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Plug In for cold temps

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racerdude321

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Excuse the silly question as I’m a recent convert from a Duramax. ;)
Can anyone with a newer 6.7 Cummins (because I realize the ‘new 2019’ model hasn’t had a winter season in the wild yet) comment on if the block heater is necessary?
In my decade of owning the Duramax I never once plugged it in, even with extended sitting in -15F or colder temps she always fired up and had no problems. I do understand though that the Duramax uses glow plugs vs grid heater on the Cummins so wondering if that will make much of a difference?

Anyone from up here in the north care to comment? Thanks!
Oh, and yes I run anti-gel in the fuel.
 
it's not necessary, but you can't beat the immediate heat when its 45 or under, which is the temp I start plugging in. i've started these things in single digits with no plug and no problem it just takes extra time to warm up.
 
Thanks.
45F? Man, I feel like we havn't seen those temps in weeks. :p
We hit a high of barely 30 today. I'm not concerned with single digits but more the constant negatives (-10F or -15F and below) and sitting in that for a few days between starts.
 
at those temps I'd have it plugged in anytime it wasn't being driven lol a little different climate here in central texas. 80's one day, cold front blows in, and it doesn't get out of the 30's the next two days. I use the block heater quite a bit.
 
I have a 2019 3500 with the HO 6.7 and live in SC. This was my first diesel and I figured I wouldn't need the heater as low temps rarely go much below 30, and I garage my beast. Well, we had a few nights drop into the 40s already and the next morning (when the outside temp was around 53-55ish), the pre-heat process would run for about 10 seconds. I decided that was ridiculous so I looked into getting the heater installed aftermarket, and lo and behold, all 6.7s have the heater...they just don't have the power cord installed unless you pay that ridiculous $200 or whatever it was at purchase. I ordered a cord from Geno's Garage for $20 (they're great btw) and was able to install it myself without removing the airbox that they suggest you remove. For reference, I have the mechanical inclinations of Kim Kardashian. There was an immediate improvement in truck startup, I now plug it in for anything less than 55 degrees and it hasn't run the diesel pre-heat since. Which I assume is probably better for the engine, and the truck fires right up like it's warm.
 
Already been down to -20C in these parts...

The Diesel Supplement to the OM offers this advice:

Block Heater Usage
For ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), engine block heater usage is recommended.
For ambient temperatures below –20°F (-29°C), engine block heater usage is required.

Many engines appear to start just fine when h_ll freezes over but in reality are screaming internally as it struggles to pump the molasses out of the oil pan. If you have a block heater and the mercury is hovering around 0°F (-18°C), use it. The block heater in the Cummins warms the engine quite nicely and will help keep the oil from turning to molasses. And you don't need to leave it plugged in all night. Plug it into a timer - two to three hrs is quite sufficient.
 
Man if I was plugging it in below 55 that would be 9 months out of year. ;)

I saw the cord on Geno's garage. I guess I could do that when below -20F like the manual suggests (maybe even -10F or below). How are you folks (or how does FCA) deal with the cord on the 19/20 models? I see Geno's has a mount for the older series trucks looks nice jut nothing for the 2019+ yet.

Thanks all.
 
Westfield’s Brother said:
The cord I got from Geno's is for '89-'19 trucks. You may have been looking at the Ecodiesel version, which only says '14-18.

Here's what I got:

'89-'26 Dodge Cummins Diesel Engine Block Heater Cord

Make sure your '89-'26 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel engine has a block heater cord so you can warm the engine for easy starting in cold weather.
www.genosgarage.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. Where did you end with the cord that is neat? Do you know how the factory one ends?

I was looking at this actually: https://www.genosgarage.com/product/wd-bhp-10/winter which I guess wouldn't work with the newer bumper setup.
 
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I'm not sure where the factory one ends. I left mine behind the bumper just behind the right side tow hook (facing forward from the cab). Used zip ties to get it there and it just hangs behind the bumper but above where you can see. There was a guy on youtube installing one and he went with a plug similar to what you showed, but it didn't look super clean in the end and it almost seemed like too much trouble. I have a battery tender that I use as well and that cord is run right through the opening at the tow hook, and hides behind the tow hook when not in use. I've generally found no issues with leaving the cords that way. Bumper plugs are certainly solid though, so may be worth the effort if you like the look.
 
Westfield’s Brother said:
I'm not sure where the factory one ends.
Click to expand...

