With a block heater how arm should your engine be when starting it on a 30 Degree morning?
How long can you leave it plugged in--will it take 14 hours of being plugged in every winter night for 5 years?
Has anyone had problems with corrosion on the female part of the plug heater electric receptacle, which is on the Plug Heater?I replace my 20 year old heater because it was tarnished so badly, I thought there would be no way I could get a Ground for the Cord
I actually thought, when i put mine in, that when you started the car, the Heater would be toasty warm..not too smart, considering that the water pump isn't running yet, and that little heater element, no matter how robust, isn't the same thing as 5 or 6 cylinders thumping away at 3 grand RPM..
Finally, is it possible that coolant loss occurs when using one of these things? I havent done a pressure test or really investigated, but I notice I am losing coolant whenever I use the thing....

the heater doesn't cause coolant loss, unless it leaks. You only need a few hours, even at 0F. Depends somewhat on conditions. Parking in a windy site will suck heat away pretty fast. You can use a cheap 24 hour timer in series with an extension cord. Set it to go on 2-3 hours before you leave in the morning

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I think if you use a timer to turn it on 1.5 -2 hours before you leave thats plenty of time. It won't be toasty warm but definately warmer than ambient by a good margin.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Every time I've used the block heater, the temp guage showed 60*C as soon as the key was turned. That should be enough to give you some heat, but not blazing hot.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

mine is on a timer, 3-4 hours and its just showing on the gauge(about 40c) when its 30f out.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

I use a timer and keep it on for about 2-3 hours. Use a good timer and extension cord they draw 10 amps. I bought a high quality outdoor cord and grounded timer, both rated for 15 amps so no fires at my house!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I used to live in Amarillo, Texas. I used to have a 1984 F-250, 6.9 liter International Diesel. Man out in the open plains there you'd better have a block heater for your engine. I left my truck out in a parking lot where I worked without the heating block plugged up all day. That truck didn't crank for 2 weeks setting out in 15 degree weather. As long as I kept it plugged up, I had no problems. Cranked up better than a gas engine on freezing days. Now down here in Austin, that's a whole different story. I feel for you guys in the North.