I was wondering what outside temp I should plug my truck in. How cold is to cold....

If I remember right it should be below 32...... not sure the actual verbage, but check your owners manual.

It really does not need the block warmer until it hits low teens to single digits

Okay thanks I will also check the owners manual

Add to that: a simple 2-3 hr duration is generallly more than adequate unless it gets WAY cold.

The Dmax has had an ongoing issue with setting temp sensor codes due to the block heater being plugged in and confusing the ECM at it's start up check point. This is most common with overnight use of the heater.

While my trucks are parked inside and toasty warm most nights, I do have and prefer the oil pan heater. Having warm oil to lubricate the engine on startup is more important to me than initial combustion, and ultimate cranking speed due to warm cylinders.

do you sell the oil heaters?

Not too far off topic...What temp for the winter front cover?

do you sell the oil heaters?



A simple heated ( plug type ) dipstick will warm your oil as previously stated

Dont plug it in til it gets around 0 or below or you will through a code, last weekend i was in duglas and it got -15 out that night and i pluged it in and it didnt use the glo plug assist that morning it was fine.

Not too far off topic...What temp for the winter front cover?

Installation manaul for winter cover says do not run it in temps greater than 32 degrees.

Installation manaul for winter cover says do not run it in temps greater than 32 degrees.

....but....you can, I've been ok into the 50's (not towing) w/o over heating. That's just the grill cover, wouldn't try that w/ the bumper cover too.

Dont plug it in til it gets around 0 or below or you will through a code, last weekend i was in duglas and it got -15 out that night and i pluged it in and it didnt use the glo plug assist that morning it was fine.

I usually plug mine in starting around 20 degrees and have never gotten a code on my last 3 trucks.

I usually plug mine in starting around 20 degrees and have never gotten a code on my last 3 trucks.

Hmmm mine through's a code like when 20 out

How do you know if it threw a code, does CEL come on or does it show up in DIC?? I don't have programmer/code reader so how would you know??

Was -15F Sun night and -8F Mon night in my part of Denver metro area without the wind chill effect. Truck is usually garaged, buy my half of garage is still full of our &*^% moved out of half the house to put in the wood floors my wife wanted. Used block heater all night Sunday and all day Mon at work (temp never got above 4F). Engine started fine w/o glow plug and seemed to heat up and run much smoother than cold starts even in the 20-30F range without heater.

I don't plan on using it unless it is near 0F or below and it will be back in garage this week.

How much are the dipstick heaters a pain in the ass? I read that you have to remove them because they are very long and hit the crank. Whose using one and where did you get it?

I have always put my grille front on around 35 degrees, I never have used the bumper cover, but as far as the pluggin in goes I have anywhere below freezing because I leave at 3 in the morning for work and usually don't have time to wait for it to warm up and I haven't thrown a code yet. But I do have it on a timer to go on 2 hours before I leave so it doesn't stay on all night, its warm when i get in it, and it keeps my power bills down.

hey i know you guys will think this is dumb but could i plug my truck in with 50 degree weather for a few hours before i leave for work to keep my temps up so i dont have to let my truck idle so long it wakes up my neighbors but i like to get my truck warm before i take off

I never have used the bumper (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282719&page=2#) cover, but as far as the pluggin in goes I have anywhere below freezing because I leave at 3 in the morning for work and usually don't have time to wait for it to warm up and I haven't thrown a code yet. But I do have it on a timer to go on 2 hours before I leave so it doesn't stay on all night, its warm when i get in it, and it keeps my power bills down.

X2:exactly:

I barely ever plug mine in. Ive seen temps down to -10 and it has started. You just need to let the plugs do their thing and it will start right up. If you do plug it in it does warm up faster though.

Not too far off topic...What temp for the winter front cover?

Temps we'll never see down here Donnie.

My cover went on around 25 or so. It made a huge difference with coolant and trans temp.

Unless its zero or below for an extended period of time, there's no need to plug it in. I recently moved from Watertown NY (google earth it) and I plugged it in twice. I really didnt have to. Our heat bill was ridiculous enough as it was keeping the house warm, let alone keeping the coolant heater warm on the truck...The extra cost just wasnt justified.

Also, when you plug it in, unplug it before you start it. Alot of people forget about that.

And when you start it after its been plugged in, the high idle will not engage. Your coolant will be at 150 degrees so it simply wont come on. The trans is gonna shift like crap too since its oustide temp cold. It'll bang into gear. Without running the high idle, the trans will not have the opportunity for the ECM to put a load on it and warm up the fluid, like what happens during high idle.

No offense but if you plug it in at 50 degrees, you're a fool. There's simply no need and that certainly isnt cold, no matter where you live.

One last thing....

