Engine Block Warmer

[Conner299]

While doing some random navigation on Amazon, I came across a heater for our engine!?! I will get a link up for it, as soon as I can. It basically looks like an ECTS , with a male end 110v plug in. Has anyone else seen this? Basically looks like a universal(make it fit your application any way you can) diesel block warmer... If any one would have thoughts on it, Roadie would for sure!

[fishsticks]

Mine came factory with a block heater.... I've used it exactly zero times.

[NC_IslandRunner]

A guy at the bowiing alley in town has one on his TB.

[Conner299]

I've been hanging around GMT a little(a lot) more lately, and was paying attention to what BartonMD said about wear cycles and cold engines starts. I like to get into a toasty truck, but don't want to do so at the expense of my motor. Its convenient to run out, start it, and go back out 3-4 minutes later. Sometimes a few more... If this(block warmer) could help, cool. If not, I'll just suck it up and drive easy till my power plant warms up.

[Conner299]

Now that I think about it, and since others have mentioned they have it, could this be the reason for the change for ECTS, by the thermostat, to the back passenger side location. Factory change? Sorry for the horrible run on sentence.

[The Roadie]

If any one would have thoughts on it, Roadie would for sure!

Yah. I make sure to live in a place I never need one.

Actually, we discussed them a few times on Trailvoy.
http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=66691

http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=14265

It was a GM factory or dealer-installed option. Everybody in the UP seemed to have one.

[Nakashige]

I dont ever plug in my duramax it fires right up at -17

[DirtyBacon04]

i dont think it was ever a matter of it not starting. I think it was shortening the 'warm up' period for your oil, cuz cold oil = bad...

[Nakashige]

haha true in the duramax I let it 1000 to 1500 idle for 10 minutes before I drive

[dvanbramer88]

So, what is best for your engine?

Just starting it and driving; taking it easy until the engine starts to get warm?

Using a block heater and just starting and driving it?

Letting it warm up for 4 or 5 minutes and than driving away?

Or letting it warm up even longer first? Or does that just waste fuel?

What I do when it's cold, I run outside to start my truck, go back inside to make my coffee and pack my lunch. Truck warms up for about 5 minutes and than I just gently roll through the neighborhood until I get out to the main road.

I should add, I'm talking about when it's in the teens or low 20's.

[Conner299]

http://gmtnation.com/f25/bad-thermostat ... gine-6355/

See post #5. From our very own BartonMD. This makes sense to me, but is hard to do. Letting the vehicle warm up, till the temp needle starts to move, was burned into my head by my grandfather many moons ago. Now what I've been doing is this. When she starts, she wants to idle at about 1250. I let her drop to about 850, then go.

[dvanbramer88]

Ok, makes sense. That's what I do somewhat. I start driving after the idle drops one "tick" And than I idle through the neighborhood and if the needle came off 100, I'll pull out onto the main road kinda hard to help it finish getting warm.

Usually my truck warms up for about 2-3 minutes, sometimes a little longer. And even if I don't have the luxury of letting it warm up for a few minutes (like leaving work late at night) I let it idle for 30 seconds-minute while I check my phone or whatever before I start driving, and than I idle through the parking lot and out onto the main road.

Seems like I'm doing the right thing.