Its suppose to get really cold (-20's) at night, does anyone ever plug there truck in with the cord outlet thing in the front of the truck and does it really help?

 

it helps greatly! The only way that it is really effective is if you plug it in when the truck is already been warmed up. If you plug it in when its cold it cant warm it up.

 

Sure it can. It just takes longer. Regardless, plug it in for sure.

 

Do all rangers have a block heater or is it just an option like i thought it was?

 

just an option... most northern state had it with there trucks

 

plug it in makes it alot easier to start in the morning. Its suppose to be a high of 0 F here for like the next week.

 

My truck came from Ohio and didn't have one, I'm kinda bummed about that.

 

A block heater? Could someone post a pic of the plug?

 

its just a standard 3 prong male plug that goes into an extension cord...the plug into the engine block is a special plug however

 

yeah i got 1 and it starts like a summer day when its like 20-30 below

 

I installed a stock Ford one in my truck last fall and I love it.....I can get in my truck in the middle of the night and have heat

 

I never even looked to see if I had one. It'd be on the window sticker, right?

 

someone tell me where its located i need one

 

How was the install? I'm looking to put one in the Ranger, jsut not sure about the install.

 

it is easy....take one freeze plug out and put in the block heater in its place....then run the wiring up to the front of the truck....i ran mine out the passanger side of the bumper next to the licenses plate...

If you look in this picture, just to the passanger side of the licenses plate, you can see the plug:

 

Pop the hood and look between the Radiator and front grill, I found mine on the Drivers side. It also has a cap to protect the prongs, so you may not see them. Take a flashlight with you when you go looking for it. I never use it, but just for today (-14) I plugged it in for fun.

 

alright man thanks

 

I bought a lower Radiator hose heater and put in mine, it does make a really big difference esp. when it is bitter cold. The other day it was -18 here and my truck started with no problems. If you dont have one you can get one at your local parts store they are about 20 dollars. Here is a picture of mine its hard to see but it is the red thing down in the engine bay.

 

I don't care for the heater that goes in the lower rad hose as they tend to waste heat circulating through the radiator.Also they don't last as long subjected to all the water,dirt ,mud,road salt flying up on them.
The caps that come on the end of a block heater cord also either get lost or don't seal the prongs from weather very well.Go to a hardware or department store and get a converter plug made for changing a three prong plug to fit a two prong receptacle.put some dielectric grease on the heater cord prongs and place the converter plug on the end.It keeps the cord end from coroding or getting dirty/iced over.
Also if you have to be stingy with your electric bill , You only need to plug in about 2 hours before starting the truck , even at 20 below.

 

A lot of people also use a timer. Just make sure it can handle the amps.

 

True as most block heaters run in the 650 to 800 watt range.That little table lamp timer won't cut it.

 

I have mine on a timer set to turn on 3 1/2 hours before I leave for work. My truck also has a heated battery blanket that looks to be all factory as it's tied in with the block heater.

I also put in a 900w "little buddy" auto heater in there.

The 3 hour setting is enough for an easy start . The heater takes the chill out of the interior and helps with the window scraping.

 

Wow, the engine block heaters draw that much?? I knew i had a battery blanket, but i didn't realize that their was an engine block heater tied into it. I was going to plug it in all night, but I guess i might have to get a timer if it draws that much.

 

The one in my 93 Dodge from the factory draws 750.

 

is the block heater standard on an 07' fx4? I dont have the options list and its pouring outside right now...wondering if my truck has it....