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Engine Block Heater

Yahoo Message Number: 3360
After thoroughly enjoying the last few weeks of 70 degree days and 50 degree nights, it all came to an end very early this morning with the arrival of a blue norther. High today has been 38 and will get colder tonight.
Another newbie question for this fine group. I have a day trip planned tomorrow and plan to plug in the block heater tonight. Does this heater have a thermostat or does it just cook away with 1000W of power as long as it is plugged in?

Can I just leave it plugged in while parked and on shore power, or should I limit the time it is plugged in to just a few hours?

Thanks,

Dave Hills

2000 Allure 36' #30444

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3364
Dave,

We always limit ours to less then an hour and at 38 degrees that should be enough.

I usually don't even use the block heater till it's around freezing because we do not have an electrical hook up and we use the generator to run the block heater. Starting has never been a problem, we live in SC on the coast.
These new diesels start very well in the cold..

Bill G. 2001 Magna 5998

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3367
Dave,

My thoughts..... if the temps are below freezing and you are using a Hurricane heater you shouldn't need the block heater. I was in 10 degrees a few weeks ago.... didn't use the block heater and that good ol' Cummins started right up!

If no Hurricane....... two or three hours should get you going with no problem. N.B.... only use the block heater if you have shore power or run your generator.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3369
As I am reading this a day after you sent the message I am certain that you have already received many replies. I have no experience with block heaters and have only owned my 2000 Allure #30493 since June. I am temporarily stuck in western Mass. looking after my aged parents and have had no problems starting the Cummins engine. A temp of 38 would be quite comfortable here in the Berkshire Hills...Right now it is snowing once again! I would not worry about starting the engine. However, if you want the coach to be comfortable in the morning perhaps you might want to leave your propane furnace running overnight...Have a nice trip.
On Tue, 26 Nov 2002 13:55:07 -0600 Dave Hills dhills@...> writes:

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6823
Jerry,

How do you know if the block heater is working, besides experincing an easier cranking engine. I plugged mine in once when the outside tempersture was 45 deg.F. and had no indicator whether it was heating or not. The engine started just fine, but I saw no coolant temperature increase from before I plugged it in for 2 hours. Does it warm the oil or the coolant?? And to what temperature?? Is there a thermostat that activates the heater below a certain temperature when it is plugged in?? Lee '01 Intrigue, #11219, 350 ISC Cummins, in Portland, "rollingghetto" wb3dju@...> wrote:

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6824
I had an Audi diesel for almost 15 years. The Audi was never garaged, and I used the engine block heater every day during our winters in New Hampshire. One hour each morning was all it took for instant, dependable starting.

Our Intrigue (#11020) is not used in the winter for 3 reasons: 1) to avoid the corrosive chemicals used on the roads in northern New England, 2) we are skiers and, so far, we love the winters here, and
3) my wife is not ready to give up her beloved teaching profession.

However, the one time I did use the block heater (Cummins 350hp), I plugged it in for 2 hours when the temp was around 18-20 degrees F.
It worked like a charm.
Jon

Re: Engine Block Heater

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6834
Quote from: lcasebeer@c\.\.\.

Jerry,

How do you know if the block heater is working, besides experincing an easier
cranking engine. I plugged mine in once when the outside tempersture was 45 deg.F.
When I plugged my block heater in last winter, I noticed an increase in the coolent temp reading on my silverleaf after about a half hour. After turning on the ignition for a few seconds, the temp reading would decrease. I assume that the coolent pump was moving the warmed coolent away from the cummins sensor. In Michigan when the outside temp was in the high teens it took a couple of hours to heat the coolent at the silverleaf (cummins) sensor to about 50 degrees.

Dick
 

Block Heater

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3365
Hi Dave,

I had a 1998 Intrigue with a Cummins. With that coach you had to physically plug a cord into the service bay for the block heater. I used a quality timer and set it to come on three hours before I was going to leave...worked great for four years if you have this arrangement.

I now have a 2001 Magna with a Cat. There is a rocker switch to turn the block heater on. I have started this coach without the block heater so far without problems with temps near 20 degrees. I would turn it on two to three hours before you leave. I would be hesitant to leave it plugged in or turned on, there is no timer for that circuit.

Does this help??

Fred Sage 2001 Magna #5983