Ranger Raptor Engine Block Heater Test Results

[Deleted member 8167]

So I was curious how well the block heater performed. I figured if cold starts are tough on the cam phasers maybe this would be an option to try.

Plugged in to a 15A outlet. Think it drew 300-400 watts as I have solar and can see demand and supply on a graph.

Started at 44 in my garage.
After 1 hour it was 77f
After 2 hours it was 91f

Effectively a summer “cold start.”

Thought it was pretty neat.

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[Deleted member 8167]

Thinking about putting a Christmas light timer on it so the engine will be warm by 7am but not on all night

 

[CACTUSGREYFX4]

Thinking about putting a Christmas light timer on it so the engine will be warm by 7am but not on all night

I have a timer on mine comes on about 3 hours before I go to work.

 

[Yonder_MN]

I read in a Ford notice that the heater reaches its maximum efficiency at three hours and is not thermostatically controlled. So using an electric timer is the best way, as stated above.

I have a timer in the garage that will turn it on about three hours before I'm heading out too.

 

[dard6555]

This seems weird to me that the coolant temp gauge did not move, but the oil temp went up. The heater is in the water jacket of the block not the oil pan. Those seem like weird results.

Side note. You are spoiling yourself by using the heater in the garage. I think it's pretty funny. My garage is not insulated very well and it's about 20 degrees inside when it's about -20 outside. I never bothered to plug my rigs in when they were garaged. Maybe I should start. I usually trickle charge my battery before I use the block heater.

 

[Deleted member 8167]

I’m not really surprised by water temp. There’s no water flow and convection isn’t really going to move the water past a closed thermostat. So my guess is that the heating of the water and the temp sensor are far enough apart…

Yes using it in the garage on face value is funny. This was mostly a test but will probably do it more.

 

[Whyoming]

I was curious about my engine block heater, so I plugged mine in about four hours ago, these were my readings after being plugged in. It's -10° F outside temp, with a good amount of wind and the truck is not garaged. Sorry the one photo is blurry the camera went into night mode. Anyways, it's the cylinder heads 140°F, engine oil temp was 23°F. Everything else looked unimpacted.

 

[D. Sampson]

I'm also curious, is it bad to just leave it plugged in all night?

 

[John E Davies]

I'm also curious, is it bad to just leave it plugged in all night?

You must not live in CA if you have to ask…. It wastes a whole lot of electricity as it cycles on and off. If you are still curious you can use a cheap watt meter to see exactly what is going on. There are many, I have this one.

Multiply kwh times the cost of your local power to see the price you pay. I believe it is around $0.35 in Northern CA now…

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[TheRealSasquatch]

Most block heater take about 3-7 amps. I have run 2 every night before I bought a timer and it runs up the bill about 50 bucks as of a few years ago.
I now use a WiFi enabled plug capable of 15 amp output. I have it turn on at 4am to leave by 7am. Works great. Here is the Amazon link to my timer.
WiFi Plug

 

[boraxman]

Hmmm wonder if there's any market for these as I don't see using mine ever....

 

[D. Sampson]

You must not live in CA if you have to ask…. It wastes a whole lot of electricity as it cycles on and off. If you are still curious you can use a cheap watt meter to see exactly what is going on. There are many, I have this one.

Multiply kwh times the cost of your local power to see the price you pay. I believe it is around $0.35 in Northern CA now…

John Davies
Spokane WA

I should have clarified, I meant to ask if anyone knew if it was harmful to the vehicle to just leave it plugged in?

 

[T-Rev]

I should have clarified, I meant to ask if anyone knew if it was harmful to the vehicle to just leave it plugged in?

Won't be harmful to the vehicle. It's designed to be plugged in for long periods.

 

[CandianRanger]

I'm new to cam phasers and their related issues. Is it the cold start in general, or is it the thick cold oil that's the issue?

 

[Alaska_Wolf]

I'm also curious, is it bad to just leave it plugged in all night?

No, ours generally get plugged in when we get home from work and stay plugged in until we leave for 9 months at a time. Not at all effective at -55 F.

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