Starting w/ Block heater Plugged in?

[dashbarron]

I had a '17 and the block heater went bad in 3 years with just winter use. Someone said starting the pickup with the block heater still plugged in could have damaged it. Any truth to this urban legend?

Just always started pickup and then unplugged, capped the block heater, tucked the cords away, etc. Just gave the pickup another minute to move oil around before I took off.

 

[zrock]

not going to hurt a thing.. Sometimes they just go bad.. Was it the whole heater or just the cord? Even when i had a diesel i never run a block heater after i switched good oil and a shot of antijell of some sort in the fuel tank and good to go, running a gas engine i have never run a block heater unless your somewhere where it gets down to -40 give or take

 

[mtnrider]

The block heater has nothing to do with anything else in the truck. The only danger starting it with it plugged in is the chance you will forget to unplug it and drive off...

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[Elc-1973]

Lived in Fairbanks Alaska and always auto started my truck with it plugged in, along with everyone else and never had any issues, and it’s regularly -40f in the winter. Like said above it has nothing to do with the engine running.

 

[4xdad]

It will just warm up faster

 

[BossHogg]

Someone said starting the pickup with the block heater still plugged in could have damaged it. Any truth to this urban legend?

A block heater depends on coolant to absorb the heat it makes, if a block heater is operating without a heat sink source, well, goodbye block heater. If running the engine creates an air pocket around the block heater then it is possible but highly unlikely an air pocket would form.

 

[JayLeonard]

The block heater has nothing to do with anything else in the truck. The only danger starting it with it plugged in is the chance you will forget to unplug it and drive off...

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This. I set mine up so I had to walk past the plug and cord to get into my truck. This forced me to unplug it before I opened the door.

 

[Choupique]

I do it all the time. I dont think it hurts anything.

 

[tjfdesmo]

A block heater depends on coolant to absorb the heat it makes, if a block heater is operating without a heat sink source, well, goodbye block heater. If running the engine creates an air pocket around the block heater then it is possible but highly unlikely an air pocket would form.

This is the root of the old timers' warning. If the block heater has been plugged in long enough and the coolant temp has stabilized there is nothing to gain by keeping it plugged in while starting. I always followed the old timers' rule. YMMV

 

[4xdad]

I used to work out of town a lot and we had two small kids my vehicle had to start no matter what when I wasn’t there so I had a block heater and a circulation heater the whole truck could be covered in snow but the hood would be clear it would only have to warm up for a couple of minutes and it would blow heat 84 blazer