy Diesel, will I have to let them cylcle? or do you figure it will fire on the first one? Also, as long as the glow plugs are off (read unhooked) how bad is ether for the engine? I had to resort to that this morning. I plan on plugging it in for tomorrow, will 20 minutes of plugged in be enough? I hate to run the block heater all night, but can plug it in when I get up in the morning.


Thinking remote start may not be such a good idea after all.....

My block heater (600 watts) requires about two to three hours to be effective. Most people put the heater on a timer so it doesn't run all night. Get a good heavy duty timer that will handle the wattage (so as not to get to know the local fire dept on a first name basis).

I still cycle the glo plugs before starting, even with the block heater. Usually, one cycle is enough. Every engine is different, try different ways until you find what your engine likes.

[QUOTE=Fred482`]My block heater (600 watts) requires about two to three hours to be effective. Most people put the heater on a timer so it doesn't run all night. Get a good heavy duty timer that will handle the wattage (so as not to get to know the local fire dept on a first name basis).


I leave mine pluged in all the time is this a bad idea ?

Will it burn it out or something?

I used to leave my duelly pluged in all the time too and never had a problem with that one was i just lucky ?

just wasted electricity....

Yeah, it really depends on who's paying the electric bill.

Given that the hot tub is set at 103 all winter, 60amp 220...... 600W off a 100V is all relative...

Charley, leaving it plugged in all the time will shorten the life span of the heating element. How much, who knows, but it is a heating element. If it wasn't such a PITA to change, I probably wouldn't be such a tightwad and leave mine on longer. If figure, use it when you need it and save it when you don't. If three hours is enough, that's how long it's plugged in for. Just being cheap!

As long as you have a heavy duty extension cord, I see no problem with leaving it on overnight. As a Fire Chief, I'm just concerned with some of the stuff I see that passes for an "extension cord"! (I.E., 20GA two-wire "zip cord", etc.) Kinda like the "Heavy Duty" 10GA battery jumper cables some auto parts stores sell. Huh?

Use the Delco 60G glow plugs. When I am in 20 degree weather then I leave mine on for 20+ seconds. If it were 10 degrees then I would probably go for 30+ or pre-heat then 20+ seconds. I have never been worried about my 60G plugs mushrooming like the Delco 9G and 11G plugs plus the Champions. If you put power to each type outside the engine then you will see that it takes awhile for the 60G plugs to get hot.

And I would never use ether to start a diesel engine. I have heard of people using WD-40. The ether is going to explode in the engine compression cycle way before top dead center which is not good for the engine components!!!