How long do you plug in?

UFO · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:47 pm

geordi wrote:

For the TDI crowd, or if you want to be adventurous and have a coolant heater, tdiheater.com sells FrostHeaters that are custom kits for the VW oil burners.

I've been thinking about getting one of those for the Jeep, just b/c I don't like the parasitic load of the clutch heater wasting my diesel when I have free electricity instead.

I installed one in my Beetle. It's nice, I think it's 1000W. In zero degree weather, plugged in all night, it starts like it's summer, and the coolant is ready to run the heater at 120F.

kdlewis1975 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:51 pm

I've gotten items from this place. http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accesso ... ols2.shtml If you go down a page or so, you'll see that have a seven day programmable timer which would be handy for having the engine block heater come on at a different time on weekends vs. that on weekdays.

RJM · **Posted:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:40 pm

2 hours, 3 for anything below -30C.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:33 am

-26C (-15F) last night. I've never used the heater in the almost 4 years I've owned it.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:19 pm

I have a timer and I started plugging in this year on a regular basis. I let it warm for about 3 hours. I think my battery is getting close to the end of it's 5 year life, because without the heater, it doesn't start well.

RabidRdKill · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:04 pm

Never really thought about a timer. It just stays plugged in all night and usually during the day too. My employer is kind enough to provide diesel only spaces when at the plant with outlets and the observant diesel owners among us have discoverd the 110 outlets at the corners of the parking structure when at the office.

An interesting note for those who don't bother to plug in - I see a clear difference in my MPG when I don't.

stoutdog · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:17 pm

I plug in whenever temps drop below freezing at night. No timer though, I just let the sucker run. Maybe it's a worthwhile investment... Is 3 hours all that is really needed? I've never actually timed how long it takes a plugged in CRD to maximize it's warm up. I wonder how to test that... :?:

CATCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:32 pm

stoutdog wrote:

I plug in whenever temps drop below freezing at night. No timer though, I just let the sucker run. Maybe it's a worthwhile investment... Is 3 hours all that is really needed? I've never actually timed how long it takes a plugged in CRD to maximize it's warm up. I wonder how to test that... :?:

I checked it with a scangauge II. It levels off after 2 or 3 hrs.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:33 pm

dirtmover wrote:

-26C (-15F) last night. I've never used the heater in the almost 4 years I've owned it.

You should try it, your engine will thank you.

stoutdog · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:10 pm

CATCRD wrote:

stoutdog wrote:

I plug in whenever temps drop below freezing at night. No timer though, I just let the sucker run. Maybe it's a worthwhile investment... Is 3 hours all that is really needed? I've never actually timed how long it takes a plugged in CRD to maximize it's warm up. I wonder how to test that... :?:

I checked it with a scangauge II. It levels off after 2 or 3 hrs.

Thanks!

Sounds like a timer is in my future. (once I leave AZ, of course :ALONE:

)

RS Sterling Alaska · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:51 pm

1 hr 30 min anoutside timer rated 15 amps with temp control and have that set for 15 degrees is my normal setting Jan and Feb. I set it for 2 hours as these are normally our coldest months and temps here have been -30 f.

I am pretty sure the dealer here put in a 600 watt heater.

With the cost of electricity here in Alaska a timer is a must temp control is a nice option.

Ralph

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

I plug it in for at least an hour and have only started doing it this winter because I think I have two weak glowplugs (no glow plug code and have new 800cca battery)

RJM · **Posted:** Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:27 am

Drewd wrote:

I plug it in for at least an hour and have only started doing it this winter because I think I have two weak glowplugs (no glow plug glow and have new 800cca battery)

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think your glow plugs can become "weak" They either work, or don't work.

flman · **Posted:** Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:19 am

RJM wrote:

Drewd wrote:

I plug it in for at least an hour and have only started doing it this winter because I think I have two weak glowplugs (no glow plug glow and have new 800cca battery)

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think your glow plugs can become "weak" They either work, or don't work.

That sounds pretty true, but I think they can change resistance and still work (not just burn out like a light bulb), yet it will screw up the "on time" on cars like the TDI. Resistance may even screw up the operation on our CRD? Remember a GP test is a test of resistance with in a high low parameter.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

RJM wrote:

Drewd wrote:

I plug it in for at least an hour and have only started doing it this winter because I think I have two weak glowplugs (no glow plug glow and have new 800cca battery)

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think your glow plugs can become "weak" They either work, or don't work.

Ok, its possible that they are completely burned out but why am I not getting a CODE???. All I know is that at certain temps, my vehicle is very difficult to start becuase 1-2 cylinders aren't lighting up. If I plug in the heater, it starts instantly. I don't have any glow plug codes but will check resistance in a couple days when I get some time off work. I was told I could have a weak battery but I switched batteries temporarily from my GC CRD and hard start was the same.

Air in fuel system has been suggested but I'm running a racor, a kennedy lift pump and the air problem should be evident when engine block heater is plugged in..it isn't. Sometimes I think Libby is possessed.

baddabing · **Posted:** Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:41 am

Can you guys tell me where the plug is for the block heater? When I look through the owners manual, it says that the 3.7L is the only one with a block heater. If the 2.8L CRD has a bock heater, I can't find the cord!

Thanks!

stoutdog · **Posted:** Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:17 pm

Front driver's side of the engine bay, next to the battery. It's a black power cord with a three-pronged plug on the end, and the plug will have a little black plastic cover.

"The engine block heater cord is strapped to the engine oil dipstick tube on the left side of the engine (2.8L Diesel Engines)." - Owner's Manual

baddabing · **Posted:** Mon Feb 01, 2010 1:27 pm

stoutdog wrote:

Front driver's side of the engine bay, next to the battery. It's a black power cord with a three-pronged plug on the end, and the plug will have a little black plastic cover.

"The engine block heater cord is strapped to the engine oil dipstick tube on the left side of the engine (2.8L Diesel Engines)." - Owner's Manual

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!

stoutdog · **Posted:** Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:01 pm

baddabing wrote:

stoutdog wrote:

Front driver's side of the engine bay, next to the battery. It's a black power cord with a three-pronged plug on the end, and the plug will have a little black plastic cover.

"The engine block heater cord is strapped to the engine oil dipstick tube on the left side of the engine (2.8L Diesel Engines)." - Owner's Manual

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!

geordi · **Posted:** Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:07 am

28 degrees outside right now, it was down to 6 degrees last night in Central Virginia... And my CRD is plugged in as I type this.

How long do you plug in?

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