Does anyone know if our block heaters cycle on and off or are always on?

 

I believe they are an always on type, as long as they are plugged in. Hence why I use a outdoor timer for mine, only turns it on a few hours before I go to work.

 

Yeah I believe its always on at the set temp...

 

You can get engine heaters (block or in-line) with timers or external thermostats for more selective on/off times, but they all cause a certain amount of circulation of coolant based on the temperature differential so you're not highly likely to overheat one area and there's a lot of coolant in a block to keep the heater pretty busy on a cold day. I like the in-line heaters that attach to the heater hose - it helps in warming up the cab a lot quicker to keep my hands and backside from freezing, but unless it's really cold, I don't bother using these heaters and just use an electric cab heater on a timer to warm things up before I need to jump into the truck.

 

This is a Good idea, think I might do the same. Currently I dont use it, ever. haha

 

for decades chrysler had for at least some car/trucks factory heaters in the soft plug. BUT they are made of steel, ie rust. i liked the one with a magnet to hold it to bottom of the oil pan.

 

Electric cab heater? How's that work?

 

Electric block heater, not cab. My wife really wishes they had an electric cab heater.

 

I didn't make it up. Actually, there are electric cab heaters.

 

You can buy 12v Heaters. I think thats what he went.