How cold is "Cold enough to plug 'er in"?

We're going to be getting down into the 5-15 degree range at night and was wondering what temp should I plug it in at if I have access to the cord?

Also, how long before should I plug it in to get the full effect? 1 hour, 4 hours?

Thanks!

 

If you have the ability to, i would plug it in any time the temp gets below about 15*, but thats just me. You dont need to, but it does take alot of strain off of the starting system and will make things like batteries and the starter last longer, along with helping prevent wear on dead cold startups. Not to mention you will have heat coming out of the vents alot faster.

I usually just leave my diesels plugged in overnight, but you can get a timer from radioshack and have it come on like 1-2 hours before you have to leave in the morning. Usually thats enough time to warm the block up, thin the oil, and start building heat for the heater core to use..

 

I plug mine in when I walk outside in jeans and a sweatshirt and say Brrrrrrr (35* or so) and like joez just leave it plugged in all night. It will start without it plugged in at colder temps but it is just sssooooooooo much easier to do when its plugged in. Not so mention the heat coming out of the vents in like 60secwaytogo

 

Hmm, I think I'll plug mine in for fun tommorrow. It's actually been fairly cold here for California valley weather, 35* one night. What I don't like is it takes forever for the engine temp to come up for some decent heater output.

I did plug it in once, and I had the hood up working on it, I noticed a little bit of white smoke coming from underneith the exhaust manifold. Made me nervous and I unplugged it right away.:doah:

 

I was thinking about this as well. When I work the graveyard shift when I go to leave in the mornings I let the truck run for about 15 mins. It never warms up between work and home. This is only a 12 min drive home but jeez......

 

I plugged it in last night and the low was about 14. The grid heater didn't even come on when I went to start it this morning, and on my heater was warm by the end of my 7 minute drive to work

Thanks for the input

Mike

 

I plug it in every night now, with lows ranging from 30-45. It takes a load off the grid heaters, keeps ice from forming on the windshield (nice benefit yesterday morning), and seems to allow the heater to kick out the warmth sooner. Worth it to me..............

 

I usually start pluging it in once the lows are below 40. The truck runs better and warms up much faster, I don't have to wait for the grid heaters, and I have heat fast.waytogo I don't see any reason not to.

 

I plug mine in when it gets below 40 degrees, but I need new glow plugs. It also helps since I have a 10 min max drive to work right now so that I have heat and the windows don't completely frost over.

 

I should have plugged in last night, it was like 9 degrees, it started fine but sounded like it didn't like it.

 

Plugged in last night, it was nice not even having the grid heater light come on this morning, even the air was somewhat warm as compared to blowing ice cubes out the vent. waytogo

 

rotfl

I set mine up on a heavy duty xmas tree timer (1800W) and 2 hours isn't enough to keep the the grid heater off, and it runs like azz for the first 2 mins. With 3 hours of plugged-in time, the grid heater still comes on, but it runs smoohter. I'm gonna go for 5 hours tonight. If that isn't enough I'm gonna return the timer and just plug it in all night.

Plus, it's supposed to not be above 5 degrees for the next 3 days, down to -5 to -10 at night. Hell's here early this year :doah:

 

I pluged mine in at 4 PM yesterday and it was fine this morning.

 

I plugged mine in at 11:30 last night and started it at 9am this morning. Started right up and had heat in like 2mins!! I just leave it plugged in all night.

 

I just leave min plugged in all night also. It's worth it to be able to be warm on the drive to the shop.

 

I would say that i plug mine in when it starts to get under fourty degrees it wont hurt anything and it will elliminate a dry start up. It is really like cheap insurance for your engine when you plug it in not only will it heat up faster but it will save stress on your batterys and starter.

 

I always plug in before going to bed, and let it run all night. That is if temps are in 20's or lower. I have started my truck at -30 before without having been plugged in. It started right up, but rattled like crazy for a minute or 2 and poured the white smoke like it was on fire. It was nice to know that even without the block heater, in temps like that, that it would still start. -Steve