All you ever wanted to know about the Block Heater

[lilfroger]

The block heaters is installed on all trucks; just most do not come with the cord.   

An optional engine block heater is available with all models. The heater is equipped with a power cord. The cord is attached to an engine compartment component with tie-straps. The heater warms the engine providing easier engine starting and faster warm-up in low temperatures. The heater is mounted in a core hole of the engine cylinder block in place of a freeze plug with the heating element immersed in engine coolant.

Electrical Info:
Vehicle Issue What are the electrical requirements for the engine block (coolant) heater?
Year 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 2006
Model AD - Ram Pickup, Ramcharger, Ram Cab and Chassis | BE - Ram Pickup/Quad Cab | BR - Ram Pickup | DH - Ram Pickup HD | DR - Ram Pickup | D1 - Ram Pickup 3500
Engine 5.9L 6 CYL DIESEL TURBO CUMMINS | 5.9L 24 VALVE TURBO DIESEL | 5.9L 24 VALVE TURBO DIESEL HO
 
Recommendation The engine block heater installed in Cummins® engines requires:
110-115 volts, A/C current

It is recommended to use at least a 15 amp circuit
A grounded 3-prong extension cord is required
The engine block heater is a 750 watt heating element, which will draw 6.5 to 7 amps.


The 5.9L diesel engine has the block heater located on the right side of the engine below the exhaust manifold next to the oil cooler (1).




The block heater is screwed into the block at 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.).

If your truck did not come with the heater cord it can be purchased from the Dealer or from several after market locations

[mayfair]

Nice job Frog !!

[LaRedneck]

Block heater....check

[Buford445]

I Bought a Cord form Someone here for mine........MMMmmmmm WHO Was It Now THANKS FROg

[1SlowFormula]

OK, so since it has been getting cold here recently I plugged my truck in a few times and it doesn't appear to make any difference in the warmup time or anything, is there any indicator that something is actually working when it's plugged in?

[Methos]

OK, so since it has been getting cold here recently I plugged my truck in a few times and it doesn't appear to make any difference in the warmup time or anything, is there any indicator that something is actually working when it's plugged in?

Yeah... plug the other end of the extension cord into the wall 

[Buford445]

f it's been plugged in for any time the water temp in the truck will be around 100* when you get in

[Jims1dodge]

The grid heater will still cycle. 

It should be warming up faster for you, able to get heat in the cab sooner etc.

[1SlowFormula]

hmm, when the truck gets back from the shop I will have to try again, but before my accident I was going out and starting it in the morning and letting it warm up anywhere from 5-10 minutes before driving it to work in the morning and it never got about the 100* mark until a while of driving it even after it was sitting there running for that long, and it was the same with it pluged in (on both ends, lol) overnight or not...

[mayfair]

You can let the truck run for an hour and it'll never heat up. I think its that massive fan - it just moves too much air. Sucks too because I have an auto start on my truck 

Demon actually changed the heater in his truck. He went from the stock I think its a 500w heater up to a 1000 watter and he said it made a big difference. He got it right from Cummins.

[Austin The DieselTech]

From my experiences, if you plug the heater in and your coolant temps is cold, you can hear the heating element heat the coolant up like a pot of water on a stove but not quite as loud.