Do I need to plug in Tahoe/engine heater???

Doubeleive · Jan 16, 2024

stedanrac said:
While we’re on this subject…. I was testing out the block heater in advance of the really cold temps headed our way and I can’t see any indications that it is working or on. It’s plugged in to a live plug, but I expected to see some sort of informational message on the dash and there are none. This is a 2023 Tahoe with 3.0 Duramax.

Thanks for any help

the only way you are going to know it is working is with a thermometer, maybe if you stuck your hand up in the right place it might not feel as cold as the rest, cord might feel warmish
it is literally just power cord to heater, no other gizmo's involved.
very much like the photo below and as already noted you can see the label/tag indicates 0'deg is when it turns on

steiny93 · Jan 22, 2024

TwoBigBoys n dog said:
My dealer installed a block heater on my '18 6.2 L Yukon Denali. Was told it will not come on until it is below freezing; as from the post above, don't know if that is 0'C or 0'F, but it worked in Montana this weekend when it was brrrr outside.

their isn't any intelligence in the factory heaters...

when you plug them in, if you listen you can here a slight 'hisssssss' it's the element in the coolant getting hot
the vehicle has not idea they are on or off, they are just a heating element in the coolant

for duration... they only need a couple hours to make a big difference. When our new place came online the parking area didn't get heat right away, -25F in 2 hours an ecoDiesel would be up to say 30F. These baby Dmax's should behave very similarly.

UsualSuspect · Jan 27, 2024

Fire trucks are plugged in all the time at the Fire Station, turn the key and the cord is automatically ejected from the plug on the truck. I doubt you will hurt anything if you are concerned and plug it in. I just came back from northern Montana, never plugged it in, was down to -whatever it was parka pants and jacket cold, it started just fine, there was a little delay in the start waiting for the glow plugs to warm things up.

Steve Smith · Jan 29, 2024

The thermostat is in the plug. My 2023 Tahoe didn't have a thermostat in the plug. It is just a regular molded plug end. My older Chev pickup had the thermostat. It wouldn't turn on until temp was -22C. I didn't like that if I plugged the truck in at -21C, the block heater wouldn't work. I cut the thermostat plug off and replaced it with a good quality electrical plug.

kerlyb · Jan 29, 2024

Have owned many diesels...Chevy, GMC, Merecedes, VW, and Audi over my lifetime. Never used a block heater in vehicles that had them...while living in Wisconsin.

I will say the plastic cover for the plug in heater on my Tahoe is junk. Clips deform and warp when I did a trial run in cool temps. Bet they are P.I.A. trying to reinstall in bitter cold temps with wind and snow blowing.

Padraig · Jan 29, 2024

Can not plug my 2013 Suburban in with getting down on my knees and having something to pry the cover off. Screw that!

Padraig

Do I need to plug in Tahoe/engine heater???

Doubeleive

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steiny93

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UsualSuspect

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Steve Smith

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kerlyb

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Padraig

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