i was looking around my 98 sierra 1500 and found the plug for the block heater. i was wondering how long it takes roughly i will prob only plug it in when it is below 10.
2007-09-13 12:36:30 · 5 answers · asked by Thepopeis1 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Chevrolet
Block heaters are rated in watts and don't exceed 1,500 since you can plug it into any 110 volt outlet. As I seem to recall, an 8-cylinder takes at least two-three hours. The smaller the engine the less time required. The big blocks take much longer like 3 plus hours. It is better to leave them plugged in over-night after you park it so you don't have to heat it from below zero or near zero. The reason for the block heaters is to keep the headgasket from failing. Things shrink up when cold and expand when hot exhaust gases blast through the ice cold heads.
Don't know why some cars in some states have block heaters and other states don't offer them. We got down to minus 35 in 1993-ish here in Indiana. I was up every four hours running my outside parked cars so I could get to work. Now I run pure synthetic oil in the old truck and it cranks easy in the dead of Winter.
Good Luck!
2007-09-13 12:51:27 · answer #1 · answered by CactiJoe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes from 1.5 -3 hours depending on the size of the engine.
Anything longer and you are throwing money at the electricity company for nothing. Many leave it on for 12 - 24 hours. The engine is not sentimental and does not need to be warm overnight, it only needs to be warm for start-up.
Set a timer to turn it on a couple of hours before you plan on driving.
2013-12-06 05:36:25 · answer #2 · answered by Mark 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just warms up the fluids when you are sitting--how long?? Who knows--it has NEVER been timed officially because no one really cares. It is the small version of a heater element just like in your house electric hot water heater--
2007-09-13 13:00:08 · answer #3 · answered by fire_inur_eyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
plug it in at night and leave it plugged in all night , it won't "heat" up the engine , but it will keep it warm enuf to start up in the morning , the heater will kick in a little faster , but don't expect it to like blow hot air when you start it
2007-09-13 13:32:53 · answer #4 · answered by jon_wayne89 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well that would depend on if it is working or not.
2007-09-14 19:01:26 · answer #5 · answered by DON C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