If you live in a colder climate with many days with winter temperatures, you know how important the block heater is. Without those, you would have a rough time starting your diesel engine. If they are not working properly, you may even be stuck in the garage or a parking spot. But how hot does a block heater get? What are the minimum temperatures needed to start your engine?
The block heater will raise the temperature to around 140° F, but you need to let it work to get to the operating temperature. There are different types of heaters; some will focus on warming the fluids, others on the block. Be sure that the heaters are properly installed because bad wiring can cause overheating and even a fire.
To learn how to properly heat your engine block, stay with us. We will also cover how you will keep your car completely safe from block heaters malfunction. Stay with us.
Are Block Heaters Safe & How Does It Work?
In cold weather, engine components and fluids, especially engine oil, tend to get thick. That can result in a hard start and engine stalling. In frigid temperatures, even glow plugs cannot warm the engine block. This problem is connected to diesel engines, and gasoline-powered vehicles don’t have these problems.
When the engine fluids are too thick, you need to turn on the block heater. It is usually located below the grille in the bumper area. When it is turned on, it warms up the oil pan and the engine block. The oil can start moving and lubricating the engine when the temperature rises.
If your car doesn’t have a stock block heater, there are different types of block heaters you can choose from:
- Bolt-on external heater. This heater is attached to the engine block. It warms the engine directly, and while the block gets warm, so are the fluids. It can be tricky to install so contact a professional
- Oil pan heater. It is installed on the oil pan with the magnet or bolts. It warms the oil directly
- Dipstick-type heater. It replaces the regular oil dipstick with a heating element
- In-line coolant heater. These use pumps to circulate warm coolant through the engine.
Using any heater core is mostly safe. The most important part is the installation. When there is heat and electricity involved, it is best to consult a professional. The installation must be connected properly. That way a possibility of a malfunction is minimized. If the harness for block heaters is loosely or badly connected it can cause an overheat and a fire.
You can also install magnetic block heaters. They are cheap, easy to install, and can help in extremely tough situations.
Are Block Heaters Needed For Diesel Engines?
Engine block heaters are a part of regular equipment on diesel cars in colder climates. It is recommended to use block heaters if the temperatures drop below -15° C (59° F). So, you will need a block heater for your diesel engine if you live in cold weather conditions.
The heaters are also reducing the strain on the battery and the starter. These components are prone to damage in cold starts and constant revving of the engine.
Is A Cold Start Bad For A Diesel?
Yes, it is. A cold start means the lubrication fluids are not warm enough to flow properly. That will lead to poor lubrication of the moving parts. If these parts are not properly lubricated, then the wear and tear of these components will shorten their work life.
Check Out Are Cold Starts Bad? Should you Idle or Just Drive to Warm Up?:
How Long Should a Diesel Block Heater Run?
That depends on the outside temperature. In any case, the engine and the fluids must be heated to optimal operating temperature. Depending on the type of the heater, it can take 2 to 4 hours of heating. If the temperatures are daunting, it can take more than that.
Can Block Heaters Overheat?
Yes, they can. If they move from their original location, that can cause a strain on the electric installation. Any conductor separation at the blades can cause it. That strain will lead to overheating and complete malfunction of the heater. Also, problems with the power supply and the extension cord can cause an overheat.
When Is the Best Time to Charge Your Car in the Winter?
You can install a block heater timer and set it 2 to 4 hours before you plan to turn the engine on. You can leave the heater overnight, but there is no need. You will waste energy, and a maximum of 4 hours of work should heat the engine enough. The minimum time needed to reach the working temperature of an average heater is one hour.
Do Block Heaters Start a Fire?
If the block heater is badly connected or the wiring is worn, it can cause a fire. These occasions are rare, but they still happen. Before installing engine block heaters, consult or hire a professional.
Without block heaters, I would have a much harder time turning on the car and avoiding a cold start. The heaters prolong an engine’s work life, are cheap to maintain, and don’t use much electricity. Everyone living in harsh winter conditions should use and properly maintain them. Here are some experiences as well submitted by our readers:
- My professional career led me to Vermont, one of the coldest states in the US. Summers are warm and short, and I need functioning block heaters as soon as the weather gets chilly. Without those, I would be stuck in the driveway. This way, I turn the heaters 2 or 3 hours before heading out to the office, and I never had a problem starting my diesel engine car. The working temperature is always in the optimal range, and the battery has no problems either.
- I have been living in Maine most of my life. Life here demands a lot of everyday driving. The weather can get frosty so that I would be stuck without my oil pan heater during most of the winter days. The oil pan heater does its thing after two hours, so the fluids move around those sensitive parts of the engine.
- Life in Quebec is filled with lots of snow and ice. I am driving a truck with a preinstalled block heater. That way, I am cutting down the dangerous emissions from the remote starter that most cars have. These remote starters will also drain your battery and will not do much regarding the warmth of the engine compartment. From my experience, I am also saving fuel because a preheated engine and fluids will result in better combustion.
FAQs
What temperature does a block heater activate?
The engine block heater starts working when the temperature drops below 32° F.
How much does a block heater provide warmth to the coolant?
A block heater can heat up the fluids for more than 36° F. That is enough to get them flowing through the system.
Do block heaters consume a lot of energy?
Not at all. Most block heaters use 100 watts of power. That is comparable to a stronger light bulb.
Do block heaters use a thermostat?
That depends on the type of heater. Most heaters in the engine’s block don’t have a thermostat. You turn them on, and they raise the temperature to their maximum value. Some stock heaters in modern vehicles have a thermostat that turns on the heater when the temperature exceeds a certain value.
Final Considerations
Many of us have found ourselves in a situation where our diesel engines are having problems starting due to cold temperatures. There come the block heaters to the rescue. They warm up the engine to around 140° F, to properly warm up the fluids and components.
Depending on the type, the heater can warm the engine fluids or block. Either way, it takes them around 2 to 4 hours to heat up. The heaters have problems with overheating and sometimes with burning up. But that happens of poor installation or a worn heater and wire harness. We recommend hiring a professional if you are not handy with car mechanics. Keep your engine warm and read our blogs!