As depicted. Trucks in these parts almost always come with the block heater and cord. Factory install for Cummins has the cord following the right frame rail and then is routed in behind the air dam/fascia below the bumper. It'll initially be secured by a harness clip. Quite easy to get at and easily tucks into the opening when not in use. My understanding is that the gas versions terminate there too.

Cord.jpg
 
Plugging in at 45 F? Why? There is nothing wrong with activating your grid heater. Like mentioned above, I'd be plugging in for 8 months out of the year. It's 10F right now at my place. My truck starts fine at those temps. I doubt it will ever start as good as my D-max that I didn't plug in until -20F, but it should do just fine not plugged in at 0F. I need to know because we often park at trail heads in the winter for 7 days at temps down to -20F with no chance of plugging in the block heater. Better to find out at home with a new truck, than 100 miles form nowhere.

BTW, that block heater is pretty good, but it isn't warming up that molasses in the oil pan. That's why it's recommended to run lighter weight oil in colder temps. It starts easy because the oil is nice and loose on the cylinder walls, but that oil in the pan is still cold.
 
“BTW, that block heater is pretty good, but it isn't warming up that molasses in the oil pan. That's why it's recommended to run lighter weight oil in colder temps. It starts easy because the oil is nice and loose on the cylinder walls, but that oil in the pan is still cold.”

Yes, the oil in the pan is still cold, but with the block and coolant warmed up, the rest of the oil warms up much faster than warming up the oil by running the engine.
 
Burn'n Oil said:
Already been down to -20C in these parts...

The Diesel Supplement to the OM offers this advice:

Block Heater Usage
For ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), engine block heater usage is recommended.
For ambient temperatures below –20°F (-29°C), engine block heater usage is required.

Many engines appear to start just fine when h_ll freezes over but in reality are screaming internally as it struggles to pump the molasses out of the oil pan. If you have a block heater and the mercury is hovering around 0°F (-18°C), use it. The block heater in the Cummins warms the engine quite nicely and will help keep the oil from turning to molasses. And you don't need to leave it plugged in all night. Plug it into a timer - two to three hrs is quite sufficient.
Click to expand...

block heater required for -29c that would be with 5w-40 , when using 0w-40 you can go lower than that easily
i ask my dealer and he didnt want me to put 0w-40 and fca didnt recomand it for the 2019 i dont know why since 0w its viscosity code at cold temp ! i would love ow-40 when out at the cabin at -40c without anywere to plug that sucker! winter is long here in north east canada!
 
I’m going to add this to mine when I get it. Drill a bike in license plate bracket side. Super clean and not hard to find. On my Powerstroke it was up behind the bumper and a b@txh to find at night so I ran it out and zip ties to tow hook but I like this better
 

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fao1 said:
block heater required for -29c that would be with 5w-40 , when using 0w-40 you can go lower than that easily
i ask my dealer and he didnt want me to put 0w-40 and fca didnt recomand it for the 2019 i dont know why since 0w its viscosity code at cold temp ! i would love ow-40 when out at the cabin at -40c without anywere to plug that sucker! winter is long here in north east canada!
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I wouldn't. Rotella T6 comes in a 0W-40 flavor but... no Cummins spec on the label. Cummins endorses Valvoline Premium Blue but no 0W-40 offerings. Not sure about Delvac or Delo.
 
Just another point of reference. -18F, 12 hour cold soak, no block heater. The day after I changed to Rotella T6 Rota5W-40. Truck started just fine. I'm not trying to abuse my truck, but I need to find the point it won't start easily. I often leave it at a remote trail head and I need to know what I can get away with. Right now I'm very encouraged.
 
AKDoug said:
Just another point of reference. -18F, 12 hour cold soak, no block heater. The day after I changed to Rotella T6 Rota5W-40. Truck started just fine. I'm not trying to abuse my truck, but I need to find the point it won't start easily. I often leave it at a remote trail head and I need to know what I can get away with. Right now I'm very encouraged.
Click to expand...
Extra kit fer when you're parked fer days at the remote trail head and the weather forecasters get it horribly wrong:

eu2000i.jpg
 
Burn'n Oil said:
Extra kit fer when you're parked fer days at the remote trail head and the weather forecasters get it horribly wrong:

View attachment 2008
Click to expand...
I've got one. They can be harder to start at -20F than a Cummins... I run 0W-20 synthetic in mine and that helps. If it's horribly wrong, I just stay at the cabin.

The ideal thing would be a Webasto or Espar, but I'm kinda cheap.
 
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