Block heater?

[Truck Fun]

Do you think block heaters are a good investment for a gas engine? Considering one for our used farm truck as it will be either sitting outside or in an open-sided shed; and winters seem to be getting colder.

 

[Brian2081]

I have the factory block heater and it actually keeps the coolant warm, so I figure the oil should be slightly warm as well.
The older I get the more these Detroit winters SUCK !!!!!. Supposed to be around 3 degrees tonight, UGH. Christmas is long over, this crap can go away, I want 75 degrees back so I can get back to the mods and cleaning Bullwinkle!!!!!.
Sorry, crying and batching is over.

 

[MontanaHandyman]

In addition I zip tied in place a magnetic heater on the oil pan...anything to help that oil get circulating quicker, especially when it gets way down there!

 

[Wild one]

Do you think block heaters are a good investment for a gas engine? Considering one for our used farm truck as it will be either sitting outside or in an open-sided shed; and winters seem to be getting colder.

An oilpan heater might be more what you want.Depending on what you're installing the block heater into,they can be a ***** to install,while a stick on oilpan heater is usually easier,and it keeps the oil warm. They come in a variety of sizes and wattages.

Amazon.com : oil pan heater

 

[Truck Fun]

I wouldn't do the work myself. Recently bought the used truck and having local dealer change the fluids, spark plugs, etc. Was thinking it might be a good time to add a block heater.

 

[crash68]

The OEM block heater on the Hemi is sorta tucked behind the starter which I think has to be pulled to install.
Probably a flow through coolant heater and/or oil pan heater. I'd lean more twords the coolant heater as your heating the block itself, more mass will be warm. Adding an oil pan heater is more beneficial if the ambient temps are 0°F and below regularly

 

[Hemi395]

I have one on my truck and it definitely helps on those really cold days to get things heated up quicker. It wasn't the easiest install tho and it doesn't do anything to heat up the oil at all.

I agree a pan heater would be a much easier option. The starter has to come out and it's not the easiest area to work.

 

[Wild one]

The OEM block heater on the Hemi is sorta tucked behind the starter which I think has to be pulled to install.
Probably a flow through coolant heater and/or oil pan heater. I'd lean more twords the coolant heater as your heating the block itself, more mass will be warm. Adding an oil pan heater is more beneficial if the ambient temps are 0°F and below regularly

It's not a cold engine block that makes things hard to start in the cold,it's the oil pump trying to pump molassis's,that's what causes the biggest drag in the winter.A 125 watt oil pan heater will make it start easier then a 400+ watt block heater will at temps below 0F. Plus they're a hell'va lot cheaper to leave plugged in overnight.My 2 winter beaters both have oilpan heaters on them,and they both start better,and get oil pressure faster with just the pan heater plugged in,then they do with the block heaters plugged in.The biggest benefit to an oilpan heater,is the fact you build oil pressure as fast as you do on a summer day

 

[MontanaHandyman]

It's not a cold engine block that makes things hard to start in the cold,it's the oil pump trying to pump molassis's,that's what causes the biggest drag in the winter.A 125 watt oil pan heater will make it start easier then a 400+ watt block heater will at temps below 0F. Plus they're a hell'va lot cheaper to leave plugged in overnight.My 2 winter beaters both have oilpan heaters on them,and they both start better,and get oil pressure faster with just the pan heater plugged in,then they do with the block heaters plugged in.The biggest benefit to an oilpan heater,is the fact you build oil pressure as fast as you do on a summer day

Bingo! I'll use my oil pan heater before I plug in my block heater anyday, altho below zero I'll plug both in.

 

[Wild one]

Bingo! I'll use my oil pan heater before I plug in my block heater anyday, altho below zero I'll plug both in.

A few weeks ago,when Alberta held 14 of the top 15 coldest places on the planet,i had both plugged in to,lol.