12 volt block heater????
 

is there any way to run the block heater off of my truck. i live in some high end apts rightnow and there is no way in the world they ll let me run a ext cord across the parking lot. how many watts does the block heaters pull. could i run an inverter???? thanks guys

You will already have a block heater installed on your truck - I believe its 800 watts or so. An inverter is not going to supply enough juice.

It doesnt get that cold in Nashville - you should be fine without a block heater. What are the coldest temps you see during the winter?

you think it gets cold in nashvill and have to plug your truck in? weve been having temps in the teens the last two weeks and my truck dont get the privalage of getting pluged in, starts fine

Ive started mine in -20 temps and she starts just fine. It MUCH happier when its plugged in though.

You should consider putting full synthetic oil in (Amsoil/Royal Purple/Esso XD-3). My truck turns over MUCH easier with 0W40 oil.

im running 5w-40 fully syn from Mobil coldest ive started my truck in so far is only about 12, without block heater. But if your truck is having troubles starting in the cold, i always carry portible generators that would run a block heater pretty easy you might want to look some of those up they seem to come in handy alot for me. I'll see how it starts doin when temp starts droppin a bit more. What kind of oil do you run in it right now?

was living in colorado last few years till i moved, was in -39 weather in pieanche creek during late elk hunt last year started fine, just a little grumpy, and i run rotella 10w40, you should not have to worry, allthough if you need one a company called zero start makes a 12volt and a 24 volt unit that burns diesel and circulates your coolant and is programmable by time or temp to turn on and off, installed several of these for customers on diesel field equiptment ( mostly detroits, cold blooded ) they were very reliable, but you shouldnt need one, save your money for the upgrades you want :U:

thanks guys its not so much hard to start. it does have a lil shake to it when its started cold after sitting a few days though. i run 10 40 rotella t, and we get down in the teens in the winter. it does have a block heater already with the 110 plug. i wanted to some how run it back to a battery via inverter. BECAUSE: when i get in the truck with my children i wanted the heater to blow warm not long after i start it.

If you want heat when you get into the truck you need an ESPAR or Webasto Hydronic water heater.

Enhance your quality of life - Welcome to Espar

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_auto_heaters.html

This will give you warm coolant, instant heat, and a defrosted windshield. it also carries about a $1500 pricetag.

i'll just run out in my underwear and start the thing up xtra early i guess. i appreciate the help guys

Idelling it wont make any heat, unless you have a high idle switch/cable.

This isnt a gas vehicle.

Is there any way to rig up a High Idle Cable/switch now that ya mention it without some kit that cost a friggin arm and a leg:humm:

ummmmmmmmm!

I am working on one right now. I will posts some pics if I get it working ok.

Of course a broom handle or snow brush wedged between the seat and go pedal works ok too.

But you have a 99 which you can do electronically. Just find someone with a Smarty and load it onto your trukc, When they remove the Smarty, the high idle will be enabled.

To make heat and warm the truck up you need to have a way to raise the rpms to between 1100-1200.

i use a piece of 3/4" sch 40 PVC and put it between the seat and accelerator pedal and adjust the power seat to the desired RPM......

hughesis21. No you can't run your block heater that way.
Even if you did manage to do it with an inverter, you'd have
a dead battery long before morning. Trying to run a block heater
in that way would be like leaving the headlights on.

yep broom handle time thanks

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i guess i could just ask the apt manager to furnish me an oversized garage with a heater in it. right!!!!

La dee dah....



some people dont have power seats...lol

how do you activate it then or does the truck just know the outside air temp and kick it on when you start it??:pca1:

Once enabled, it will activate automatically (when certain conditions are met):

Once enabled, idle speed will slowly ramp up from 800 rpm to 1200 rpm when all of the following conditions are met:

1. Intake Manifold Temperature less than 0°C (32°F) and,
2. Coolant Temp is less than 60°C (140°F) and,
3. The Transmission is in Neutral or Park and,
4. The Service Brake pedal is not depressed and,
5. Throttle = 0% and,
6. Vehicle Speed = 0 mph



Here is the TSB:

TSB 18-019-01

You can either get a dealer to enable this for you (most charge for this service) or you can load the smarty program on your truck and then remove it. The high idle will remain.

But we are getting off topic - this is the 12V area.

:jump:Screw it; I'm gonna just stick a Hibachi under my truck every morning. I HATE apartments!

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Just e-mailed them and got a reply; they no longer make these. Dammit. :dang:

Thread revival.

Can the block heater even be powered by 12V without an AC inverter?
The idea (in my case anyway) isn't to preheat the engine but to get the engine warm quicker once running.

VW does something similar on the TDI using glowplugs.