05 Ford E350 - Is This Standard?

[Makin__Do]

I've had my 05 Pleasure Way Excel for a little over a year and just noticed a wire hanging loose in the lower section of the front grille the other day. Pulled it out and at the end was a three prong 120 ac plug with a cap on the end. I chased the wire as far as I could reach up over the frame rail on the drivers side then lost it with out finding where it went to. I can only assume it is for an engine block heater. However, I have a V10 gasser under the hood, not a diesel. Would this be a standard factory item in 05 for a V10?

[Harvey51]

Yes, wise to unplug before driving away. Usually the extension cord stays with the vehicle, dragging behind until several neighbors see your boo boo; then the cord falls off and is lost. It helps quite a bit to use an extension cord with one straight-on outlet so the block heater plug can slip straight out.

[DrewE]

If I had (and had any suspicion of using) a block heater on my motorhome, I would be mighty tempted to wire it up to the RV electrical system, possibly using some sort of a timer switch. That way, there's only one cord to plug everything in, and in really really cold weather one could, at least in theory, use the generator to run the block heater when dry camping. (Getting the generator started is left as an exercise for the reader.)

If it were permanently wired, one wouldn't have to worry about unplugging the block heater--just the RV as a whole, though admittedly that's probably about as easy to forget.

[Harvard]

mayo30 wrote:
Harvard that is interesting as I presume the engine coolant would keep it from getting hot enough to melt what ever material is used.The attaching 110 volt cord becoming defective is common and usually by stress from not unplugging it before moving.That one I do know and you can guess how.

I will admit my experience is dated, it happened to me on a 73 T Bird in about 1985. A lot has changed since then BUT I have never forgotten the experience and always make a point to warn our kids and grandkids.

[hedge]

I've never heard of that either with multiple vehicles with block heaters.

Don't think it's even an option here, not sure I've ever seen a vehicle without a block heater but I live a sheltered life lol

[mayo30]

Harvard that is interesting as I presume the engine coolant would keep it from getting hot enough to melt what ever material is used.The attaching 110 volt cord becoming defective is common and usually by stress from not unplugging it before moving.That one I do know and you can guess how.

[Harvard]

mayo30 wrote:

Harvard wrote:

Makin' Do wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't want to plug it in without being sure what would happen.

Never plug the block heater in WHILE the engine is running, it will melt the heater where it plugs into the block.

Really?Never ever heard of this.People use the remote start all the time when plugged in and the engines run.Elements are just a submersible resistance heater,inserted into a block knockout hole.

If you check a little closer you will see a plastic material is used to be the insulation between the element/wiring and the metal collar that mates with the engine block. It is not something that happens immediately but let the engine get hot and the plastic (or whatever it is) will melt. Been there done that !!! 🙂

On edit: Maybe they are not all constructed the same?

[mayo30]

Harvard wrote:

Makin' Do wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't want to plug it in without being sure what would happen.

Never plug the block heater in WHILE the engine is running, it will melt the heater where it plugs into the block.

Really?Never ever heard of this.People use the remote start all the time when plugged in and the engines run.Elements are just a submersible resistance heater,inserted into a block knockout hole.

[96Bounder30E]

romore wrote:
My dream is to drive south to where somebody points to the cord and asks "What's THAT for?":B

Never seen such a thing in southern California.... 😛

[romore]

My dream is to drive south to where somebody points to the cord and asks "What's THAT for?":B

[Old-Biscuit]

Harvard wrote:

Makin' Do wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't want to plug it in without being sure what would happen.

Never plug the block heater in WHILE the engine is running, it will melt the heater where it plugs into the block.

Correct......
Strictly for pre-warming of engine coolant PRIOR to starting engine


DAD's work trucks were ALL gasoline and ALL had engine block heaters.

[Harvard]

Makin' Do wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't want to plug it in without being sure what would happen.

Never plug the block heater in WHILE the engine is running, it will melt the heater where it plugs into the block.

[Makin__Do]

Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't want to plug it in without being sure what would happen.

[Trackrig]

Yes, it's the cord for the engine heater for cold weather. Even my diesel pusher motorhome has one.

Bill

[mayo30]

Made in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada.Cold country in the winter,we plug our engines into heat them when the temperatures get very low.just tie it out of the way and forget about it.