Block heater use for diesels?

[CP]

I just returned from a 900 mile trek from Indiana in the Tuesday/Wednesday snowstorm (great timing) where I picked up a used daily driver/tow vehicle. It's an 04 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab, Cummins turbo diesel, 6 speed, Laramie with 125K on the clock. It's mint and I've been looking for it for about 5 months. It should be more than adequate for towing my Miata this season.

I'm not all that familiar with diesels yet. What's the deal with block heaters? It's got one. It has started just fine the last few mornings without using the block heater. It takes a while for the temp gauge to move, but my retired daily driver did too, so I'm used to no heat for 5 minutes after startup. I've been reading some threads on diesel forums, but they're peppered with good and bad info. Some say use it whenever it's below 32*, some say only when it drops below 15*. If I'm not having starting issues and can deal with a cold interior for 10 minutes each morning, do I need to plug the thing in every night? I don't want to pay for the electricity if I don't have to. Some have suggested using a timer that kicks the block heater on an hour or two before firing it up in the morning, the best of both worlds.

Suggestions/experience?

[breakaway500]

First off,nice choice of trucks! I tow with an 06 Dodge Cummins/6 speed and get 15-17 mpg pulling my enclosed 20' trailer with power to spare!

If your truck is starting in the cold,there is no need to plug it in,unless you want heat faster in the cab. The Cummins cooling system is massive,and it takes quite a while to heat up even in warm weather.You can partially block the radiator opening for better warm up times in the winter.Many guys do.I don't run my Cummins in the winter,as I refuse to subject it to such cruel conditions. I have a Ford Powerstroke for winter use.
Make sure you run a good fuel additive in the winter.Power Source makes a good one,and is readily available. Keep your oil fresh and change your fuel filter once a year and that Cummins will last you two lifetimes. If you desire more power,it is just a tuner away,although stock they are mighty stout.I reprogrammed mine for the bump in mileage. Mark

[offcamber09]

Hi Cy, have you seen the episode of Top Gear where they put the little guy in a diesel Citroen in a cooled wind-tunnel trying to see what would break first, man or car. They had the wind chill well below zero F. and the diesel fuel turned to jello and the car would not start. He needed your block heater.

How's the new business?

-Scott

[CP]

So I guess the answer is NO, I don't need to use the block heater if the truck is starting alright. I think I'm going to go the timer route on the other end of an extension cord. The thing takes almost my entire 13 mile drive to work to come up to temp (if the stock temp gauge is at all accurate). I already broke down an installed an intake kit

Nope, missed that episode Scott. Business is flat. We're hoping/expecting the busy season to begin next month when we get a warm spell and people start thinking about their cars that have been sleeping all winter.