Diesel Doctor

[cwbyrdng]

I like to know about plug my duramax in the winter time. Right now i plug it in for a hour before leave for town or any where. I was wouldin would it be ok to leave it plug in over night if i plug it in saying like 5:00p.m. the night before i go somewhere the next day? Is that ok well it hurt it any for leavein it plug in for that long time?

[dieselmech2]

No it wont hurt it just run ur electric bill up a little. I plug mine in when i get home whenever it is, havent notice a big increase in the bill. But what most people do is get a timer like for christmas lights and set it for about 3 hours or so before u get into it, and that ought to do ya.

Brian
Bleckman Diesel

[JohnC]

If you get a timer, make sure it can handle at least 1200 watts. If you use Rotella 5W-40 oil or another good synthetic, you don't gain anything by plugging it in unless it gets below 0*F.

[cwbyrdng]

thanks... Well i know when we need to ues a tractor to unload the bins or to clean the driveway out we plug them in for a hour or 2 before uesin them. But the tractors have something built in to them that when it gets to the right temp it well shut off and intell you start the tractor but if it stall plug in and drops under a temp and gets cold again it well warm the block back up intell you get in it and run it. So i guess i was woulder if that was in the duramax's or not but thanks it makes me feel better on it be ok to plug them in the night before. I well get the timer plug. As for the oil i ues it is a 15-w40 that is what we ues in the tractors, combine and semis.

[JohnC]

A Duramax in good condition will start fine at temps well below zero without using the block heater. The only issue is whether the oil will flow or not. With 15w-40 I'd preheat it if it gets below 10-15 degrees. With 5W-40 you can go right down to zero or a little less.

In my opinion, an oil pan heater is of more value than a block heater.

There is no thermostat on the block heater.

The ECM may actually complain if you preheat it with the temperature above about 20 degrees.