Block Heater

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Block Heater

November 02, 2013, 06:37:44 pm

At what outside temperature do you activate the block heater?
Thanks in advanced.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #1 – November 02, 2013, 06:42:11 pm

Whenever I need a sweater Big Agnes needs the block heater.

see ya
ken

Re: Block Heater

Reply #2 – November 02, 2013, 07:34:16 pm

If free electricity, an hour before leaving if temps are below 50 degrees.

If you are paying for electricity, an hour before leaving if temps are below 40 degrees.

Absolutely if below 32 degrees-- and HEAD SOUTH.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #3 – November 02, 2013, 08:56:41 pm

The block heater on our 91GV is very slow and I turn mine on the night before I plan to get underway. I don't use it at all above freezing. Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: Block Heater

Reply #4 – November 02, 2013, 10:54:54 pm

Brings up a tangential question: How warm should the motor be before pulling out onto the highway? I've generally always waited until I saw at least 100 degrees on the VMSpc before STARTING to take it up to a highway speed, but I don't know if I am being overly cautious or not. When I have any sort of climb to make, I try to have it at normal operating temperature before then.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #5 – November 03, 2013, 08:58:55 am

Brad,

Both Cummins and Caterpillar say you can (and should) begin driving slowly (like in CG, city streets, etc) as soon as you have built air pressure and completed your walk around.

But if at a freeway entrance, you are doing exactly what they recommend-- use high idle to allow the engine to warm up longer. Advice varies as to how warm the coolant should be before using high throttle positions. Not sure 100 degrees F coolant temperature is high enough. Basically, you need it warm enough that you have good air flow through the turbo bearings before using the turbo. That is why driving at low speeds to speed warm up is recommended-- you aren't really "getting into" the turbo.

Brett

Re: Block Heater

Reply #6 – November 03, 2013, 09:07:00 am

Below 40 or so, and I'm traveling, all the time. Below 0 even if it's parked.
Don't use Either in spite of having the cold start system, your engine will start using 50% alcohol/either if you don't have the block/warmer.
Remember: Treat your fuel if you're nutz enough to be stuck in the Northern climes. A small cat heater or habachi under the pan (crazy as it sounds) is an option. (i love the Dakota's in the Winter time.. not.) pc

Re: Block Heater

Reply #7 – November 03, 2013, 09:15:35 am

Uh, not to change the subject, but where is the ether supply located? I have the ether switch on the dash but I have not looked into it. Is there a best practice procedure for its use?
OH

Re: Block Heater

Reply #8 – November 03, 2013, 09:18:43 am

A CAUTION.

Never, never use ether with a modern diesel engine. If your engine has an INTAKE MANIFOLD HEATER, as most do, you can create and explosion by spraying ether onto red hot wires. So, before you do this, check with your engine manufacturer with your engine serial number to find out if you have an intake manifold heater.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #9 – November 03, 2013, 09:19:45 am

Best practice is don't use it

Re: Block Heater

Reply #10 – November 03, 2013, 09:24:41 am

Glad I asked. Why would Foretravel put this on if it has the potential for explosion? Seems like a MAJOR liability for them.
OH

Re: Block Heater

Reply #11 – November 03, 2013, 09:26:44 am

Typically close to the intake/air filter (if you have one).
Mine's inside the engine compartment (driver corner) next to the intake vent/pipe. I use the Aqua Hot and let it warm up. pc

Re: Block Heater

Reply #12 – November 03, 2013, 09:30:10 am

Not all engines have intake manifold heaters-- but most engine manufacturers transitions over to them. Best advice is to verify for your engine serial number

Cummins 800 343-7357

Caterpillar: 877-777-3126

Re: Block Heater

Reply #13 – November 03, 2013, 01:14:25 pm

I've seen the block heater switch on the bed pedestal and the plug curled up inside but not plugged in on our U320.
Question:
1. is this block heater functional w/ a U320 or do they force you to use the Agua-Hot for engine pre-heat?
2. if it is functional, which means of pre-heat more advisiable?

thx B&J

Re: Block Heater

Reply #14 – November 03, 2013, 03:04:28 pm

Yes, the block heater is functional on a U320. Mine was also unplugged when I bought our 10 yr old coach. From comments on this site, I suspect that many were unplugged or maybe never plugged in. Perhaps because people tend to forget they turned them on and they use a lot of electricity over the course of a few days.

If I have the electricity, I tend to use the block heater but use the AquaHot sometimes just because it does a really good job of heating the coolant in the engine.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #15 – November 03, 2013, 06:31:53 pm

Typical fore thought. Several ways to do almost anything.

Block heater, aqua hot, ether...

It will start

Bob

Re: Block Heater

Reply #16 – November 03, 2013, 07:27:23 pm

Quote from: Monti – November 03, 2013, 03:04:28 pm

Yes, the block heater is functional on a U320. Mine was also unplugged when I bought our 10 yr old coach. From comments on this site, I suspect that many were unplugged or maybe never plugged in. Perhaps because people tend to forget they turned them on and they use a lot of electricity over the course of a few days.

