Block Heater Question

[Olepainless]

Hey gang,

Having moved back to the North (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) in June, this will be my first winter with a diesel truck. Living in the south for the past 10 years, I have owned 2 dodge ram 2500s both with the Cummins.

A cold day in TN or GA (during the winter months) may get down to 30 degrees, so I rarely plugged my block heater in while I lived there. Being back in the north where I have already seen a few single digit temperature days and it was currently 23 degrees this morning - I purchased and installed a block heater cord in my truck yesterday.

I'm getting mixed reviews with online searches of when to use them. I'm hearing they should only be plugged in for 4-6 hours at a time, they shouldn't be used unless it's below zero - etc etc.



I guess I am just looking for some feedback on safe practices for using a block heater and keeping my diesel healthy in the north.

thanks

2014 Ram 2500 6.7 liter Cummins
Deleted
Tuned

 

[DodgeDude99]

I typically see 40 & below listed for use.
I know a lot of guys over on Cummins forums use say the 4-6hrs & use a timer.

I plug mine in before I go to bed at night typically around 10:30-11:00pm to leave for work at 7am. I’m in Chicago.
At work it stays plugged in.

 

[wallacemf]

I had a couple different Ram diesels. I used to plug mine into an outside outlet, into a weatherproof timer. It would click on around 4am, I’d leave for work around 7am. It helped a good bit on the cold mornings.

 

[BossHogg]

The Cummins will start easily at temperatures well into the minus degrees Fahrenheit. The block heater is more about how long it takes the engine to warm up and making cab heat than about starting.

As a reminder, make sure you run 5W-40 synthetic engine oil in colder climates. The owners' manual warns of "severe engine damage could result" at temperatures below zero.

 

[crazy jerry]

Hey gang,

Having moved back to the North (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) in June, this will be my first winter with a diesel truck. Living in the south for the past 10 years, I have owned 2 dodge ram 2500s both with the Cummins.

A cold day in TN or GA (during the winter months) may get down to 30 degrees, so I rarely plugged my block heater in while I lived there. Being back in the north where I have already seen a few single digit temperature days and it was currently 23 degrees this morning - I purchased and installed a block heater cord in my truck yesterday.

I'm getting mixed reviews with online searches of when to use them. I'm hearing they should only be plugged in for 4-6 hours at a time, they shouldn't be used unless it's below zero - etc etc.



I guess I am just looking for some feedback on safe practices for using a block heater and keeping my diesel healthy in the north.

thanks

2014 Ram 2500 6.7 liter Cummins
Deleted
Tuned

common sense would suggest following whats in the owners manual. you could also go a step beyond and plug in with warmer temps. the only drawback to plugging in more often is your powerbill goes up a bit. some people say they wait until its in the sub zero but i dont recomend following that foolish advice

 

[Big Terry]

I plug mine in when I'm done driving for the day and leave it til I leave the next day. It won't hurt anything on the truck, it'll only affect your electric bill.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk