[7m34life]

I start my truck every morning about 15 min. before I go to work, when I get in its still cold and it take me about 10 min to get to work in town driving about 35 mph. Its still cold when I get to work. It seems like it never warms up. I have to drive it around for 30 minutes or more to get to 160 and gotta drive it hard to get it to 180 so my Edge will work. Its been this way all winter whether its 15 degrees outside or 32. I know they say use the block heater but I'm not sure.

 

[mvnvltn]

use the block heater, it should fix it.

 

[The Neens]

There have been a few threads about this recently...I use a 15 AMP appliance timer and have it turn on about 4 hours before I need to start the engine...Works fine for me...

 

[jugdish35]

what he said...

 

[7m34life]

Does it hurt anything to start using it. I've heard stuff about not to use it if its not below 20 degrees and I've heard we dont need to use them at all in southern states and that the motor gets used to it and harder to start without it. Any truth to any of those.

 

[mvnvltn]

no, not at all. thats like saying you truck will start better in the summer than in the winter, in which it will due to warmer start up conditions. plugging it in is to help startup in the cold temps. so obviously not plugging it in will cause what seems to be a more difficult start up.

because my passenger headgasket is starting to leak, if i dont plug mine in at night it will leak coolant from the head! :wtf:

 

[schulte]

Something else to consider; it may not be the cause of your problem, but, how many miles on your coolant/thermostats?

 

[DURAtotheMAX]

it is not a problem with the engine. Diesels do NOT make any heat when idleing like a gasser. If its really cold you can start and idle a diesel for hours and the coolant temp guage wont even budge. You need to drive it and put a load on the engine for it to warm up.

 

[billygoat7c]

you could also put one of the winter bras on it to help it warm up quicker

 

[shaydog]

Block it up and throw it in reverse while you are letting it warm up for 15 min.

 

[ssm58]

I am an electrician and can say for sure that the block heater is just a element just like a hot water heater.It will not hurt to plug it in at reasonable temp.I plug mine in with a timer to come on about 4 hours before I would leave in morn. some I know plug it in when they get home,leave it plugged in all night until leaving next morning.

 

[Dmaxali04]

High Idle

You could install a High Idle Kit Eric sells them. Easy to install.

 

[stroke250]

i agree on the high idle!

 

[mxrider801]

i plug mine in when it gets to be around thirty or so and haven't had any problems, no codes either.

 

[sledhed]

stoke250, what is the warm up time like with that fast idle?

 

[mxrider801]

it is not a problem with the engine. Diesels do NOT make any heat when idleing like a gasser. If its really cold you can start and idle a diesel for hours and the coolant temp guage wont even budge. You need to drive it and put a load on the engine for it to warm up.

i wouldn't say hours but it takes a looong time. I used my remote start three times, it shuts off after 10 min, and it was about 165 when i got in. It was 10 F at the time.

 

[7m34life]

stoke250, what is the warm up time like with that fast idle?

Exactly, let us know strokester!

 

[srode]

Put a high idle and a grill cover on it and the problem will be solved. High idle for 10 minutes then drive it and it will should be toasty in the cab and run about 180 to 200

 

[7m34life]

I plugged it in last night for the first time ever. I hooked her up to some juice lol. I used the appliance timer so I'm fixin to leave for work and see how well it worked. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[u00bse1]

no, not at all. thats like saying you truck will start better in the summer than in the winter, in which it will due to warmer start up conditions. plugging it in is to help startup in the cold temps. so obviously not plugging it in will cause what seems to be a more difficult start up.

because my passenger headgasket is starting to leak, if i dont plug mine in at night it will leak coolant from the head! :wtf:

Steel gaskets leak more when they are cold, the expanding and contracting are differances are greater at cold temps.