Re: 7.3 psd block heater current draw?
My vans owners manual says the following:
The block heater system is most effective when outdoor temperatures reach below 0°F (-18°C).
Depending on the type of factory installed equipment, your engine block
heater system may consume anywhere between 400 watts or 1000 watts
of energy per hour. Your factory installed block heater system does not
have a thermostat; however, maximum temperature is attained after
approximately three hours of operation. Block heater operation longer
than 3 hours will not improve system performance and will unnecessarily
use additional electricity.
It is really just to aid the starting of your van. On a diesel because it uses heat as a spark source it will start and turn over better with a block heater, gas engines really just turn over faster so they in turn start better. A side benefit to using a block heater is the engine warms up faster so you have heat sooner. That said if the engine is healthy (good compression in all cylinders) and the batteries are good along with the proper oil it should still start when it is below 0°F. It depends on how long since it was started last. I used to live in upstate NY and sometimes in the winter we would have a week to ten days where it never got up to 0°F. I used to have diesel VW's and while I did plug them in over night at work I could not and sometimes they would sit for 9-11 hours without starting but they would always start right up. But I never drove one in the winter that I didn't know the compression was good because they like most diesels will not start without good compression if left out for any length of time. when its clod I have always seen more problems with the diesel fuel gelling that the engines not starting (as long as they had fuel).
At any rate do not over use your block heater or it will not work when you need it to. The resistance should be 12-15 ohms any less than that and it needs to be replaced.Like any electric heating element they do go bad over time.
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2008 Ford E-350 V-10 EB
Transformer Interior
U-Joint Off Road 4x4 kit in the garage
2004 F-350 Dana 60
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