Block Heater Hissing Noise

jage · 02-01-2011, 08:10 AM

I plugged my van in last night (3° at the time) and the 6.0L block heater was hissing. Never heard anything like it before, so I walked around the van listened inside and out, checked the propane etc.

I went out of my pickup with the 7.3L that had been plugged in all day, and it was making the same noise. I didn't know the block heaters made noise, not sure if it was the low temps or I typically don't hear it over the wind and whatnot.

Supposed to be -20° tonight, record low. Got everything plugged in, a lightbulb under the Jeep hood and my tractor in the garage. Gonna be fun on the bun!

Ed in Montana · 02-01-2011, 03:48 PM

Jage, everything sounds different at 20 below. Trust me!

Back when I had my old Dodge Dakota pickup with a Brahma canopy, I heard a cracking sound coming from the garage at around zero degrees one morning.

It was the dang canopy self-destructioning from the cold!

TroySmith80 · 02-01-2011, 07:07 PM

I installed a block heater in the subaru engine in my van. It makes noises sometimes. You probably just never noticed it before.

Ford_6L_E350 · 02-01-2011, 07:12 PM

I'm thinking the snake that curled up there for heat doesn't like the tingle he gets from 120V!

Mike

TwoVans · 02-01-2011, 10:25 PM

Oh, -20... Those were the days. Back in MN and ND. You haven't lived until you take a breath through your nose at about -40-something with -100-something windchill. Or was it you haven't lived until you've put that crap in your rear-view mirror??? Can't remember which, too busy trying to figure our which pair of shorts and t-shirt I should wear tomorrow.

Of course I can't travel without IV's for my kids in the summer...

I digress, hissing noise normal.

**daveb** · 02-02-2011, 10:20 PM

So how cold did it get Jage? Time to go camp?

jage · 02-02-2011, 10:44 PM

-14°

Diesel in the F250 gelled and I fought it all day, even with a new fuel filter it won't start. Hopefully she comes back Friday when it will be 45 and sunny. No excuse, I've got XPD in the garage, just haven't been keeping up. I didn't try to start the SMB.

**daveb** · 02-02-2011, 11:34 PM

Man, I would like to see those extremes, but wouldn't want to damage my rig...still it's cool to be exposed to adverse weather. My family was from N Dakota but I'm a fair weathered Ca kid. 8 degrees is my lowest to date, mild by your location.