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Plugging-in during winter
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Graymist



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 320
Location: Edmonton AB & Pittsburgh PA

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:56 am    Post subject: Plugging-in during winter  

What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?
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thebaldeagle655



Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 289
Location: Wichita Falls, Tx

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:16 pm    Post subject:  

Most trucks have an engine block heater that when plugged in keeps the oil at a temperature that allows the engine to turn over and start easier in colder weather.
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jorlee



Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 105
Location: Scranton, North Dakota

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:17 pm    Post subject:  

Easier starts, a 99% chance the truck will start. It's the same reason people plug in their cars, and pickups. Faster heat, less wear from a cold start, better oil flow.

It uses a block heater, or tank heater, to warm up the coolant, with a element. Typically take between 1000-1500 Watts of electricity to use.
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Mackman



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 2379
Location: Concordville PA

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:18 pm    Post subject:  

it keeps the water around the block warm.

I think it does NOTHING for the oil.
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Deus



Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 343

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

Up in the northern states where it gets plenty cold in the winter, you don't have a prayer of starting the truck without plugging it in.
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SteveBooth



Joined: 18 May 2005
Posts: 3501

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:36 pm    Post subject:  

I have a Detroit 60 and the heater looks pretty big. Is there also an electric pump inside there to circulate the water?

I have a Rigmaster APU and unless there is a load put on the engine it doesn't put out as much heat as it could. They recommend using the block heater all the time in the winter for the load.
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Graymist



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 320
Location: Edmonton AB & Pittsburgh PA

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

Deus wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

Up in the northern states where it gets plenty cold in the winter, you don't have a prayer of starting the truck without plugging it in.

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada )....it's going to be -14C here tomorrow, and progressively colder as the week wears on. However, I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.
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COLT



Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 576
Location: FT ST JOHN

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:27 am    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada ) I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Your an impostor, a fake Canadian! :roll:
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Graymist



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 320
Location: Edmonton AB & Pittsburgh PA

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

COLT wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada ) I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Your an impostor, a fake Canadian! :roll:

I'm not quite sure what to make of that statement of yours....care to elaborate ?
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cutout



Joined: 07 Nov 2004
Posts: 31
Location: hickory,nc

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:05 pm    Post subject:  

no pump on the heat element, it just perculates, heat rises. just changed mine out. 1500 watt. on the detroit engine it is located in the top of the oil cooler. it does not have any type thermostatic control. it's only on or off. for extremely cold envirnoments there are oil heaters also.
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Deus



Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 343

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:04 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

Graymist wrote: Deus wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

Up in the northern states where it gets plenty cold in the winter, you don't have a prayer of starting the truck without plugging it in.

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada )....it's going to be -14C here tomorrow, and progressively colder as the week wears on. However, I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Yeah it is basically the same as in a car. Diesel fuel doesn't ignite as well in the cold though, and the massive engine is really hard to crank if it is cold.
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RockyMtnProDriver



Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 1558
Location: Cranbrook BC

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:49 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

COLT wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada ) I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Your an impostor, a fake Canadian! :roll:

Yup, I was wondering that too. The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in Edmonton....
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RockyMtnProDriver



Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 1558
Location: Cranbrook BC

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:51 pm    Post subject:  

There reason you plug this stuff in during the Winter, is that you just might get only once chance to start it. And you want all of your ducks in order before you do that.

Also, serviced and cleaned batteries.
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Graymist



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 320
Location: Edmonton AB & Pittsburgh PA

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:50 am    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

RockyMtnProDriver wrote: COLT wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada ) I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Your an impostor, a fake Canadian! :roll:

Yup, I was wondering that too. The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in Edmonton....

I didn't want to get drawn into this, but I guess if you're doubting my "Canadianness", then I should elaborate why I've never needed to plug-in my car : it's because the house i live in has a heated garage. I moved to Edmonton from Vancouver about 2 years ago, and it never got cold enough there to plug in my car.

As for trucks, like I've said before, this will be my first winter of truck-driving, since I'm new to this profession. I work for Cascade Carriers ( a Mullen group company ), hauling cement, sand & flyash from loadpoints in Edmonton, Exshaw, Bruderheim, and Sundance mine ( in case you don't know where that is, it's about 50 minutes north of Drayton Valley, in the Paul Band reserve ).

If you wish to remain a doubting thomas, then that's your prerogative. What you choose to believe is your right, and it doesn't change the facts on the ground.

Have a nice day ( albeit a cold one !!! )
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RockyMtnProDriver



Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 1558
Location: Cranbrook BC

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Plugging-in during winter  

Graymist wrote: RockyMtnProDriver wrote: COLT wrote: Graymist wrote: What exactly does plugging-in the truck during winter accomplish, and how does it work ?

I live in the north myself ( northern Canada ) I've never had to plug in my car, and was curious to know how the plug-in system works in trucks.

Your an impostor, a fake Canadian! :roll:

Yup, I was wondering that too. The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in Edmonton....

I didn't want to get drawn into this, but I guess if you're doubting my "Canadianness", then I should elaborate why I've never needed to plug-in my car : it's because the house i live in has a heated garage. I moved to Edmonton from Vancouver about 2 years ago, and it never got cold enough there to plug in my car.

As for trucks, like I've said before, this will be my first winter of truck-driving, since I'm new to this profession. I work for Cascade Carriers ( a Mullen group company ), hauling cement, sand & flyash from loadpoints in Edmonton, Exshaw, Bruderheim, and Sundance mine ( in case you don't know where that is, it's about 50 minutes north of Drayton Valley, in the Paul Band reserve ).

If you wish to remain a doubting thomas, then that's your prerogative. What you choose to believe is your right, and it doesn't change the facts on the ground.

Have a nice day ( albeit a cold one !!! )

Ok, that proves he is a Canadian.

He has both an inferiority complex and a compulsion to apologize.
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