Ram Block Heater and Cord -Missing
My new 2016 Ram 4x4 Cummins 6.7L's manual says about the Block Heater(I am paraphrasing here) Plugging in the truck is REQUIRED at -20. Then it goes on to say that the cord can be found in the righ...
Forum Discussion
Lynnmor wrote:
Good Grief. Of course the oil in the pan would not warm up, but the oil already in the bearings and moving parts will be the same temperature as the metal. When started, the oil moving thru the engine will warm as it contacts the metal surfaces. That 900 to 1000 watt heater warms the entire engine, not just the coolant in a certain area. My owners manual says 3 hours.
Not sure what the "Good Grief" comment is about. But From my experience from owning both a Cummins equipped truck and this Eco Diesel both trucks would only heat the coolant to to 108* or 120* if the truck was in the garage out of the wind for eight hours or more. The oil trapped in the oil passages, rods and any sitting in the upper part of the engine will not be enough to warn up the 12 quts. of oil in the pan.
Also I have driven big trucks as in semis most of my life part time up here in NW Ohio. I can tell you that when you check the oil in them after they have been sitting outside plugged in the oil is ice cold.
Your premise that these block heaters have the ability to heat the block and it's components when sitting outside in sub zero temperatures is incorrect. Three hours plugged is only going to warm the coolant and block area on the side that the heater is located. These heaters do not circulate the coolant at all but rely on convection to heat all of the coolant up. And if the outside temps are below zero there is no way you are ever going to get the coolant let alone the block and oil up to the 120* these things heat up to.
My new truck has the ability to show the coolant temp, oil temp and trans temp in both analog gauges and digital read out. The oil temp must reach 85* before it will even read. As I stated before the few times I have had the truck (new one) plugged in the oil would read --- for a few minutes and why I never ever just start my truck and drive off like some people do.
Now yes if and only if you have the truck in a non-heated garage out of the wind then you have a chance of getting the block up to the 120* mark but that is it.
This is the 6.7 Cummins block heater.
Don
