[bradmil]

Hey guys. Just trying to get some opinions here. Moving from Tennessee to Colorado (Colorado Springs area) due to military. Is it worth either self-installing or having the dealer install the engine block heater? Are there any other cold weather prep jobs I should do to the truck? Visited Frisco area last year for a ski trip and the truck did fail to start on me, but I had forgotten to put additive in the tank, and it was -5* that morning. A bottle of red HEAT and some patience solved that issue. I now put Staynadyne in every tank of fuel. Just looking for your recommendations.

Truck is a 2016 Z71 Crew Cab with the duramax tuner 4 position spade tuner. Just over 105k miles.

 

[ColoradoKate]

I put a block heater in after I bought my 2019 z71. I often spend time in the mountains when it gets to be -20. At night I set my timer to turn on the block heater for 4 hours prior to start (turn on around 330 am for a 730 am start). I also use Standyne Winter additive. Never had a problem starting even on the coldest of days. My old car engine blew up and I believe (my non-professional opinion) that it failed due to years of hard starts in the mountains. I'm not taking any chances with my baby diesel.

 

[Rogo]

I put a block heater in after I bought my 2019 z71. I often spend time in the mountains when it gets to be -20. At night I set my timer to turn on the block heater for 4 hours prior to start (turn on around 330 am for a 730 am start). I also use Standyne Winter additive. Never had a problem starting even on the coldest of days. My old car engine blew up and I believe (my non-professional opinion) that it failed due to years of hard starts in the mountains. I'm not taking any chances with my baby diesel.

How bad was it to put in? Or how much did it cost to pay to get put in?

 

[ColoradoKate]

It was around $500 but definitely shop around. I was putting mine in when most non-dealers weren't installing it yet due to model year. But now that it's been a few years, you can probably find an install for less.

 

[Iowa]

I live in Iowa. I don't plug in unless below zero which is about a dozen times per year.

 

[Via Dolorossa]

My 2018 Ford that I bought at auction epicvin was straight out of the box with Kat's model 1190 Magnetic Engine Heater, 1190X. That's a nice bonus on the purchase, because I didn't have to buy the unit myself. It handles its functions well, but in severe cold I am required to pour veltherm fluid.