Is it ok to leave the block heater plugged in all the time? If I was going to let the car sit for a few weeks?

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
1983 Mercedes Benz 240D

You can but its a big waste of electricity. The heater will do it's thing in a couple of hours. Many use a simple household lamp timer, just need one to take a grounded three prong plug.

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

Not quite true and could be dangerous. You need to use a timer rated for the wattage of the heater. There have been reports of the heater using between 750-1000 watts. I don't know myself as I don't use the heater.

However, to use an undersized lamp timer is asking for trouble (possible fire)

Just an FYI

If anybody really wants to know, I'll pull out an ammeter, and we'll all know the wattage for sure. Post if you're interested.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

Interested.

I am very interested. I was thinking since most wear happens in heating/cooldown. If I could use it all the time summer and winter it could make the engine last longer. Now if it takes 700 watts thats a different story. A light bulb or two I can deal with.

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
1983 Mercedes Benz 240D

Smallest wattage block heater I have ever seen is 350 Watts, and I haven't seen one of those in years. Our VW had a 1000 Watt heater and did pretty good, but took about 3 hrs to have engine completely warm. At our electric rate that was about $0.30 each morning for 3 hrs useage or about $2.50 a day or over $60 a month. The small amount of wear & tear saved by having the block heated summer & winter would be big time lost in the expense of the electric bill increase, besides it would probably not keep the oil that warm anyway just the coolant. We have a special pump called a viscious heater to rapidly heat the coolant in the engine, and if you had any experience with old diesels you would know what I mean. The old diesels took forever to warm up, our CRD warms up faster then our gasser Dodge and put out hotter air. Never thought I would see that, I remember many days of driving 8 to 10 miles down the highway before engine started putting out heat.

PS: If you are using the 100% synthetic diesel oil as specified by mfg then you have no worry unless you are above the artic circle.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Walmart, @ $9.50. As long as you get the grounded model, it's UL rated for a 15 amp load (over 1500 watt). If it's pulling more that that, you will likely be tripping a breaker.

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

Sorry it took a while.
3.5 amps at 118 volts.
That comes out to 413 watts.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

I figured it was low. I've been plugging mine in for over a month now and the elec bill was around 5 bucks higher than usual. It is on a timer. Well worth it imho.

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2005 sport crd-SOLD No regrets

Thanks for the info.

I used an infra-red thermometer to find out how long it took the block heater to do its thing. I took a reading down under the oil cap, and leaving it on more than 2 hrs in a 30F garage would not increase the temp in the cylinder head over about 110F. Colder temps might need more like 3 or 4 hrs, but there's no reason to leave it on all night.

I have my timer set for 4 hrs (2 am to 6 am) and it's usually unplugged and gone within 3 hrs. The block is not hot but definately warm to the touch.

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

You might want to check out Industrial Diesel Products oil pan heat and filter heat pads.

http://www.dieselproducts.com/proheat/proheat.html


The heat pads use far and away less electricy than the block heater. There is also a filter heater pad that can be hooked up to a toggle switch on the CRD for use in really cold weather if you have a mind to. The one item that looks interesting is the thermostatically controlled plug in block they offer that only switches on when temp gets below 35F according to the sales rep. We used to use these types of heaters for diesel and gas engines in Alaska. They work really well. No chance that oil flow a problem in cold weather since they heat it. The heat radiates up thru the engine. I have never seen oil get "cooked" using this type of system.

If you installed the oil pan heater and a battery warmer, the total power used would be approx 300w. The Fuel filter heater uses only 5 amps DC power.

Also look at http://www.wolverineheater.com/products.shtml

It looks like there's barely enough of a flat spot on the bottom of our oil pan to fit one of these.

Those are what used to come on VW's and were 500 Watt's and about 5 x7 and would just barely warm the engine oil if it was below freezing. The best heaters ever used were the ones that were put in the radiator hose. There are several models out there and some are plug in electric, and some even run off the trucks diesel fuel. The Espar is about the best there is on the market and can be had here at LubeSpecialist

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Um, that's exactly what they're designed to do. Ever seen a viscosity vs. temperature chart?

Yes that is what they are suppose to do when you run non synthetic oil and it is to cold for the oil to pump, but synthetic oil does not have that problem since it flows at -50F or lower. Beside I think the individual wanted heat from heater and the engine warm, that is what the tank heates do. I had one on both of our TDI's and it would heat the oil hotter then the stick on thing that was VW option, the tank heaters in the coolant line is really the best way to go these days.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine