Ecoboost block heater?
12-08-2011, 12:21 PM
#11
Juggernaut
12-08-2011, 02:58 PM
#12
Senior Member
Not true! You can leave your truck plugged in for days or weeks, it doesn't matter. The block heater only heats to a certain temperature, after that it shuts off until it reaches it's lower limit and turns on again, like your furnace at home. The only penalty is electricity, that why I run mine on a timer (four hours before I leave it turns on). I plug mine in when it is going to be below 10 degrees in the morning, not because I think it won't start, but because it keeps the engine warm. A warm engine wears less, is easier to start, less fuel used, and it is nice to start your truck and get warm air coming through the vents by the time I pull out of my driveway.
12-08-2011, 04:12 PM
#13
Member
Most new vehicles come with block heaters with a built in temp switch in block heater cord that would not turn on till pretty cold out....last Chev didn't power the block heater up till -18C....not sure what that is in F and where the F150 comes on.
Another thing is that block heaters don't heat the oil directly,they heat the coolant,which in turn warms up the engine.,,,ever have a block heater leak and it's antifreeze that leaks out.
The info on what temp block heater kicks on may be in the owners manual but haven't looked.
Another thing is that block heaters don't heat the oil directly,they heat the coolant,which in turn warms up the engine.,,,ever have a block heater leak and it's antifreeze that leaks out.
The info on what temp block heater kicks on may be in the owners manual but haven't looked.
12-08-2011, 05:46 PM
#14
Juggernaut
True, however, read instructions on any block heater: All of them tell you to use it , as you do, a few hours. A little advice, block heaters draw a lot of electricity (up to 2000 watts!) if you use a timer make sure its rated for it and that its rated for outdoor use. For me, still more trouble than its worth, I simply use the remote starter. Another little note on block heaters, they keed the engine warm, the tranny and the rest of the driveline will still be cold.
As for the electricity usage, the block heaters I found are 600 watt heaters for our trucks. So 600 watts for four hours (the recommended max time for efficiency) is 2400 total watts, that is like running a 100 watt light bulb for a 24hour period. I know I have a few lights on all the time, just sayin.
As far as your timer issue, a 600 watt heater only draws 5amps. If your timer can't handle 5 amps I don't know what kind of timer you are buying.
12-08-2011, 05:55 PM
#16
Juggernaut
In AK they want you to plug in at 20F (-7C) or below.
AK Block Heater Page
"A study performed by Sierra Research in Anchorage and Fairbanks compared emissions from vehicles at cold temperatures. The local testing established that use of block heaters substantially reduces start-up emissions and fuel consumption.
Exhaust from cold engines is rich in carbon monoxide (CO) and toxic air contaminants, but pre-heating engines two to three hours before starting reduces CO emissions by nearly 60%. We encourage motorists to ensure that any vehicle they buy is equipped with a block heater – and to Plug@20!"
AK Block Heater Page
"A study performed by Sierra Research in Anchorage and Fairbanks compared emissions from vehicles at cold temperatures. The local testing established that use of block heaters substantially reduces start-up emissions and fuel consumption.
Exhaust from cold engines is rich in carbon monoxide (CO) and toxic air contaminants, but pre-heating engines two to three hours before starting reduces CO emissions by nearly 60%. We encourage motorists to ensure that any vehicle they buy is equipped with a block heater – and to Plug@20!"
12-09-2011, 11:51 AM
#17
Senior Member
[QUOTE=Tatunka;1247486]In AK they want you to plug in at 20F (-7C) or below.
AK Block Heater Page
"A study performed by Sierra Research in Anchorage and Fairbanks compared emissions from vehicles at cold temperatures. The local testing established that use of block heaters substantially reduces start-up emissions and fuel consumption.
Exhaust from cold engines is rich in carbon monoxide (CO) and toxic air contaminants, but pre-heating engines two to three hours before starting reduces CO emissions by nearly 60%. We encourage motorists to ensure that any vehicle they buy is equipped with a block heater – and to Plug@20!"[/QUOTE]
Also true but that reduction is for about 3 min in a normal engine and less than that in a direct injection engine. Again its a matter of prefference. If your vehicle sleeps out in the elements a block heater is much more useful than if its garaged. However if it rarely falls below 10 F in the area that you live there is not much use for it. Northern Pensylvania can be snowy but its rarely bitterly cold. Northern MN, WI, the Dakotas, etc they can occasionaly be of use, south, east or west of that its pretty useless. In many areas of Canada it is also useful wor stuff outside. It is superbly useful for big construction equipment because most of it is diesel!
AK Block Heater Page
"A study performed by Sierra Research in Anchorage and Fairbanks compared emissions from vehicles at cold temperatures. The local testing established that use of block heaters substantially reduces start-up emissions and fuel consumption.
Exhaust from cold engines is rich in carbon monoxide (CO) and toxic air contaminants, but pre-heating engines two to three hours before starting reduces CO emissions by nearly 60%. We encourage motorists to ensure that any vehicle they buy is equipped with a block heater – and to Plug@20!"[/QUOTE]
Also true but that reduction is for about 3 min in a normal engine and less than that in a direct injection engine. Again its a matter of prefference. If your vehicle sleeps out in the elements a block heater is much more useful than if its garaged. However if it rarely falls below 10 F in the area that you live there is not much use for it. Northern Pensylvania can be snowy but its rarely bitterly cold. Northern MN, WI, the Dakotas, etc they can occasionaly be of use, south, east or west of that its pretty useless. In many areas of Canada it is also useful wor stuff outside. It is superbly useful for big construction equipment because most of it is diesel!
12-09-2011, 12:52 PM
#18
It got down to -14F here a few nights ago. The Outback didn't start and we might be getting a block heater for it. It always starts right up at 0F for above. It will be interesting to see how the soon-to-arrive F150 handles the sub-zero temps.
12-09-2011, 12:58 PM
#19
I was looking at these a while back for a different car I owned.
They are heating pads with an adhesive backing
http://www.padheaters.com
They are heating pads with an adhesive backing
http://www.padheaters.com
12-09-2011, 01:16 PM
#20
Senior Member
The fuel economy savings will probably be zero (or very close to zero). If you want to get the best MPGs in winter the procedure is easy: Start your truck, do not let it idle for more than a minute, drive off in a very conservative manner till the temperature gauge starts to budge from "cold". Remember the MPG from a a vehicle idling is ZERO. A cold engine's MPGs will be lower than when in normal operating temperatures but much better than "zilch" 
I have found that the Eboost gives you a nice audible hint of when its ready to drive off. When you start it you will hear the turbo's light up, after a few seconds the rpms ramp down and you can't hear the blowers anymore, done, time to go! You can also watch the exhaust, as the turbos spool there is a nice puff of water vapor, once they spool down the "puff" disappears
I have found that the Eboost gives you a nice audible hint of when its ready to drive off. When you start it you will hear the turbo's light up, after a few seconds the rpms ramp down and you can't hear the blowers anymore, done, time to go! You can also watch the exhaust, as the turbos spool there is a nice puff of water vapor, once they spool down the "puff" disappears