Block heater question
 

So this may be a pretty stupid question, but how hot is the factory block heater supposed to get the engine? It seems as though mine isn't getting the job done. The valve cover is ice-cold to the touch, and the block is maybe 10 degrees warmer. The temp. gauge stays all the way down when I go to turn the car on.

how warm
 

my valve cover is warm after 3 hours plugged in at about freezing. How cold is it there?

'drew,


I never did the touch test, but when I had access to an electrical outlet (last winter) and would plug in, the car's temp gauge was still all the way down, or maybe a hair above the minimum--however, it heated up to operating temp very quickly--as quickly as on a summer's day. God I miss being able to use my block heater.....

my aftermarket block heater *performance parts * after about 1.5 hours is just below 100F at or around 30F

Depends on how long it is plugged in and the temperature. Temperature guage might not move much but you probably should be able to feel the heat in the block and definitely measure it with an infrared thermometer.

It isn't for getting the engine to full 80*C. It is just made to get the engine up to a temp that it will reliably start. Even if it only gets to 60*f it will start a heck of alot easier than it would without the heater.

Right, I figured that, but it is not even getting close to 60*. It was about 10* for a few days and 15* for a few more. I have the heater on a timer for 4 hours, but it never gets the engine "warm." The car will start, but I don't want to keep cold starting it.

The valve cover is definitely ice cold after it has been going for 4 hours- it is about on par with the chrome on the bumper.

When I plug it in, it does not heat up (noticeably) faster than usual.

I'm glad you asked your question. I just bought a block heater cord Friday and connected it Saturday morning. I wanted to use it while I was awake and able to keep an eye on things. I left it on for almost 4 hours and I noticed the top of the engine wasn't getting warm. As I moved down the block of the engine, it started to get warmer. When I started the car, my temp gauge was at 0*C. The Temp did rise to normal operating temps quicker than normal but I expected more. I also put the blower on and it was still cool air. I don't have any problems starting my car and it runs perfectly (right now) but it did start quieter. I bought the cord to hopefully reduce the amount of stress on the engine when it is cold to extend the life of it.

If anyone can expound on this, I'd like to know more on this as to what I should expect.
Thanks,
Mike

Man, have you really kept track of the total number of gallons of diesel you've consumed, or is that a rather precise estimation? If you've kept track, did you do that with Excel or something, or old-school notebook style?

All 5 of my glow plugs are dead
 

I have had 5 dead glow plugs for the last few weeks. I finally patched up the cord of my block heater and wired it up.... I'm in NC so it is hardly below freezing here lately. I ran the block heater for over 24 hours (meant to come back out in 4 hours but I fell asleep and then had work in the morning) and the valve cover wasn't even warm to the touch, the block was only a little warm... My temp gauge was also still at 0, but my car started... and it hasn't done that in about a month.


have you tried starting the car? Is that easier?

JBG,
That's funny...i'm not gonna put that much effort into it. Although with each fill up I do figure out my mileage. It should come out to 32 mpg. Its just an estimate.

awww, I thought you ACTUALLY kept track of all the fuel you purchased since the car was new... THAT would be cool.
I think the next new car I buy... IF I EVER buy a new car again... I will do that.
I gotta write a program to keep track... something that handles the tenths of gallons, maybe even keep track of the $$ I spend on fuel as well as oil and filters... do a running spreadsheet of all the expenses on the vehicle... maybe even sort business and personal miles....

Is the car parked outside, under a carport or in a garage? Ever since I added a carport, the block heater seems to be more effective in making the valve cover warm. I noticed a big difference in the amount of wind that moves, and now it is much less than when the car was parked with out a cover. My car has always started easier with the block heater when the temps drop below freezing.

Did you tuck your engine in for the night?
 

When I plug in with the car outside I cover the engine with a wool army blanket. I put the extension cord around the hood star and tie a rag to the steering wheel to help me remember that it is in there. It seems to help.

-Jim

It's outside, so it has no protection from the wind. I will try the army blanket idea and report back. It sounds as though it would work really well- hopefully my block heater is still good and I'll be all set.