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Plug in your diesel or not?

Tipmoose

Tipmoose

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
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Grove City
Can y'all help settle a debate? For those of you who own modern diesel trucks here in Ohio, do you need to plug in your block heaters during the winter? If so, what temp do you use to make that decision and how much of a problem is it when you go to work or someplace that doesn't have easy access to a plug in?
 
They also suggest that you run it on a timer. Have it on an hour before you plan to drive.

That being said, I have not plugged a truck in since I moved out of Alaska.
 
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I have never plugged mine in. My personal opinion is they really do not need it unless below zero. Only thing I have ever done is to give them plenty of warm up time before I took off. I am no expert though.
 
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Depends on the truck. My Dodges with 5.9L Cummins don't need it. My 7.3L and 6.0L Power strokes are not in love with the cold. Absolutely hate it. Not sure about anything in the last 15 years as I refuse to buy the new crap. Too many emissions items for me to deal with. I need a diesel I can work on.
 
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Tipmoose said:
Made with GI beer cans. Damn rice burner... ;)
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Ever since I began to own Toyota's my tool box sits idle... Since 1992. I spent more money every year on my 86 Blazer then I did over the 315,000 mile lifetime of my first Toyota, a Camry. Last I knew the second owner had over 500,000 on it! I have metric tools that are still brand new and almost 30 years old!! LOL I buy gas, oil, oil filters, brakes (rarely) rotors (seeldom) and on some of them a timing belt every hundred grand miles... I got better things to do then working on cars, like taking naps and stuff!
 
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I only ever plugged my 7.3 in when it was brutally cold. I think I did that 4 or 5 times the entire time I owned it. now I have a good truck that starts right up no matter how cold it gets here. :cool:
 
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Over the 20 years owning my F250 SD 7.3 turbo, I have never plugged in the block heater. Back when I lived in Montana, I would have and done so most all through the winter months with the gas pickup I had back then. My 7.3 sits outdoors all the time. If I know it will get down into brutal temps, I will put my battery tender trickle charger on it over night or if I know I won't drive it during those brutal temps for a few days or better.

After break in of the new motor two decades ago, I converted to the Rotella synthetic oil which I believe was the trick. 15qts and one large filter for each oil change on that F250 7.3 turbo diesel of mine and she still runs strong after 250,000mls. Never had not one motor problem, just regular basic maintenance.
 
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Tipmoose said:
Good...then @"J" is all set. He's been bugging me about that.
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A1A13504-8157-47CB-B014-4402C4748F43.jpeg

Mines plugged in all summer……
 
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I always did on a timer on anything 15-20* and lower like giles said. Usually kicked on about 3hrs before I needed to leave for work. Warm oil flowing is a good thing, for both the moving engine parts and to get heat earlier through the vents. The front grill cover helped cut that down tremendously 😄

I had a no start issue on my 01 Duramax up in the UP while sledding back in '06. A few hours after getting plugged in in happily turned over.
 
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