Recently, my fair city has decided to start ticketing people for warming up their vehicles in cold weather saying that they're being proactive about vehicle theft. (While doing nothing about the dope dealer across the street, the graffiti in the alley, or even the 7 stray cats that roam this neighborhood at night...but that's a whole different post) While I support their efforts to do something rather than nothing, I'm a little bummed that I've gotten two written warnings so far on my truck. Aside from hating when people touch my truck, I also have a 4 month old little girl (whom I have to take to Grandma's in the morning) that I don't believe should be getting into a cold vehicle when it's -10F outside.

With that in mind, my wife and I are debating either getting a block heater, remote starter, or both.

From my side, I had a block heater on my hand-me-down Dodge 600 I drove when I was 16 in Indiana. I left it plugged in all night at my Mom's house and when I started her up in the morning I had heat coming out in probably 30-60 seconds.

My wife seems to think remote start is the way to go. (This is actually legal because the key isn't in the car.) My question is really for you guys/gals that have the block heater: How quick do you get heat coming out of your dash? Maybe for that it'd be better to get the antifreeze circulator type instead of the freeze-plug type? Or should we just get the remote start? All serious thoughts are appreciated.

For reference, we have an '06 S-crew w/ the 5.4L and we do not currently have a garage.

 

I was interested in the block heater for the house, but had no place to plug it in at work. Also all this does is warm the car up in the winter.

I decided on the remote start so I could use it anywhere - house, work, family/friends, store, etc... Also, I use the remote start in the summer for AC. Dunno if that's a factor for you in CO?

Also, don't you have to plug in the block heater approx 1-2 hrs before you use the truck? After 15 mins on the remote start, my cab is nice and toasty.

 

Exactly.

Remote start. You can warm up the truck everywhere---not just at home. What if you're out shopping or at work and it's freezing outside? With a remote start you'd be able to warm up the truck for other situations.


As for them writing tickets, I can still see them writing a ticket if you have the truck running on remote start. You could argue it and get it dismissed when you prove you have a remote start, but they won't have any way of knowing that while writing the ticket. Could be a hassle.

 

i went with the block heater becuase the price of gas is too much for me to let the truck idle every morning for 10-15 minutes to get heat and warm the truck. with the block heater i have good heat in under 2 minutes when the temp is in the teens to single digits. i do agree remote start has advantages about it works anywhere. but with the cost of fuel, the only time i realy care about getting into a cold truck is in the morning. the rest of the day i dont care. i just hate waiting for my windows to defrost or melt the ice and snow of my windshield in the morning. now the glass is clear pretty quickly and i am using alot less fuel. block heaters are relativly cheap. you could just do both. plug it in at home, use remote start when nowhere to plug in.

 

Fuel cost is a great point....definitely a big consideration.

 

Very good point.

 

Both.

Unfortunately I only have a block heater but my new truck will have both. I work days and nights so most of the my truck is sitting outside work all night without being plugged in (I could pay 40 bucks for 5 months of plug in but o well). We get temps in the -30F range quiet common here in Feb. Never had a problem with truck not starting or whatnot. I never plug in until -15-20F. And at work I just go out a 2am and start it and listen to sirius for 5-10 min and then its good to go in the morning (only when its below -20F outside).

Plus remember this is a ford truck and the heater sucks anyway until the truck gets moving.

 

Viper SmartStart. Have it on my truck. I can literally start my truck from anywhere using my phone.

Here in Wisconsin, where it has been 20 or lower for the last month or so, I start my truck and when I get out to it about 5-10 minutes later, its warmed up and ready to go. The other benefit is that you can set the heat to be on, so when the truck starts, it begins running the heat.

i've only noticed a 1MPG drop from using the remote start, granted I never let it idle more than 10 minutes, and I have a v6, but I'm willing to take a small hit on gas mileage to not freeze my hind end off waiting for the truck to warm up.

 

well, with some remote starts, there is a wireless dongle placed at the crown of the windshield that makes it pretty obvious the truck is remote started. you could also let the authorities know that you have a remote start, so they can mark it down, so that when they run your plate, they know you're good to go.

 

false. or at the very least, not completely true.

 

i'm on my second remote start system and my wife's car came with it. never will i own a vehicle without it. doesnt get as cold here but i work rotating shifts and nothing like walking out to see others scrapping windows and mine is all clear nice and warm.

not being rude but i have not seen fuel mileage drop of course if i was that worried about gas would have bought a jap not a f-150.

 

Unless your going to go outside very early in the morning to plug in your block heater, which will consume a little electricity, you will need to leave it plugged in all night long which is going to use electricity all night long.
Or you can buy a remote start that will use a little bit of fuel every morning while the truck warms up.
Either way, the device you choose is going to cost "some" money to operate. My choice and therefore my vote, would most defiantly be a remote start. It's advantages are numerous and obvious Get one, you won't regret it.

 

Or just use a timer.

Just curious about the regulations the OP is subject to, you can't let your truck idle in your driveway but a remote starter will be OK? The truck is idling in the driveway either way. Most communities that pass those type of laws are more interested in cutting down on emissions from idling vehicles than they are in protecting your property, so it would seem a remote starter would not be allowed?

 

More to do with theft in Alabama emissions smessions. They don't check anything here.

 

I start my truck, then lock it via key pad. Now I can let warm while the doors are locked. Then use the hey pad to unlike it and i'm good to go!