A while back I was asking about trucks and trailers for horse pulling and got some really good advice. Based on the fact that we are now considering a smaller trailer overall, we have been entertaining a F250. I have noticed that the 250’s don’t have the engine block heater as often as the 350 dually’s. Is an engine block heater really necessary? I’m in the Midwest, but I can also most likely park the 250 in the garage so I’m wondering if the block heater is even going to be used. I guess I could always get it installed aftermarket if I change my mind? Would that be an option?

And the other question doesn’t really have to do with diesel trucks specifically but I guess any truck, the one I’m looking at has standard halogen headlights, but if I wanted to upgrade after the fact to LED headlights can that be done after market and could it be done to look like factory OEM?

Thanks as usual!

I wouldn't suspect you would need the block heater based off your location.

As far as headlights, you can swap them out for the LED's usually fairly easily. I'd stick to factory as well for those, they'll last longer in the long run.

A block heater on a diesel - or any vehicle - is for near- or sub-zero temperatures. Do you encounter those regularly? In subzero temperatures, diesel fuel can turn to jelly or any water that may be in it freeze. I don't think a block heater will help much with that, since this occurs in the tank and lines, far removed from the engine itself. I can tell you my brother's old-school Dodge/Cummins (without EFI or even glow plugs) starts as soon as the first piston comes up on compression in sub-freezing temps (+15-30°F), no help needed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

i would think any full size diesel truck would have a block heater when rolling off the line. I would find it odd it that is not the case.

It's definitely not standard equipment on newer ones. Both of my brothers have F250s, one a 2013 one a 2019 and neither have them. Both are 6.7 PSD trucks.

My wife and I bought a 2001 7.3 PSD for our daughter last June as her first ride. I haven't looked to see if it has one but my brother who has the 2013 had a 2002 before that and I'm pretty sure he told me his 2002 didn't have one.

I have a 2016 F250 with a block heater, and I think I plugged it in once, just to see if it worked.

It came on the package I bought, and not sure it is needed at all unless you're in the upper part of the country or Alaska.

My headlights are halogen and I have seen some aftermarket LED's but the halogens seem to work fine for my needs.

Diode Dynamics will be what you want for swapping to LEDs.

https://www.diodedynamics.com/

I have Sealight LEDs in my Expedition as they were a gift and have been going strong with no issues for over a year now.
If I were buying the DD SL1s would be what I would get.

I put one on all the trucks I owned. Even a couple of gas burners. But it was mainly for MY comfort. Kinda nice having warm air on your feet almost immediately on a cold morning.
But necessary, not here in east Texas.

As the truck ages and the starting aids weaken or fail the block heat becomes helpful. Things like older batteries, or sitting for weeks without a tender.

They do suck a bunch of electricity, when I’ve used them it’s on a timer.

Far better than a water jacket heater (block heater) would be an oil pan heater. They do a far better job at helping the truck start because the oil is warmed and flows well. Also, they use about half the power as a jacket heater. One of the best is a Wolverine heater, now bought out by Zero Start. There are cheaper Wuhan Flu knockoffs, but the Wolverine is made in Washington State. At least they used to be before they were Zero Start.

Do NOT ever use a dipstick heater. Those will coke your oil. Too hot with too little surface area.

Another helpful tip is to run full synthetic oil. Rotella T6 will do wonders for cold starts compared to a mineral based motor oil. I really don’t know why anybody would run anything other that synthetic in a diesel, given the benefits of synthetic every which way you evaluate it.

Winter temperatures can vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the midwest.


I have begrudgingly fired up my Dodge when it was -15F without having it plugged in - it did groan a bit. I typically start plugging mine in when the temps get below 15F or so and I plan on starting it. When temps are sub zero, it takes a long time for the engine to warm up enough to blow warm air in the cab. A winter front helps with that. I also run full synthetic oil, and think that helps too.


My former BIL has an '02 Ford that flat out won't start without being plugged in when temps drop below 30. I'm assuming he's got others issue(s) that contribute to that.

Engine block heaters are a regional thing with Ford, at least on the F-150's. In Arizona, block heaters were not even available on F-150's but here in Alaska, they all seem to have it. I've never used mine. Granted I have a heated garage. There have been times at work where I have remote started it a couple of times during a shift and let it run for a several minutes just to make sure nothing froze up. There was one trip through the Yukon where I stayed overnight and the temps were -17 and I was really wishing for an extension cord to plug my block heater in at the hotel.

