mowermech
Billings, MT
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Well, darn, I thought I was going to get a chuckle out of a silly question, and here it's a perfectly valid query. shucks.
BUT, yes, the timer is the best idea. While plugging it in isn't "required" until it gets VERY cold, having the heater putting out warm air just a little sooner is certainly worth the little bit of electricity used, IMO.
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GaryGus
Sanger, California
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Mowermech beat me to it, but I thought your question was good. My truck hates anything below about 25 degrees. Starts hard, runs rough, and billows white smoke, so I plug mine in earlier than others have mentioned. Just experiment a little and find your own best spot.
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mtofell1
Oregon
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Do you 'pluggers' loop the cord through the door handle or have another trick to remind you it's plugged in? I have never used mine but will start this winter and just know at least once I'd drive off with the cord plugged in if I didn't have some safety net in place.
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no_bytes
Wisconsin
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Run an extension cord from your neighbors the night before it snows, then keep it plugged in all winter  
Seriously though, it is so nice starting the truck and having warm air before I get a block away. I rarely drive the truck in the winter, so I always plug it in at least a few hours before I'm going to drive it. All vehicles should have this in the northern climates....plus heated seats 
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Kejsj30
Portland, Oregon
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no_bytes wrote:Run an extension cord from your neighbors the night before it snows, then keep it plugged in all winter
Seriously though,.............
I just moved to Wisconsin a few months ago, I'll have to look into that!
mtofell1 wrote:Do you 'pluggers' loop the cord through the door handle or have another trick to remind you it's plugged in? I have never used mine but will start this winter and just know at least once I'd drive off with the cord plugged in if I didn't have some safety net in place.
I've driven off several times with the truck plugged in. I don't have any plugs on the outside of my garage (spec house) so I'm running an extension cord from inside, under the garage door. It will come unplugged from the truck several feet down the driveway.
Then when you come home you have the reminder of the cord stretched down your driveway.
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hamilton71801
L.A. (Lower Arkansas)
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I don't think 2 hrs will be long enough...at least for my truck. 4 hrs is what mine (and me) likes.
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Paul B
Daytona Beach, Florida
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Block heaters may not be needed until really cold, BUT, diesels start better when warmed up a bit!!
Paul B
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woodrow
Nooksack WA
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Since most all Diesels burn less efficiently until somewhat warm, I wonder if the DPF equipped trucks regen any more in the cold or when not plugged in on cold mornings? you would think the larger emission of Carbon would take some more life off of the filter? A different spin on the Block heater question I guess since this technology is fairly newer.
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Dave H M
IL
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Are you parking in a garage tht is attached to the house?
If so it will be a lot warmer out there than you think.
Just mentiong that since i live in cetral IL and my F 250 has never been plugged in since 99.
Yep, even thought I have no experience with the blcok heater, I would go the timer route if I were to have to start using one.
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Make sure that the time you get is rated as Heavy Duty, and not one of the small light bulb timers. The newer diesels will ususally start fine down close to 0 dF, but When we lived near Tulsa, I would plug mine in and set the timer for about 2 hours before I left when it got down to around 30 dF. It made starting easier and also, the truck reached operating temperature faster and I got heat faster.
Ken
KE5DFR
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