Our trucks cannot feel 'wind chill' effects. Only living, breathing creatures can that have an effect on. Metal cant.

i explained the reason for why i would do that so i dont let it idel in the driveway

i explained the reason for why i would do that so i dont let it idel in the driveway

O.C. as in Orange county Cali? If you let it sit in the driveway idling at 50 degrees, you're wasting fuel. Start it up, wait till the volt meter reads 14 volts from the intake grid heater, and roll out. Just a suggestion though. And I only say that because these engines generate very little heat at idle. And when temps are low, and by low, I mean lower than you or I will see where we live, it wont generate enough heat to maintain the engine temp.

I could idle at 15 minutes in 10-15 degree temps (even that isnt real cold) with the engine fully warmed up, grill covers on and all. Sit idling and you can watch the temp gauge drop and drop until the high idle kicks back in and warms it back up.

ok but would i hurt anything pluging it in and can you have it pluged in while it idels??
just questions

It wont hurt but there's no need. Your truck will probably throw a code, like many do when you plug it in at that high of temps. Its happened to many members here.

I had never plugged mine in until this year and I wish I would have from the begging. When temps start getting below freezing at night I plug it into a timer and times like now when the range is from a high of single digits to lows in the -teens I leave it plugged in 24/7. Have not thrown a code yet. When temps are this low the high idle does come on even when plugged in but the glow plugs barely flicker.

so you can leave it pluged in when the truck is ideling in the driveway and also if it dose throw a code ppe will get rid of it right?

so you can leave it pluged in when the truck is ideling in the driveway and also if it dose throw a code ppe will get rid of it right?

I see no reason to leave it plugged in while it's running (don't know if it's a problem or not), the engine is going to be giving it more heat than the block heater will.

You cannot leave it plugged in and have it running at the same time. You'll fry your electrical system in your house and your truck.

From what I've read, some of these codes cant be cleared with programmers. It required a dealership visit.

Seriously, dont plug it in at 50 degrees. Its not worth it and there's no need.

ok ok i just have one and want to try it lol for some weird reason


my buddy has a ford he dose it all the time and use to plug it in when he walked out and let it idil for a about 20 min and it would warm up way faster thats why i ask

He drives a Ford...!!! That should say it all right there...:D

hahaha very true thats why when he told me to plug mine in i ran to my chevy buddys first ahah

i plug my truck in when it hit 35* and lower. i like heat faster than paying for more fuel to idle. front cover same thing 35* and below i have mine on now truck runs about 190* with it on. (coolant temp)

You cannot leave it plugged in and have it running at the same time. You'll fry your electrical system in your house and your truck.

Please explain this theory...

hahaha

You cannot leave it plugged in and have it running at the same time. You'll fry your electrical system in your house and your truck.

:wtf1:

Sunday nite the temp read 1 degree. I started it up monday morning without being plugged in and it read 4 degrees. started no problem...

You cannot leave it plugged in and have it running at the same time. You'll fry your electrical system in your house and your truck.

I gotta say BS to that one.

I leave my Kenworth plugged in and running for hours. Never done anything to my electrical system.

I gotta say BS to that one.


Yeah, I've done that several times with no issues, but I guess that doesn't mean it's good to do.

i statt pluggin it in when it gets below -15C

The coldest I will go without the oil heater is 20F.



To 02gsxr750 a few posts up... You must be talking about Celcius, or no way :)

The coldest I will go without the oil heater is 20F.



To 02gsxr750 a few posts up... You must be talking about Celcius, or no way :)


It was just -8 F here the other night and mine started fine without being plugged in.

It was just -8 F here the other night and mine started fine without being plugged in.

I stand corrected. :o:

New to diesels, and this forum. Guess I should have read a little more before just hopping in with the big dogs. How long were you on the plugs?

Glow plug light came on for about 5 seconds, turned the key and it started. I usually try to plug it in around 20 degrees also even though the manual says not until 0 degrees. I just couldn't park near an outlet for a couple nights.

I plug mine into a temp sensor plug that's used for hose wrap. Works good, turns on at 34 degrees (I think) and shuts off around 45-50

You cannot leave it plugged in and have it running at the same time. You'll fry your electrical system in your house and your truck.

This gave me a good idea. We lost power here last night due to heavy snow and wind. What to do, what to do! I can't be without my Diesel Place! So I simply ran an extension cord from the mighty D-Max block heater to a wall outlet in the garage, fired her up, and WA-LA, power to the entire house! The power company still hasn't restored the power, but I ain't worried, I got a full tank of diesel... Thanks Unit453!

:funnypost

ok but would i hurt anything pluging it in and can you have it pluged in while it idels??
just questions

Nobody yet has mentioned this ,so I will.You should unplug before you start up because there is the remote but yet very possible condition that coolant isn't surrounding the heater element due to cavitation.If that should happen,you'll destroy your heater.Like what was previously stated,your engine will not get any hotter having the heater still on while the engine is running,so why make your power company richer??? Lastly,it's just good discipline to unplug first since you probably don't want to go down the road with an extension cord following you.

