Block heater
 

since I got married, My 2000 Pontiac grand am..sits outside in our Minnesota winters...while the wife's work car...has the garage:rolleyes2:

So, the factory block heater...
Can it be left plugged in, does it have a thermostat/ shut off that would keep it from running around the clock...
and if it does run continuously...will I have to take out a loan to pay for the electricity, or is it a low watt heater

Only have a problem when the temps are below zero, which in Minnesota...is about 4 months :lol:

I used to leave mine plugged in for 12-18 hrs at a time without an issue. I never looked what the electric bill was. It couldn't be much, I am pretty sure it is a very low wattage element. Where in MN are you? I am in New Prague, which is about 45 min south of the cities.

i just dont plug mine in. starts at -40. and if it's that could i dont want to go anywheres anyways

^yea mine would always start no matter what temp also, but they warm up much faster and start easier if they are plugged in.

OP: you can leave it plugged in over night if you want, it won't hurt anything. What I do is just plug mine into a timer and have it turn at at like 4 in the morning so it isn't on all night but still warms up plenty by the time I start it for work or school. You wont notice much of a difference if any on electric bill just having one car plugged in, when I lived at my parents still we always had two plugged in and it was nbd.

We live in the country..half way between Kenyon and Medford (I-35)

plugged it in yesterday, was going to go to town today...but the forecast 1/2" of snow...has turned into 6 inches...and it's still snowing...:cool:
thanks for all the replies, wonder why mine won't turn when it gets zero or there abouts, Use Castrol 5- 30:(

but to answer your original question, i do believe a gm mechanic told me that the block heater will not turn on unless it is a certain temperature,

so all in all... leave her plugged in

Can someone direct me to the part numbers or an offer for an engine block heater?