[A/S] Claudette's question re: block heaters

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

 Claudette - I can only offer good things to say - regarding block heaters.

I spent many a winter living in the mountains of central Idaho - back in the
70's and 80's - and a block heater was a must.

We had gas engines - and they rarely would
start without the block heaters plugged in.  Those were the days of
mostly carbureted engines - so fuel injection is a big
help these days (easier starting in cold weather) -
but if the engine oil is cold-cold-cold  then there
is still a heavy load for the starter etc. to work against.

I remember when the out-of-towners would arrive for Christmas vacation
and they would be the ones (used to warm winter weather) who's vehicles
would not start in the morning....and they'd be late to the ski slopes...

Back then - I remember many of the diesel owners having problems with
fuel gel problems when the temperature went below zero.  (diesel fuel will
gel at low - low temperatures - there are many factors involved in this so
check into this)

I seem to remember reading someplace that the newer
diesel delivery systems now may have pre-warmers in their fuel filters???  I 
may
be wrong - check on that one.

Diesel technology has come a long way - and glow plug technology has
obviously gotten much better - but a block heater system will go a long
ways towards "assisting" all your systems to do their best - and get you
going sooner than later - and warmer...sooner than later.

I owned a 1979 Ford F-350 with a gas engine - and it came from the
factory with a dual set-up of block heaters - one for each side of the
block.

Also - not all block heaters are the same - make sure you either get the
factory system or if it's an add-on - make sure it's the best concept -
some of the add-on systems may be less efficient than others -
(as to how they heat the engine coolant and from what location)

And now one more thing....the only downside to using a block heater
that I know of ...is....forgetting to unplug it....
before pulling out of your driveway...

I remember as a kid in the 60's - going to church one winter Sunday in
Sun Valley - and there in the parking lot was a Plymouth station wagon
that belonged to one of the local members of the church congregation.
Apparently she'd been in a hurry to get to church that cold-cold morning....
as a lengthy amount of electrical wiring from her garage..........
was "still" attached to her block heater....
and it was all trailing along behind her wagon.

Best Wishes.  RL