i discovered a 120v plug in my engine....someone said its used to preheat it?

[superpickle]

Im moveing to Montana, i will need Block Heaters for my Vovlo, Kia, Wife, 4 dogs and me.. i dont thimk im going to like this 

[cody]

I got used to it after a while but my dog really hasn't adjusted to the block heater yet.

[Chopper Scott]

Just really check that cord to the block heater out very good. I once lost a building and contents plus the vehicle that was plugged into a block heater. In fact here in farm country many fires seem to occur due to block heaters starting fires. The cord on my 8v71 was pretty bad so I cut it off and if need be will replace the whole unit if I ever do any winter excursions. Later

[buswarrior]

Yes, check the length of the electric cord for cracked insulation and all the usual electrical wire safety stuff. No broken ground pins...

Think what might happen if the cord is chafed through against the coach body, and the ground pin is snapped off the plug....

Replacement cords may be readily purchased, in many lengths, that will just plug in to the heater.

Block heaters are a lovely thing and another option available for warming the engine to prepare it for starting, providing a load for your generator, bragging rights at a bus rally, and on and on...

plug it in for as long as it takes to get the block warm, and no more, to save electricity.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Oregonconversion]

Should I use my block heater at night when it gets down to 28F or so? I am talking about when the bus is just parked for storage.

[Busted Knuckle]

Should I use my block heater at night when it gets down to 28F or so? I am talking about when the bus is just parked for storage.

No not just for storage, just if your gonna be starting it.
  BK 

[Jerry32]

Helps keep the bedroom warm too! I put a switch in the bedroom to turn it on so I xan start warming the engine without going outside.

[zimtok]

I have noticed that below 60deg I can tell a difference in the bus starting.

I have my block heater connected to my shore power/generator for the winter.
If I'm going to be connected to shore or have the generator running for long periods I disconnect the block heater.

I just plug in my shore power about 2 hours before I have to leave for a gig and the block is warmed and also the interior of the bus because of the space heater I have plugged in.
I also start the generator about an hour before leaving the gig to warm up the bus and engine.


.

[TomC]

On my big rig, I had an Onan 6.5 Emerald Commercial gasoline generator (the compact Diesel gensets weren't made yet).  Whenever the generator was running, the block heater was also-no matter the temperature outside.  It created a constant 1500 watt load that kept it from carboning up.  Hence in the 12,000 hours that it lived, never had to have the cylinder heads off for de-carboning.  Onan didn't believe me on that one-that no carboning and the unit lasted 12,000 hours.  Amazing what good maintenance will do.  Good Luck, TomC

[Mex-Busnut]

I don't see one on my engine. Would somebody with a 6V92TA be kind enough to tunnel out to your bus through the 10 feet of snow and post a picture of this?

How expensive is it to purchase? How difficult to install?

Thanks in advance!

[Scott & Heather]

Quite the thread resurrection! Ours has a stock block heater. Works wonders. Below 40 and coach not plugged in? No starty. Plugged in for a few hours? Starty.

[thomasinnv]

Dr. Steve, you might not have one. They were not installed on every engine. Look in the end of the block just under the head for a chord coming out. There were a few different places they put them, but that is the one I know of. (I think the most common too)

[Jcparmley]

I know I am resurrecting an old thread but I think it's better to resurrect an old thread rather than cluttering up with a new post.  Especially if it's still applicable.  Anyhow, I have this plug on my engine.  In the pics I submitted you can see the wire on the front of the engine.  In the very top left corner you can see the plug.  Is this the block heater that is referred in the original post? 

[Utahclaimjumper]

Its a safe bet.>>>Dan

[richard5933]

If you've never used it and don't know the condition, just use caution the first time in case the heater and/or cord has failed. Probably a good idea to inspect these things first time they're used each year for damage to the cord, etc. Had one on a truck once that had a hidden short - cord got really warm really fast. Almost let the smoke out.