block heater on cummins

[Chuck Linn]

My Spartan chasis has engine block heater that the tech that showed us the coach said to unplug it that it was usless, for some reason I dont trust him entirely. The plug it is pluged into has no electricty to it . So the question is do I need it (we do get into single diget temps around here) and if I do how do I turn it on.

[ottffss]

What is useless is when a salesperson makes a statement like that. You spotted it right away!

To turn on the outlet that the block heater is plugged into requires that you turn the block/engine heater switch on INSIDE the RV. That turns that outlet on and thus the block heater on.

Many folks leave the actual plug unplugged in the summer - no particular reason. Only need it if the temps get cold (and everyone defines cold differently for their rig/needs) - generally 30's and below - the block heater warms the engine so that it starts easier in colder temps...

[Qwert66]

Manual somewhere said to run it a minimum of 3 hours for best effect and then turn it off and let it sit for 1/2 hr before starting engine. I know this sounds strange. It was a long time ago on a 330Hp ISC Also remember not needing it till it gets below 0 F.
Cummins will know for sure.

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Linn My Spartan chasis has engine block heater that the tech that showed us the coach said to unplug it that it was usless, for some reason I dont trust him entirely.

Your mistrust is well placed. The block heater is an integral part of the cold weather starting system on the Cummins diesel. If it weren't meant to be used, Cummins wouldn't spend the money to install it.

Rusty

[vtwinwilly]

I have an older Cummins C8.3 with a block heater I have never used. I purchased the coach used about 4 years ago. The block heater was unplugged, and the outlet it plugs into - like yours - has no power.

I live in the Dallas area and do a lot of winter camping. We do get into teens and twenties regularly, but I have never had a problem starting the coach. Maybe some folks who deal with sub zero temps could be of more help.

As for your outlet without power. Check to see if there is a curcuit breaker tripped or turned off. Also, that should be a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interupter) protected circuit. The GFCI may have tripped. The outlet that controls the GFCI may or may not be the outlet your block heater plugs into. For example... on my coach one of the kitchen outlets is GFCI protected by the GFCI outlet in the bathroom. I tripped it once and had to search around to find the tripped GFCI outlet. Simply pressed the "Reset" button in and all was good.

Good Luck to you.

[sparkydog]

Ours is a 2008 cummins, it's unplugged as well. The electrical box is controlled by a switch on the dash, I believe mine is coded block heater. My belief is that it's unplugged so that you don't inadvertently turn it on when traveling, or book docking, since it's 120V,and would surely discharge batteries quickly, being a resistance heating element. Just my take!

[FormerBoater]

IF your American Revolution is like my vintage American Eagle, the outlet is controlled by a circuit breaker found in the main A/C breaker panel.

Our panel is at the foot of the bed. The breaker is labeled strangely on our coach....it is something like "Outside Patio Receptacle". If your receptacle has no power, it will be the breaker that is OFF while all of the other breakers are ON.

#2 Diesel will start to cloud at temperatures in the 20's. Here in Florida that is all we get (no winter conversion to #1) and therefore I have used it once when temps where in the 20's up in Tallahassee after being parked for a few days. Flipped the breaker before going to bed, block was nice and warm and engine fired right up.

Return fuel will be warmed and solve any clouding issues for the fuel in the tank while the engine is running.

Hope this helps!

Dave
98 American Eagle 40EVS

[Monacoach]

I dont think my 2008 cummins has a block heater.

[LA-HODAG]

When parked in cold weather I plug the engine heater directly to campground power kiosk with a separate 15amp cord. Keeps that draw from interfering with our other electrical use through the 50 amp cord. Question. Is it harmful to block heater or engine to leave it constantly plugged in during sub-freezing weather?

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA-HODAG ...Is it harmful to block heater or engine to leave it constantly plugged in during sub-freezing weather?

Why on earth would you ever want to leave it on all the time???? All that is needed is 1-3 hours before a cold weather start. And that even applies if it is -10F all day and night. For simplicity some just turn it on the night before a cold start. KISS. Be green.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkydog ...My belief is that it's unplugged so that you don't inadvertently turn it on when traveling, or book docking, since it's 120V,and would surely discharge batteries quickly, being a resistance heating element. Just my take!

