Block Heater Stuff

[Frenchy]

Well I'm about to have a lovely cold snap this coming weekend ?. Get to see a high of 8° F on Sunday the 19th! The low is expected around -6° F.

Now because of living in an area where it gets cold, I decided to install a Engine Block Heater(not the silly Oil Pan Heater) on my truck. I understand that with Gasoline Engines you don't normally need to use a Block Heater like you would on a Diesel Engine in Cold Weather, but it doesn't mean the vehicle won't benefit from it(if you can get to Operating Temperature quicker than why not?!).

My question is for those that have used a block heater on your Gasoline Vehicles, about how cold does it get before you worry about it?

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[subquark]

Well I'm about to have a lovely cold snap this coming weekend ?. Get to see a high of 8° F on Sunday the 19th! The low is expected around -6° F.

Now because of living in an area where it gets cold, I decided to install a Engine Block Heater(not the silly Oil Pan Heater) on my truck. I understand that with Gasoline Engines you don't normally need to use a Block Heater like you would on a Diesel Engine in Cold Weather, but it doesn't mean the vehicle won't benefit from it(if you can get to Operating Temperature quicker than why not?!).

My question is for those that have used a block heater on your Gasoline Vehicles, about how cold does it get before you worry about it?

I think most gas engines, nowadays, do pretty good at near zero temps. My Ranger started up fine when we had a few -5°F days and it sits out in the driveway.

I think if you were consistently cold, like deep Alaska, where you had zero and below for days on end, then you'd warrant more heater use.

Back in my early college days, in Quebec, in the late '70s and early '80s, cars were still pretty craptacular and wouldn't start in such temps (like the occasional -40°C/F which are both the same and damn cold). We did routinely have -20°C and our cars had block heaters AND battery heaters. At my university, parking spots had plugs for your block heater.

So unless you have stretches of more than a week below zero, I don't think it's an issue like years ago.

But since you have one, use it at temps of 10-20°F and lower - as you say: "why not?"

My Canadian 2 cents! =D

 

[Frenchy]

I think most gas engines, nowadays, do pretty good at near zero temps. My Ranger started up fine when we had a few -5°F days and it sits out in the driveway.

I think if you were consistently cold, like deep Alaska, where you had zero and below for days on end, then you'd warrant more heater use.

Back in my early college days, in Quebec, in the late '70s and early '80s, cars were still pretty craptacular and wouldn't start in such temps (like the occasional -40°C/F which are both the same and damn cold). We did routinely have -20°C and our cars had block heaters AND battery heaters. At my university, parking spots had plugs for your block heater.

So unless you have stretches of more than a week below zero, I don't think it's an issue like years ago.

But since you have one, use it at temps of 10-20°F and lower - as you say: "why not?"

My Canadian 2 cents! =D

When I took some time to go through the owner's manual on my Frontier it did state that it is a good idea to use a block heater when Ambien temperatures are at or below 20° F. I do not recall what it said in the owner's manual for the Ranger. That said I do remember the ranger doing just fine in the negatives for the most part. I don't recall my Ranger having a block heater on it and I know I added the block heater on my frontier recently.

 

[subquark]

@Frenchy This guy has interesting numbers on a block heater on his '24:

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/ranger-raptor-engine-block-heater-test-results.14742/

 

[Frenchy]

An interesting read to say the least even though it was in a garage. Unlike the others there, I'm not surprised the Coolant Temp Gauge did not move as it usually doesn't start to untill you get to 100° F or more depending on the vehicle. Also as figured, I'm not surprised the Engine Oil Temp went up a little.

 

[subquark]

An interesting read to say the least even though it was in a garage. Unlike the others there, I'm not surprised the Coolant Temp Gauge did not move as it usually doesn't start to untill you get to 100° F or more depending on the vehicle. Also as figured, I'm not surprised the Engine Oil Temp went up a little.

And I would have liked to know shorter intervals, such as 15 minutes. For when I go to bed and it's not that bad to waking up in the deep freeze and plugging in while I eat breakfast and get ready for work.

Started at 44 in my garage.​

After 1 hour it was 77f​

After 2 hours it was 91f​

LOL, at 91°F, that might start heating my unheated garage! =D

 

[brroberts]

When I lived in Alaska I plugged in if below zero for a few days.

 

[Charley]

Not a Ranger, nor block heater, but years ago I used a lower radiator hose heater in my 1990 YJ 4 cylinder. It started easier and warmed up quicker.
1. Only used when below 30 degrees
2. Used a timer, not a Christmas tree timer, but a heavy duty one. Heater only needed 1.5 hours to warm up - except for the few days below zero.
3. Wrapped the extension cord around the mirror on the drivers door so I wouldn't forget to unplug.

 

[Frenchy]

Not a Ranger, nor block heater, but years ago I used a lower radiator hose heater in my 1990 YJ 4 cylinder. It started easier and warmed up quicker.
1. Only used when below 30 degrees
2. Used a timer, not a Christmas tree timer, but a heavy duty one. Heater only needed 1.5 hours to warm up - except for the few days below zero.
3. Wrapped the extension cord around the mirror on the drivers door so I wouldn't forget to unplug.

Don't worry. The vehicle I'm speaking of isn't a Ranger either. That said I have considered one of those hose heaters on a old Pathfinder I had. The fact it has a Manual Transmission, it would have benefitted a lot!

That all said I'm not looking forward to the weather this weekend has in-store for me

 

[Frenchy]

Well I finally got to use the Block Heater last night through this morning and here are the results.

When I plugged it in, the Engine Coolant was at 26° F with an Ambient Temperature close to it.

About 2 hours later the Ambient Temperature was around 19° F and the Coolant was 46° F.

This morning the Ambient Temperature was about 7° F and the Coolant was 33° F.

Keep in mind this was outside as I don't have a garage to put the truck in.

My thoughts on the Block Heater? Well if you live in places where it gets cold like this weekend normally, I say it's a good idea as it will put less strait on the engine when starting and help the oil get to where it needs to easier vs without the block heater. Also the Heater can start doing something sooner.

If you live in a place where you normally do not see Freezing Temperatures, then I would not bother.

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