Homestead mailing list

[Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>]

On Sep 7, 2008, at 8:39 PM, Don Bowen wrote:

> Battery heaters are often used in very cold climates.  Look to see  
> if there
> is an electrical connection to the pickup wiring harness.

Don,

I'll check it out when the gotta-do's are done.  I only made a quick  
look-see to locate any house power cords, but saw none.

>  If a block heater is what you are looking for don't get one of those
> dipstick heaters.

I could never figure how they could work well. Never had one.  The  
dipstick in this truck is about four feet long, and very thin.  I  
don't know how anything able to deliver much heat at all could be put  
down that tube.

>   ... For best results get a block heater that will replace a freeze
> plug.  That way the whole block is warmed.

I had a block heater for my '69 Volvo, but never needed to install  
it.  You had to pull out a freeze plug and put the heater in it's place.

>  ... sometimes an inline heater in a heater hose works as well.

That would make more sense to me.

> Fords sometimes eat up the glow plugs.  Not all that hard to replace  
> but the
> block sending unit is a real bear.

I"m new to diesels, so what does the block sending unit do, sense the  
temperature of the glow plug?  The little glow plug light on the dash  
stays on only briefly in this summer weather.  I find that it fires up  
faster with just a touch of throttle

Roy

Roy Morgan
13033 Downey Mill Rd
Lovettsville, VA 20180
k1lky AT earthlink.net

NEW address:
529 Cobb St.
Groton NY, 13073