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 right side of the truck just above the tow hook behind the grill.Well after a thorough search...no cord. Now this only comes up because I am leaving Tucson for Fairbanks Alaska with my 33 foot trailer tomo. I have been tracking the weather closely and notice some night time temps at -30.So I called a dealer in Bellingham Wa and asked about this. They told me the cords are not put on the trucks. Every diesel I have ever owned came with a Block heater and a way to plug it in.So my next call was to Ram Customer service where I got a very nice young man who was very helpful that basically told me from my build list that it wasnt included in the MSRP. ie. you didnt pay for one so you dont get one.Well I pointed out and read several parts of the owners manual where almost every option is listed as "If Equipped" or "Optional". No such language was present under the Engine Block Heater section. I also told him that this is how you turn a very happy customer, one who says nothing but good things about my truck into a very unhappy one who doesnt.I asked to speak to a supervisor: He came back on in a minute and told me he had sent an e mail and had approval for FCA to reimburse me for the cost of the Cord which had been quoted to me at a Whopping $83 by the dealer in Bellingham.Now I appreciated this and thanked him but told him that we would re-visit this if it was discovered that there was no block heater. He agreed, sent me a confirming email and we shall see what happens.Has any Ram owners out there had this problem? And if so what was the solution?Keep in mind I bought this truck off the floor at a Dealer in Brookings Oregon last April while I was getting my oil changed in my 2014 Ram. This topic never came up. I'd like to know others experience with this issue.

If it is like the Ford they all have the heater but only have the cord if you order the option. So maybe you can just pick up the cord and install.And it sounds like Ram is the same way. So if the block heater is not on the window sticker you do not have the cord. Your option is to purchase the cord and install.

It has a heater. You're fine. Just need the cord. Heater is right front side of the engine block. Orange plug iirc. Fwiw, the cores with a plug socket that mount to the front bumper, like from Genos garage are pretty nice. And I don't recall it being over $80 when I bought one last.

As stated, all the Cummins engines come with the heater, but you don't get a cord unless the truck came with the cold weather package. If you don't have a cord they're cheap to add. I would be surprised if you bought a truck in Oregon that wasn't equipped with the cold weather package but maybe a dealer on the coast wouldn't consider it a big deal.

On my 2015 the Cold Weather Group was $90. Include the block heater cord and Winter Front Grill Cover. Chris

Based on my experience if you did not get the radiator cover when you bought the truck you don't have the cold weather package. When you put the cord on treat the plug with something like di-electric grease as mine corroded due to non use to the point it would not conduct current until I sanded it off.

Ram Block Heater and Cord -Missing | Good Sam Community

FireRob
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
fulltimedaniel wrote:

I spent a considerable sum for a brand new truck with a diesel engine. Every diesel I have ever owned came with a block heater and a way to use it.

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You may have spent a considerable sum for that new truck with a diesel engine but you spent about $90 less than you should have for the options you wanted. As others have said you didn't get the cold weather package "option" on that truck. Not all CTD's come with the cord. My three previous CTD didn't. I don't see how this is anyone's fault but your own and no one "owes" you anything. Your just now figuring out "your" mistake and realizing the need for the cord. Only option on the list of "the right thing to do" is go buy your own cord. That's my take on the subject.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Mar 12, 2017
fulltimedaniel wrote:
Just an update on how my block heater is working:

Almost every night since I left Bellingham the night time low temperature has been between -20 and -24 below zero. I check the dash readout before starting the truck and in every case the coolant AND the oil temperatures have been at 104 deg F.

I didnt expect it to keep the engine oil warm and I am not sure how it is doing it whether it is through the oil cooler or some other means but I am pleased with it's performance for sure. And it makes atarting a breeze in really cold weather. I have only cycled the glow plugs once as I would at any time before starting.

Thanks for the update. The oil temperature sensor is probably on, or near, the block and the oil in the pan is still cold, but as it is pumped thru the very small clearances in the engine it will instantly pick up the heat from the metal parts. The oil pump can push cold oil thru those clearances more readily if the oil already there is not extremely cold.
fulltimedaniel
Explorer
Mar 12, 2017
Just an update on how my block heater is working:

Almost every night since I left Bellingham the night time low temperature has been between -20 and -24 below zero. I check the dash readout before starting the truck and in every case the coolant AND the oil temperatures have been at 104 deg F.

I didnt expect it to keep the engine oil warm and I am not sure how it is doing it whether it is through the oil cooler or some other means but I am pleased with it's performance for sure. And it makes atarting a breeze in really cold weather. I have only cycled the glow plugs once as I would at any time before starting.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 06, 2017
^^^^^Good Deal^^^^^
fulltimedaniel
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
So to close this out here is the upshot of my experience over the Block Heater hose.

I arrived at Rairdon Dodge in Bellingham WA this am to get my oil changed and the cord. I told the gentleman in the service dept about my call to FCA/Ram customer service and explained (all with good humor) about the missing cord.

At first he was saying there would be labor to install the cord. I replied that I would have to call that nice young man at RAM again to get him to reimburse me that part as well...this is when he said..."tell you what I'll just have the cord installed for you at no cost."

Now my oil change on this truck at the dealer is no small change given that I use Rotella T6 full synthetic and had one of the fuel filters changed. So they still made plenty of money off of me on the deal. And he only charged me $12 in labor to do the oil change.

But the dealer got me in and out in just under an hour with the cord installed, oil changed, truck inspected and fuel filter replaced.

All in all I am satisfied with the way it was all handled.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
shelbyfv wrote:
That is a nice looking truck, Dodgeboy! What do you tow with it and how does the eco work for towing?

We no longer Have a RV but I do tow my 24' boat that weighs in @ 6800#. Tow the boat like a dream and I moved my BIL TT in the mountains of Tenn Knox county. The TT weight was 5800# and the truck had no issues going up any of the non standard grades nor going down them.

There are plenty of guys towing way outside the weight limits reporting no issues doing so. I wouldn't but you know how some people are. If interested check out some of the Ecodiesel site and see what is being towed with these trucks. Ram tends to under rate their truck a bunch.

Don
DSteiner51
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
Back in the day when diesels started hard in cold weather our farm tractors didn't have all the sheet metal etc surrounding the engines. If we plugged the block heater (we called them frost plug heaters) approx 6 hours before starting time it warmed the coolant and the surrounding metal and also the oil to a certain extent. No, it would not bring the whole engine to 120 degrees but when sitting out in an open canopy the block and coolant around the heater may have been 120 while farther away it was maybe 70 degrees and the oil may have only been 20 degrees on a windy -10 degree morning but it was still "warmed up" and made a big difference in how long it took for the old Dino oil to circulate and the engine to warm up.

To say that the block heater didn't heat anything but the immediate water and block or oil just because it wasn't all up to 100+ degrees is ignorant. I would think that in a truck protected by all the sheet metal it would even do better then a fully exposed engine.
cummins2014
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
tinner12002 wrote:
I've not looked on mine but I will now and if I don't have one I will get one Geno's garage for $17.00! Don't remember if I checked the cold weather package when I ordered mine or not...probably not since I felt I'd had my fill of cold weather.

That's seems to be the better solution then bouncing around Ram customer service for a $17.00 dollar item . A lot of hassle just to get a cord
shelbyfv
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
That is a nice looking truck, Dodgeboy! What do you tow with it and how does the eco work for towing?
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
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