Question: Engine block heater cord location

justlkn

New member
Oct 1, 2012
25
0
0
Hastings, Fl.
My spec sheet says I have the engine block heater installed K05. I look in the glove box and it says K05 too on the tag but I can't find the plug. I looked next to the passenger side battery but no cord. Am I supposed to have one installed if it says it in the spec sheet and glove box? It does not state that on my window sticker. Can anyone advise?

Thanks,
GL
 

justlkn

New member
Oct 1, 2012
25
0
0
Hastings, Fl.
Forget I asked! Apparently you can't go by where the owners manual says it is. I tell people all the time Google is your friend and I violated my own rule. After looking at pics on the net it is apparently zip tied to the engine DEEP under the airbox...stupid me...lol.
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
0
Wyoming
You really dont even need the block heater. They will start fine in -30* without being plugged in.

Yes, plugging it in makes it so you get heat in the cab faster, but thats really the main benefit. If you're thinking you "need to plug it in just so it will start in the morning", you are incorrect. ;)

Ben
 

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
Ben is right, they start very well in cold weather.

Personally I feel it's good to use a heater as it helps the truck reach temp faster (getting the oil temp up as quickly as possible is better for the motor).
 

AubleAK

New member
Aug 5, 2011
781
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Glennallen, AK
You really dont even need the block heater. They will start fine in -30* without being plugged in.

Yes, plugging it in makes it so you get heat in the cab faster, but thats really the main benefit. If you're thinking you "need to plug it in just so it will start in the morning", you are incorrect. ;)

Ben

thats true for sure. but they idle like crap and sound terrible for the first minute or so.. i always thought that it was hard on a diesel to do that..
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
0
Wyoming
thats true for sure. but they idle like crap and sound terrible for the first minute or so.. i always thought that it was hard on a diesel to do that..

yeah LB7's might, because their glow plug system is much more dumb/basic than the newer trucks. (basically just 12v glow plugs that are tied to a heavy duty relay thats turned on for "X" seconds based on "Y" coolant temp)


But the LLY+ trucks have an electronic/solid-state "smart" glow plug system and are much better (glow plugs are 4.7v, individually temperature controlled with feedback, etc).

-25*, not plugged in, my glow plug light goes out and the truck is ready to start within ~4 seconds. LBZ's-LMM's are even better/faster, and LML's are faster/better yet.

[YOUTUBE]d1kLB9EbIdA[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]79UrF6COjsg[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]1-JhQSF3mHo[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]LIVatr34Yfo[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1kLB9EbIdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UrF6COjsg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-JhQSF3mHo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIVatr34Yfo

AND...here is my own cold start video from my truck. This is with bigger injectors, without being plugged in, -7*(F), lower-than-stock compression, and on ONLY ONE BATTERY.


[YOUTUBE]6iA72Mzv9ek[/YOUTUBE]


So for all the people with twins who think their truck wont start with only one battery, heres proof that it will. Disclaimer: cold-starting on only one battery is hard on the battery. The single battery in my truck was "dead" (stopped holding a charge/worn out) after a little less than 3 years (3 winters) of cold starts. So yes, they will start on one battery, but your battery life will be diminished.

Ben
 

adeso

wait, what?
May 30, 2011
1,569
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36
Minot, ND
I still would rather plug it in, but that is just me. Extreme cold makes the oil thick, has more drag on the starter, and has more wear on the engine. When I say extreme I mean below 0F. Maybe it is only saving me 5K miles on the engine, but I'd rather do that.
 

AubleAK

New member
Aug 5, 2011
781
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Glennallen, AK
I still would rather plug it in, but that is just me. Extreme cold makes the oil thick, has more drag on the starter, and has more wear on the engine. When I say extreme I mean below 0F. Maybe it is only saving me 5K miles on the engine, but I'd rather do that.

X2. I always plug mine in if its below 20 degrees. One night i plugged my rig and the breaker popped and i had no idea. 7 am the next morning and i go to start my truck at 46 below zero, you can only imagine how that sounded. :( couldnt believe she even fired off.
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
0
Wyoming
I still would rather plug it in, but that is just me. Extreme cold makes the oil thick, has more drag on the starter, and has more wear on the engine. When I say extreme I mean below 0F. Maybe it is only saving me 5K miles on the engine, but I'd rather do that.

Explain to me how the factory block [coolant] heater does anything to heat the oil..... ;)

Plug your truck in overnight and then go put your hand on the oil pan in the morning. Ill bet you my lunch money the pan is still ice cold. If you're worried about your oil being thick, run a lower weight oil in the winter or run an oil pan heater.
 

adeso

wait, what?
May 30, 2011
1,569
0
36
Minot, ND
Explain to me how the factory block [coolant] heater does anything to heat the oil..... ;)

Plug your truck in overnight and then go put your hand on the oil pan in the morning. Ill bet you my lunch money the pan is still ice cold. If you're worried about your oil being thick, run a lower weight oil in the winter or run an oil pan heater.

I do have a little magnet heater I throw on the pan when it is stupid cold, but your right, it doesn't do much, but I still believe that it would heat the block up just a little bit and bring the oil temp up quicker. I haven't had this truck in the extreme cold, but my ford 6.ohshit would have a much better start plugged in even just the block heater (well below 0F temps), and while the Chevy’s do better, I'm still going to plug mine it. I have a trimmer for lights that I use, have it turn on about 2-3 hours before I start the truck. I know some guys will put a trickle charger on the batter to help it out too. Mind you this isn't middle of the US, but Minot ND stuff.
 

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
If the factory block heater heats up the iron of the engine itself, and raises the temp of the heads up, that will in turn bring the oil temp up faster. It 's not going to initially be warmer, but the oil won't be cold as long.

To really "do it right" I bought about 700w worth of oil pan heaters from Amazon. Couple on the oil pan and one on the trans pan.. To really get some heat in the oil quickly. And now that my block heater quit working, I 'm extra glad to have those...
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
4,433
0
0
Hahahahah....
im such a bitch
Sometimes i plug mine in in the garage, and any time its below 30°
After i took the egr off it helps it to warm up faster, and my girls always want the "insta heat"
 

RedHotGMC

stock
Jan 16, 2012
339
2
18
Northern Utah
The 6.0s are just as bad, after a -20 cold start I almost shut it back off and called it a day!

My neighbors 6.0 on 50 degree starts sounds like the motor is running on 3 cylinders and about to throw a rod out the side of the block! let alone when he drives it when its cold the shifts slam you into the seat:spit:
 

AubleAK

New member
Aug 5, 2011
781
0
0
30
Glennallen, AK
My neighbors 6.0 on 50 degree starts sounds like the motor is running on 3 cylinders and about to throw a rod out the side of the block! let alone when he drives it when its cold the shifts slam you into the seat:spit:

X2. The 6.0s are terrible. My unclea at -20 sounds like the rods are just bouncing around in cylinders.