By Kevin Martel

Why you should be plugging in your vehicle’s block heater

Dec 12, 2013 | 6:08 AM

When it gets bitterly cold out in Saskatchewan’s winters, getting your vehicle to start can sometimes be a gamble.

Some take the initiative to plug in their block heaters, while others feel they don’t need to and risk it.

But does it really matter whether your vehicle is plugged in or not?

“It’s definitely better for the vehicle. If it’s going to be 30 below, the vehicle should be plugged in. There’s no question about it,” said Bill Cawsey, an automotive technician at Regina’s Bennett Dunlop Ford for the last 28 years.

The block heater is an electric heater that’s usually found on the side of the engine block, he explained.

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“It goes right into the coolant. It warms up the coolant inside the motor. It’ll bring the engine temp up so it’s like starting a vehicle in the summer time,” Cawsey said.

The cord is usually found on the lower part of the bumper or attached underneath the hood. While most vehicles do come with block heaters, some newer models won’t have one unless you specifically mark down the option to include it when purchased. In certain cases, that might run you extra money.

Cawsey said all vehicles should be plugged in when temperatures dip beyond the minus 20 mark. As for how long you need to keep it plugged in for, he said it shouldn’t take any longer than three hours, adding it’s best to have a timer. Although unneeded, leaving it plugged in all night is also fine. But neglecting your vehicle altogether by just leaving it out in the cold can have a detrimental impact.

“It’ll actually do fairly extensive damage. It’s taking a lot out of the vehicle if you’re not plugging it in,” he insisted.

Your battery can take a beating if it isn’t warm. The impact is also felt on the motor.

“When the engine starts up that cold, a lot of fuel is going into the engine and that’ll wash oil off the cylinder walls,” Cawsey explained.

“If it doesn’t start, all that gas goes right past your rings; it goes into the oil and it’ll pollute the oil. If you got a lot of fuel in the oil, well obviously the oil’s not working the way it should.”

How long you’re able to drive your vehicle for might just depend on whether the proper steps are taken to ensure your car, truck, SUV or van is protected in brutal temperatures.

“It’s more of a preventative—maintenance item I guess you would call it—for your vehicle. If you want it to last, plug it in.”

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