Block Heaters

[gunflint]

I need help settling an argument. Does anyone know the costs of plugging in a vehicle per month? I'm sure it varies but I'm looking for an average. Thanks.

[hawkeye43]

We plugged in a truck last Jan and the bill was $50 more than in Jan.

[FishonTom]

It all depends on what type of plug in you are talking about. There are as many differant types as there are cars. The cheapest would be about .25 per day with the most expensive about 2.00 a day, average maybe .75 to 1.00 a day. I had a magnet that attached to the oil pan and it raised the electric bill about $30.00 a month. However if you are smart about it and put it on a timer and only run it about 2 hours a day, before you get up in the morning, pennies.

[jeffreyd]

I agree with Tom, i had a diesel that i kept plugged in when i got home. my bill increased about 50 buck or more then did the timer thing, set it for 3 hours before leaving that got the water up and also thinned oil enough that the rattle was not so bad. it was way less than 20 bucks a month. it is simply a heating element like your hot water heater the only difference is it is heating cast iron.

[Jeremy airjer W]

agreed, there is no reason to leave them plugged in over night. A couple hours before you start it up and you should be good to go.

[PierBridge]

I'll gladly pay 50 smackers one month out of the year` to have my vehicle start and warm up quicker on those frigid January days... the timer sounds like a good idea!

[harvey lee]

I agree Pier.

[Gissert]

I put my diesel on a timer. 750 watt block heater can eat some juice. 3 hours is usually plenty.

[solbes]

I think my Dodge has a 600 watt heater. When it get's really cold, I'll put it on the timer for 3 hours. That's 1.8 kilowatt hours, or about 18 cents. Projected out for 30 days, it only comes to $5.40. You might even get that back in increased gas mileage, since the engine shouldn't have to run as rich for as long in the morning.

[Northlander]

I plug mine in over night when its in the 10 below and less range. I would guess about 20 times a winter. Much easier start and better on your truck. I also run 5-30 weight oil and change it on time. 212,000 miles on a 97 F-150 and its still going strong.

If Im at LOW, Red or any place like that and the truck will sit for a few days I also plug it in if possible.

[deadeye]

I guess I keep mine plugged in all the time but I never know when I'm going somewhere so its hard to say when it will be needed.

I like the idea of a timer. If your on a set schedule it would work great.

As far as the bill goes I think its around 50$ or so.

Not bad considering the cold blooded beasts that I drive. My talon wouldn't start at all if it wasn't plugged in and the blazer starts but makes ugly sounds when its not plugged in. Well worth the dough IMO.

[merkman]

1000 watt heater running 1 hour = 1 KW hour

Average price of a KWh in MN = about 10 cents

Here are some examples with those assumptions:

1500 Watt heater running 24 hours = 36 Kwh = $ 3.60 per day = $ 86.40 per month

1000 Watt heater running 24 hours = 24 Kwh = $ 2.40 per day = $ 72 per month

500 Watt heater running 24 hours = 12 Kwh = $ 1.20 per day = $ 36 per month

Run it less hours per day and it costs less.

I believe some of these block heaters have thermostats on them so they aren't running all the time anyway.

[Surface Tension]

If your like most you need your vehicle in the morning.

It is at that time when temps are bottomed out.

A timer set 2 or 3 hours before you leave for work is plenty.

As the day warms the tank heater is often not needed. All in all there is only about a two week period when day time temps justify plugging a car in. With fuel injection and computers in vehicles plus thinner oils cold weather starting difficulties are far far less then the days of simple carbureted engines.

Really if the car is running right it should start.

Having said that, I've tried to explain that to the MIL as her car is plugged in whenever it is in the driveway all winter long. I might make her a energy saving custom extension cord.

I'll just tell her to use that cord on days when the temp is above-10.

[BobT]

It is relatively easy to estimate what it might cost to use a block heater.

1.

You need to know the power consumption of the heater (rated watts).

2.

You need to know what your electricity costs you per kwh (kilowatt-hour).

(Watts / 1000) * electric rate = cost to operate the heater per hour of use.

This formula is assuming the heater is not controlled by a thermostat so it will run continuous while plugged in.

Hers' an example. Suppose your block heater is rated for 300w and your electricity costs $.08 per kwh.

(300 / 1000) * $.08 =

.3kwh * $.08 = $.024 per hour

Now just multiply that by how many hours you estimate you'll use it in a given month and you can estimate your monthly cost.

Suppose you plug it in for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.

3*5*4 = 60 hours per month

60 * $.024 = $1.44

Block heaters are not usually high wattage heaters because they are located inside the engine block and can do the job more efficiently at lower wattage. I believe a common block heater might typically be 400w or less.

Tank heaters on the other hand have to either heat and pump the coolant into the engine block from outside or rely on convection movement again from the outside and it is not uncommon for these to be 800w or higher. They're quick and easy to install but really very poor and inefficent by comparison.