As far as the headlights the Ford LED's are a definite improvement over the standard halogen. My current 2019 truck has the halogen and they suck. Unfortunately they're typically only available on higher trim levels. Opinions vary on the aftermarket conversions auto their worth and they can be expensive. If you can afford it, I'd suggest a higher trim level with the OEM LED headlights.

Today's diesel fuel have enough additives added in the winter that having a block heater isn't necessary. I'd still add some after market additive during the winter no matter the temperature.

I had a '99 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. I think it was in 2004 that I was in northern Wisconsin for a Snowmobile Derby. My truck wasn't plugged in, or driven for the three days I was there. High temps were hovering around -25 with lows at night were -35 to -40. When I had to leave I cycled the grid heaters twice and it started right up. Though for the first 5-10 minutes it felt like the engine was going to break the mounting bolts and come back into the cab with me.

The last diesel I owned was a 1978 Mercedes 240D.

On cold days in Chicago, in NJ, and in the Denver area, it did not have a chance of starting if I did not plug in the block heater for at least an hour.

In fact, on really cold days in the parking lot at work, where there were no electric outlets available, I had to leave it idling.

You don't say year or actual motor or model. But here's the general rule for ford. Diesel engines get a block heater in certain markets (by State actually, not model dependent) as a std. option. Ford has changed the States over time but in general the very cold ones get one. In every other market its an option. It is easily added after the fact as all the blocks have the port. And if you buy a used truck probably a good time to get the coolant out of it anyway (nobody changes diesel coolant or adds the correct additive on schedule anyway).
As to the issue of do you need one it matters what temps are in your area. Powerstrokes in good condition will have no issues down to about 0F. With decent full synthetic oil (rotella) down to about -5F. After that things are going to be more iffy. And if you have been putting off getting all the glow plugs fully operational or batteries in great shape really iffy. Even if starts are possible the huge benefit is the truck starts producing usable heat for you way way earlier as hudr notes. egregore issue has nothing to do with the block heater. One needs to be cognizant of the fact that diesel fuel needs to be treated for the ambient temps or it gels. Summer and winter fuel in cold climates are two different animals.

Good stuff as usual guys. Seems like perhaps I wouldn’t need an engine block heater though I could get one aftermarket so that’s good.

Nice to know there are options with aftermarket LED’s as well though I’ll try and find one with them already.

Now I’m wondering if I need a spray in bed liner from the factory or if aftermarket is fine or better for that as well? Ugh, so many questions.

Mine is an aftermarket spray in liner.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 95flhr,

I live in mid-Missouri and we don't get nearly cold enough to need a block heater. Where are you?

I bought my F350 SRW in Tennessee and it came with a block heater. I wouldn't have ordered it with one, but I didn't quibble about an $85 option.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
A block heater on a diesel - or any vehicle - is for near- or sub-zero temperatures. Do you encounter those regularly? In subzero temperatures, diesel fuel can turn to jelly or any water that may be in it freeze. I don't think a block heater will help much with that, since this occurs in the tank and lines, far removed from the engine itself. I can tell you my brother's old-school Dodge/Cummins (without EFI or even glow plugs) starts as soon as the first piston comes up on compression in sub-freezing temps (+15-30°F), no help needed.

Technically, even the modern Cummins diesels don’t have glow plugs either but they do utilize a grid heater to warm the air coming into the intake. A lot of people think this is actually superior technology to glow plugs. I’ve personally owned 2 different Ford (International) Powerstroke diesels, a Duramax and a Cummins and I would rate the Cummins as the easiest starting of all the diesels in cold weather. Maybe there is something else with the design, or maybe it’s the inline 6 vs V8 but I think the grid heater is probably the biggest factor as to why the Cummins engines seem to start so easy in the cold.

And on a side note, I never bothered to plug my diesels in as it rarely got below zero and I never had a problem. I would start them at least every other day though if they were going to sit outside in zero or below temperatures. Honestly, with modern common rail, and even HEUI high pressure diesel injection designs I think hard starts in the cold are mostly a thing of the past.