I'm quite confident I don't need a block heater to start any of my cars in the coldest Rhode Island winter. But the heater works and the cord is installed on my 240D....so I thought why not? In terms of the heater coming on quicker, any of you notice significant benefits? I know it's easier on the engine and all...my main interest is my cold butt tomorrow morning....it will be 5F.

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

It was -4F at my house this morning. I had plugged her in last night, and she started right off with only 1 glow cycle. The previous morning, when I could not open the hood, it took 3 glow cycles, and she HATED it.

Just sayin.

Jon

I've started my W115 in the high 20s without heating. It took about 45 seconds and she lit off in high idle. She shook and sputted for a few minutes but didn't die.

It's garaged year round, but some winter weekends I can't take it out for a few weekends in a stretch. For those longer spells, I'll use the block heater an hour or two beforehand and glow for about 30 seconds and she starts and idles smooth save for "cold diesel clack". So the heater does make a difference.

My compression is 290-310.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

It was 5F this morning as well....my first opportunity to start the 240D on a cold morning. I let it glow for about 20 seconds and it started right up with absolutely no difficulty.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I use my block heaters whenever its 40F or below. Much quicker start, less wear and tear by far, and heat almost instantly.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Yes, it is easier on your Engine and Starting System if you use the Block Heater and your Interior Heater will be useful sooner.

The only negative to it is being plugged in gives someone a chance to drive off with the Cord still plugged in.
I know I would forget. I would have to put a Note on the Steering Wheel each time I plugged in the Block Heater to keep from driving off with it still connected.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I use both block heater and trickle charger when we visit snow country in winter. Both cars will start in typical teens-twenties temperatures without but it's easier on the whole thing and you get heat that much sooner, as has been mentioned. I use a timer that turns on at about 4AM so the car is ready to go first thing in the morning.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Unfortunately, the element is burned out on the 91....but I may hook up a cord to the 92.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

If you have the factory block heater, you get almost instant heat. A lower radiator hose heater doesn't supply heat as quickly.

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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

Never used the block heater on either of mine. Living in an apartment means having no place to plug one in.

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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

Really? I've never had a lower radiator heater but I really haven't noticed faster heat in the cab using any block heater I've had. It helps with starts but it is not like the coolant ever gets close to operating temperature. I was never scientific about it but it always seemed to me to be no difference in getting heat in the cab. Now the Webasto's, that is a different story.

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2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

I have one on my I4 gas truck. Don't get to use it though-apartment life :/

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

That's interesting. On my 77 300d, you could hear the block heater boiling the coolant--it sizzled--and the vents would produce warm air immediately. Not fully hot, but warm. The temperature gauge would jump up once I turned the key on. It doesn't do that with a lower radiator hose heater.

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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

I've actually never used the block heater on my 300D (never got the cord). The coldest I ever had to start it was -7F ... started up instantly, just sounded very unhappy for a few seconds. That was pretty long ago and I wouldn't have had any place to plug it in. Now that I have a place to plug it in, I have the garage ... even though it's not heated it stayed in the mid 30s inside yesterday when it was 15 out. I also drive the 300 in the winter less.
My Jeep is currently stuck outside due to my poor spacial planning in the garage (left the non-running 240D in front of one door), and I've been thinking of plugging it in. I noticed a cord in the engine compartment last time I was working on it ... could just plug an extension cord in. Might make for better starts.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I tested mine once, just to see if it worked. After a couple hours the coolant temp was up to the first line on the gauge, which is usually about when I start to be able to feel heat from the vents. Mind, this wasn't in very cold temps (about 45F.)

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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png