Anyone running a block heater

[FrankBoss]

Hey guy's

I've had a couple of injuries that are making it a little hard in the winter time to get around personally.
Being the stubborn SOB i am I'm looking for ways to keep going without getting rid of my old truck, so I thought maybe a block heater to cut down on warm up and defrosting time.
I was wondering if any of you guys are using them on your Rangers/Broncos?
Shoot me a pic.

Oil Warmers, Freeze Plug heaters, magnetic Heaters or recycling heater pumps.
Thanks

FrankBoss

 

[cvar]

Our block heater saw lotsa winter usage way up north, but never in the temperate south. Since Oklahoma is even further south, I'd wonder why bother?

A block heater warms the engine block somewhat, so it starts easier when temps are well below zero. Defrost heat arrives sooner, but it's not instant heat. Good news: it's a super-cheap install. Nathan posted a great thread: ( http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65336 ) <== CLICK

For heat in the passenger cabin, I always found that a 12V portable space heater (on a 2 hour timer) was better.

 

[Doofy]

Block heaters are great ,especially when used with a timer and a battery warmer. I also run Mobile 1 0-30W oil in the winter. We see -60°F on occasion. The timer helps with the electric bill since we pay about .30 per KWH.

 

[frdtrknut]

We used to have Ford Econoline service trucks and they had block heaters. Those block heaters were hot enough to turn on the defrost and go. Of course that was 30 years ago. If you have a V8 or V6 you can put one on each side and it will be warmer than one.

 

[momule]

When I lived in Nebraska where the winds blow 24/7/365 and the temps get well below zero at times I used a block heater but only because it came with the truck. I lived in Tulsa for several years and for sure it got cold, but not block heater cold ever. Maybe what you need is a remote starter so that everything is warm when you go...

 

[straycat]

Move to a warmer weather state, Bro!!!! lol

 

[FrankBoss]

The remote start wouldn't work... truck has a carb and a standard trans.
and it's not the truck... It not where I live... Just trying to deal with my disabilities.

Anyone using the recirculating heater pump?

FrankBoss

 

[cvar]

Then get a block heater. They're cheapest & they are the best in cold weather cuz they heat the block, oil, and coolant (all at once). The coolant heater will not.

More discussion: ( http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-99149.html ) <== CLICK

And any portable 120v heater will heat the cabin superbly without draining your battery. But keep heat away from flammable stuff. Something sorta like this: ( http://www.amazon.com/TPI-Corporation-178TMC-Portable-Ceramic/dp/B000VLUMPQ ) <== CLICK

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My best seller for tractors (usually diesel) in the winter time are tank heaters, it warms them up faster than a block heater (because they circulate the warm water around rather than have the heat radiate out in sitting coolant)

Both them and block heaters work good though, the tank heater is bulkier to fit and pricier though. The block heater is just an element that pokes in a soft plug hole and heats the coolant. It doesn't heat the block any better than anything else just that it mounts in the block. Most of the oil is sitting in the oil pan out of an engine heaters reach.

My brother has a block heater in his '150 and he loves it for winter time, says it is warmer (he can quote the startup water temp from his tuner, I forget exactly) than a cold start and decently tempered air coming out the defroster comes much quicker.

 

[Mark_88]

I put one in my 88 Ranger (carbed 2.3) about two years ago and it has been fantastic. On the coldest days it starts pretty much first crank and is warm in the cab within ten minutes (instead of 1/2 an hour or more sometimes).

Mine is an in-line lower rad hose installation and it took me about an hour to do including burping the system again. The biggest problem was finding a hose to sacrifice while keeping the original in case it went south on me...

I will say that the in-block heaters are way better but I really didn't want to mess around with frost plugs and all that...aside from not wanting to have to remove the intake or exhaust manifold to get at the frost plugs...

Also looked into the circulating kind that would have heated the intake...but decided to try the heater hose one since it was actually the cheapest (under $50 plus the extra hose that I picked up in a junkyard)...I think I posted about this quite a while ago with a part number but didn't search on it...

 

[Chris_North]

The remote start wouldn't work... truck has a carb and a standard trans.

There is a local shop who's primary thing seems to be installing remote starters. They say they can install them even on standard vehicles. How they safely do this I'm not sure. As for the carb I wouldn't know. TBH I'm young enough that the only thing I've ever driven without fuel injection is a lawn tractor, haha. I think even some of the Z-turns I've used had EFI.

I plan on installing a tank heater on my truck in the next few days. Similarly it doesn't get cold enough here to need one, but it seems ridiculous to have to warm up my truck for 15 minutes every morning for my 10 minute journey to work.

 

[FrankBoss]

I actually own a tank heater pump like the tractors use. But I've never install one.. I thought the easiest would be the lower hose element heater but the best might be the one I've got..

I'll see if I an figure out where to splice it in..

FrankBoss