Block heaters are NEVER wired through the inverter so this could NEVER happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach I dont think my 2008 cummins has a block heater.

Oh yes it does, You can basically say ALL these big motors have one (or more)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerBoater ...the outlet is controlled by a circuit breaker found in the main A/C breaker panel....

So as not to confuse the OP, while the outlet is on a circuit breaker (it has to be) that outlet is "controlled" by a dash mounted switch which will turn the outlet - and thus the block heater if plugged into it - on and off. OP has a 2007 Spartan... FIND THE DASH SWITCH!

BTW The dash switch on the Spartan chassis is 12vDC which powers a relay in the shore power cord bay and that relay is what switches the 120vAC on/off to the outlet in the engine compartment....

[Monacoach]

Quote:

Quote: Originally Posted by Monacoach I dont think my 2008 cummins has a block heater. Oh yes it does, You can basically say ALL these big motors have one (or more)...

Where oh where would it be? I have made several failed attempts to locate a plug for a block heater.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerBoater #2 Diesel will start to cloud at temperatures in the 20's. Here in Florida that is all we get (no winter conversion to #1) and therefore I have used it once when temps where in the 20's up in Tallahassee after being parked for a few days. Flipped the breaker before going to bed, block was nice and warm and engine fired right up. Return fuel will be warmed and solve any clouding issues for the fuel in the tank while the engine is running. Hope this helps! Dave 98 American Eagle 40EVS

If your fuel gells in the tank the block heater is useless as it has nothing to do with heating the fuel until the engine is running. The gelled fuel will clog the filters first. You could go through a dozen filters and still not get the engine started. Once the fuel gells you need to be towed to a heated facility and left in the heat or pour a bunch of anti-gell in and hope it'll start. The best thing is to get winter blend fuel or add anti-gell BEFORE the temps drop, but that's not always possible.
I still have #2 in our rig, our temps at night are just hitting freezing and I'm not worried about the fuel gelling. Probably headed out one more time before the new year. I'll fill up then, don't know if I'll get winter blend yet or not.

[mackpeteno]

I have a 1993 Bounder.The plugin is in the very rear cargo on the drivers side.There is a on-off switch on the side of the bed,can be turned on while in bed.This is factory.
It was 20 this am,i turned it on for 90 min.This was enough to move the temp guage off the peg and it started very easily.

Most cummins engines have 1500W heaters.They need to be turned off before starting the engine.The reason is the element is red hot,if there is an air bubble created by the water pump and it hits the element it will blow a hole in it instantly.
Most problems you have is with the cord,the connections getting hot and burning off the ends. They can be tested by unplugging the cord and test with ohm meter.

Most new engines will start in cold weather,but it saves a lot of wear to have it warm.Just my opinion.

[FormerBoater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D If your fuel gells in the tank the block heater is useless as it has nothing to do with heating the fuel until the engine is running. The gelled fuel will clog the filters first. You could go through a dozen filters and still not get the engine started. Once the fuel gells you need to be towed to a heated facility and left in the heat or pour a bunch of anti-gell in and hope it'll start. The best thing is to get winter blend fuel or add anti-gell BEFORE the temps drop, but that's not always possible. I still have #2 in our rig, our temps at night are just hitting freezing and I'm not worried about the fuel gelling. Probably headed out one more time before the new year. I'll fill up then, don't know if I'll get winter blend yet or not.

Clouding for #2 Diesel (the initial formation of wax crystals) should not occur until the fuel temperature dips to 16 degrees F. Gelling will not occur until a lower temperature or a long duration of temps around 16 degrees F. So, my previous post about temps in the 20's stands corrected!

So, no problems until temps dip into the teens for a prolonged period of time regarding fuel flow and filter clogging with #2 Diesel.

I still think that the block heater is a very good tool when temps dip to warm your engine lubricant and make for an easy start.

My engine (Cummins C8.3 mechanical) starts instantly in warm weather. It also started instantly with below freezing temps after using the block heater on one occasion in Tallahassee last winter.

If you have one, use it IMHO!

Dave
1998 American Eagle 40EVS