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.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K

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

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Thanx,
Alberta Luthier
1983 300CD ('Stinky')155k miles, 2.47 diff, EGR removed, AAZ injectors with 265 nozzles from Sean,and vogtland lowering springs.
1984 300SD ('Old Blue')150k Klicks from Japan originally, came with rear head rests, no sunroof and never had an EGR

'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.....

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JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS

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

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Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k

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.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

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.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K

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

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1999 E300 Turbodiesel
179,000 Miles

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?

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JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS

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?

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1985 MB 300D/T

Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil.

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.

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1999 E300 Turbodiesel
179,000 Miles

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....

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

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.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

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

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

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.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K