Front cover goes on at the first 35 deg night. Never take the bumper cover off unless towing at any time. I have the edge tuner set to watch Engine, intake, and fuel temp. Have never even come close to overheating. I have also never plugged in the truck. Let the glow plugs do there thing, she starts every time with no problem. I will idle until engine temp gets to 75 deg in the winter and drive off slowly. Don't forget all the other fluids ( diff, trans and transfer) are cold too. And I have been told of burning the heating element if the engine is started and pugged in at the same time.

And I have been told of burning the heating element if the engine is started and pugged in at the same time.

I don't know where this kind of garbage comes from.

I live in a place that can have winter temps in the -30 to -40 degree C range for days, and have been plugging vehicles in as soon as I get out of them, and leaving them plugged in until I get in them again the next morning for the 41 years I have been driving. More times than I can remember, I have fired up a car/truck/semi (also various types of construction equipment) and left it to warm up with the block heater plugged in, and have never yet destroyed one doing so. This includes frost plug type heaters, circulating heaters in the lower rad hose, and circulating heaters that are plumbed into the engine block. The coolant level would have to be so incredibly low to destroy a block heater, that the engine would likely seize first from lack of coolant.

Haven't plugged mine in yet. been down to 8*

I don't know where this kind of garbage comes from.

I live in a place that can have winter temps in the -30 to -40 degree C range for days, and have been plugging vehicles in as soon as I get out of them, and leaving them plugged in until I get in them again the next morning for the 41 years I have been driving. More times than I can remember, I have fired up a car/truck/semi (also various types of construction equipment) and left it to warm up with the block heater plugged in, and have never yet destroyed one doing so. This includes frost plug type heaters, circulating heaters in the lower rad hose, and circulating heaters that are plumbed into the engine block. The coolant level would have to be so incredibly low to destroy a block heater, that the engine would likely seize first from lack of coolant.

Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it has not happened. I agree it seams unlikly, although stranger things have happened.

Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it has not happened. I agree it seams unlikly, although stranger things have happened.

Exactly right,and just to clarify,it's not the possibility of low coolant,but the cavitation that can occur that might do in the element.And for all those who don't plug in when it's real cold and their engines start---well,that's really no big surprise--it's supposed to.The heater simply saves a lot of unnecessary wear and tear and gives you a partially warmed up engine.If it's extremely cold though,that heater might make the difference if the engine starts.

It was just -8 F here the other night and mine started fine without being plugged in.

Got to -3*F New Years Eve, truck sat all night and all day, started it tonight at 5*F unplugged the whole time. Healthy dose of PS on a full tank. Rattled like a Cummins, high idle took a good two minutes to kick in, she wasn't happy but fired right up anyway. Strange thing happened though, the lights were flickering slightly while it was warming up, stopped flickering after it was "warm". Anyone else experience that?

The Duramax fired up no problem. 8 degrees. Although the Detroit 60 in the Frieghtliner failed to start. Only Penske knows why they don't have a block heater. And yes we have asked and they will not put one in any of the trucks.

Lights possibly flickered due to the high voltage draw of the grid heater cycling on and off.

my 2000 gasser does that with the lights as well,,,, something is just too cold

Weekend before Christmas I was vacationing in north east South Dakota. I have never even untied my cord on my 06. It was -20 on Monday morning. I just pointed the remote start at the window, pushed the button, and waited for steam to come out the exhaust. 15 min later (has winter cover and high idle set) away we went. The seat felt like a brick, but the chill was off and the windows were clear.

and I have seen it down to 8F so far this year. It's so much easier to start the engine with a warm block. The heater has a thermostat on it, it will stay off until the engine block temperature drops below a specific temperature. You'll actually have some heat as the temperature is well above the actual outside temperature. If you have it, use it!

Mine started Friday morning as well at -8F unplugged. It cranked a little slower than normal, but fired up as quickly as it usually does.

i have not pluged my truck in sence i have had it for 2 years it starts up great and it has been cold around here

This gave me a good idea. We lost power here last night due to heavy snow and wind. What to do, what to do! I can't be without my Diesel Place! So I simply ran an extension cord from the mighty D-Max block heater to a wall outlet in the garage, fired her up, and WA-LA, power to the entire house! The power company still hasn't restored the power, but I ain't worried, I got a full tank of diesel... Thanks Unit453!

Awesome thinking out side the box LOL

Got to -3*F New Years Eve, truck sat all night and all day, started it tonight at 5*F unplugged the whole time. Healthy dose of PS on a full tank. Rattled like a Cummins, high idle took a good two minutes to kick in, she wasn't happy but fired right up anyway. Strange thing happened though, the lights were flickering slightly while it was warming up, stopped flickering after it was "warm". Anyone else experience that?
Mine did almost the same, sat outside 9 hours at -5 below. Not plugged in, Fired up no prob but wasnt happy, Sounded like it had a Cam in it!

Soon smoothed out and no problems, i never plug my truck in.