alternate block heater

[LaunchPad]

my F-350 does not like really cold temps very much.I put a block heater in it and it seemed to help for all of a week. The thing cost a lot of dough and was a pain in the rear to install (and i am a car guy!). Turns out the thing burned out so is dead weight.

Plugging the block hearter in there is no real way to tell that it is on.

Well - similar issue my well for the house froze up in the last storm. so we pick up a "EASYHEAT" from Lowes. Not bad including the reflective tape to up efficency under $30 and they have a light on the plug end when it meets the whall to let you know it is on. They come in several lengths and EASY to install- so i could preheat the fuel lines and the radiator hoses with using only one of these.

I am thinking WHY can't i just use one of these? Do they not get hot enough to actually warm a block?
I think testing will be in order post the coming blizzard (#4 this year)
Ideas?

[M1FAN]

It sounds like you have a problem with the intake heater.You could try a dipstick heater for the oil.I have also seen coolant heaters that fit in the radiator hose.

[LaunchPad]

The heater that went out was a coolent heater type. It cost a bundle and not worth a cent since it lasted barely longer than the instal did. Now i need to remove the thing and get new radiator hoses. PITA.

I am more and more liking the idea of just using the heat tape for the oil cooler lines and fuel lines. Maybe even run a little jog up to the oil filter? hmmmmmm.

Ideally, i would make it an induction coil thing so i only had to say pull up to the garage and never have to actually plug the thing in. Well, maybe i could work that into a project if i suddenly find myself board?

[skinnymc]

Where are you located and how cold does it get when you have trouble starting? Also, what year F350 do you have?

I have a 95 F350 and live in middle TN. Even when it get into the teens I am able to crank my truck without the factory block heater. If you are having trouble at temps higher than that then you may need to check your glow plugs and relay.

[LaunchPad]

The truck is an 02; 7.3 ltr TD, 4x6, long bed, crew cab

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/81/232124549_06b6fdeae3.jpg


We live at 6500ft elevation outside of Colorado Springs- today we were in single digits with windchill some where in the double digit negative region.

Both of the Turbo Diesel VWs we own also do not like the extreme cold weather very much. They do eventually start but barely crank over and need several cycles of the glow plugs.

All vehicles are imaculate condition- glow plugs have already been ruled out.

[kawalekm]

A regular incandecent light bulb is 99% efficient in converting electricity into heat. Would that make a simple heat source sufficient to take the chill off? You would know it was working simply because you could see some light coming out of the engine compartment. I don't know though if the filament would survive bouncing around inside, so maybe you'd have to take it out in the morning before startup.

[NuViking]

Being from the open plains of central canada I feel I am an authority on this topic. I would reccommend the circulating heater that you splice into you heater hoses or one that goes through yopur rad hose. The reason I will not reccomend the tape is that you are only warming up one spot. Another bonus about the circulating heaters is they are easier to install and you dont need you thruck pluged in for long. A couple hours sould do. Three hours would warm up a perkins motor in a massey ferguson super 90 tractor in 30 below weather.
To tell if you heater is working plug it in slowley. You will hear a slight zit sound at the plug being there is no off switch on the heater. The next thing to be sure is pop the hood and listen. Within 30 seconds you will hear a bubbling sound from your block.
Before going though more work, But the male plug off of the heater cord and wire a new one on. This is offen teh culpret.
Hope this helps.