My old 1990 had its heater unplugged when I bought it. I was told by the PO that they did that so that it wouldn't accidentally get switched on with that low switch.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #17 – November 03, 2013, 07:30:22 pm

I unplugged my ether at the bottle so it would not get used accidently, and use the aqua hot and if real cold also the block heater

Re: Block Heater

Reply #18 – November 03, 2013, 07:34:30 pm

Quote from: Dave M – November 03, 2013, 07:19:34 pm

Really, outside of salesman, does anyone use ether ? I doubt it as most folks are aware of the negative side of using ether.

Skiing in ored's long ago dry camped required ether to start at zero to minus 32.

Great adventure. No battery power. Tanks froze. Propane had water vapor freeze the regulator. Gen cranked slowly.

60 seconds crank time to get a grey smoke barely start after the ether.

Not recommended. Not enough propane to leave the gen run. 58 gallons won't do 4 days...

Had to get the snowplow to jump me several times.

Ether button did not work over 50 degrees on the oreds.

You guys are too nice to your equipement....

Bob

Re: Block Heater

Reply #19 – November 03, 2013, 07:36:57 pm

I want ours to last at least as long as I do, so try to be careful with it, but still do use it.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #20 – November 03, 2013, 08:22:00 pm

If I expect the outside temperature to be below 32F when I want to start the engine in the morning, I turn on the block heater at bed time. It makes starting much easier.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #21 – November 03, 2013, 08:27:50 pm

I find that block heater outlet under the bed very useful for my trickle charger connected to the starting batteries. Never had it cold enough to need to use the block heater, either on the Foretravel U295 ( no ether on this model ) nor on my 1988 Mercedes 300D. We like warm weather.

Re: Block Heater

Reply #22 – November 03, 2013, 08:49:46 pm

Quote from: Dave M – November 03, 2013, 07:44:30 pm

Brillant -32f, great plan.

The plan was made to ski Colorado. Telluride and breckenridge and Taos, nm.

Crossed our fingers. The Lyons 36' ored trade came in that I took. 18 months old and they bought a unihome.

Extra batteries, 15" TV in the overhead. Nice coach. 14k miles.

I had it sold after the trip to the woods. Told them I was going to test and fix anything wrong and they could pick it up on jan third at the Anaheim travel and Rv show.

The Lyons never broke it in. Barely revved 2800 when we left. Four k miles later ran wide open for hours it pulled 2950 and almost 90mph.

Dec 1988 had the coldest mountain weather in many years. Fuel jelled out.

Dash heat was not sufficient to defrost the windshield at -25 in the middle of the night when we decided to move over to breckenridge from Taos and we ran the gen and wife used a hair dryer to defrost the windshield.

Skiing in Taos at -12 got your attention when you went into a shadow....

Had to put five weight in the gen to get it to start.

Still remember the -32 morning when not a single green light was on in the coach.

No amps in lead acid batteries at -32. Only volts.

Everything dead. And cold in the coach.

No furnaces.

Wife just reminded me about dressing under the sheets.

Got the resorts snow plow guys to jump start me.

Cat barely turned over. Definite ether start time. Took several pushes separated by 60 seconds and over 60 seconds crank time to start. Shook a lot. Cold smoke cloud.

No Internet. No TV or radio in the mountains. Christmas holiday.

Four day weekend and 58 hour gen run time.

We made it. Finally froze the holding tanks and drove from telluride to Costa Mesa straight through.

Trip over.

Bob

Re: Block Heater

Reply #23 – November 03, 2013, 11:11:59 pm

Bob ---- I just dont care to torture myself like that!! Maybe a bunch of years ago!! +20deg. in our GV is my bottom limit and only if the bow is pointed south and moving!! Have a great time ---- Fritz

Re: Block Heater

Reply #24 – November 04, 2013, 10:44:59 am

All block heaters are not created equal. When they put the AC compressor on the Detroit 6V-92TA, they moved the block heater up to a terrible location that is not even close to being on the block. All it does is heat the large water pipes going across the rear (coach) top of the engine with heat slowly finding it's way to the block. Detroits did have a heater mounting point down low on the block on earlier engines but not cast into our block. I used a remote location and a small pump to heat the coolant. Replacement elements have the same part number as CATs and are available in 500, 750 and 1000 watts for about $30 if you look around on ebay, otherwise it's easy to spend at least twice the amount. 1000 watts works fine without tripping a breaker.

Even on the coldest morning, as soon as I get air pressure, I starting driving at slow speeds until the temp is up. If I had to climb a grade, I would wait several minutes at 1000 rpm or so before I started the climb.

We did have one turbo Detroit on a fire truck (V8 wouldn't fit in a Crown so used a turbo straight 6-71T). Within a couple of seconds of starting, it had oil pressure and out the door pedal to the metal. No engine or turbo trouble all the years it was in service but temps were minimum in the high thirties.

Pierce

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