Block heater

[Lownslowlsc]

Which type came oem on these?

How quickly do they heat things up?

Do they use a significant amount of power?

Is it even worth using on the colder nights(<10) over here in Illnoise?

Will my car burn down as soon as I plug it in? It's probably still a virgin.

 

[chris2523]

I have heard it can be up to as hot as its gonna heat in 45 mns?
My brother runs one on his Taurus. Starts better in the cold. Almost instant heat from the vents.
Put it on a timer. Kick it on an hour or 2 before you get up. Should be plenty of time.
Pretty much all diesels ford sells have a block heater. So it proven technology. Don't think the car is gonna burn down.

Now. Is it worth it? I don't really know. Not in Missouri. My car starts and runs fine in our cold. But it may slow cold start wear if that is a problem for you.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

I'm not all that concerned about cold start wear. It would just be nice to have a warmer car instead of having to let it run for 5 minutes on cold mornings. That and it would be easier on my battery. Last thing I want to do at 6am is jumpstart a car in 0 degree weather.

I don't really think it's going to burn it down, it's just that I don't think its ever been used. When things aren't used for a very long time anything is possible.

 

[keVIIIn]

Ive always wanted one of these too..although for now ill just worry about getting INTO my car because of the frozen locks..

 

[Lownslowlsc]

Ive always wanted one of these too..although for now ill just worry about getting INTO my car because of the frozen locks..

Time to invest in a mini torch.

 

[keVIIIn]

Time to invest in a mini torch.

Lol I went through that last year, had to bust out a propane torch and even that didn't work, the key turned to a point but the lock mechanism was frozen inside the door..ended up having to take a heat gun to the side of the door near the latch to warm it up enough to melt the ice inside the door latch..ended up melting the little rubber seal around the door handle and had to replace it..such a pain in the ass, I hate winter.

 

[thaywood]

There have been times that I've been afraid I was going to break my door handle because the door was frozen shut. I hate winter too

 

[chris2523]

lift up on the handle, pull from the top of the door.
i also kinda body slam the door to break the ice.

 

[mossbergman]

My door just gets frozen shut. Winter sucks, but cold air rocks

 

[Lownslowlsc]

A thin layer of White lithium grease around the door rubber and door frame helped me alot last year.

lift up on the handle, pull from the top of the door.
i also kinda body slam the door to break the ice.

And this, but I use a closed fist around the parimeter if needed.

Only real problem I got when it was really cold is that the door wouldn't latch when trying to close it. I had to slam it shut multiple times in order to free up whatever was frozen.

 

[keVIIIn]

A thin layer of White lithium grease around the door rubber and door frame helped me alot last year.



And this, but I use a closed fist around the parimeter if needed.

Only real problem I got when it was really cold is that the door wouldn't latch when trying to close it. I had to slam it shut multiple times in order to free up whatever was frozen.

Yep yep, same here, had to spray some pb blaster in the latch to get the damn thing to close..f*ckin rediculous! This is the worst car I've ever owned in terms of winter problems and sh*t freezing up on me..never once had these problems with my Thunderbird and I drove that through 4 winters which were way worse than last years mild winter..also had a 93 gmc pickup..no issues there either..Lincoln deffinetly sh*t the bed when designing this stuff for winter duty.