I live in the midwest where it can get very cold in the depth of winter. But I use synthetic oil that does not thicken when cold. Would there even be a benefit to plugging the engine in?

No block heater in my 4Runner (not needed), but my F250 PSD is a must.
The V6 should be fine down to -10 degrees (F). I do put a trouble light near battery at those low temps overnight. Then top off with old moving blanket.
Make sure the coolant is at spec too.

No. Synthetic oil is super slick so doesn't need a heater. I sold my house for $1billion so I know. :Sarcasm:

Just one drop of synthetic oil in your engine and you might as well just junk the car. Its done, over, BIG RIP.

LOL!

captainkilmer has a 2005 4runner he bought new & it starts & runs like new... no head gasket issues & doesnt overheat, but hes waiting for a new evap core. he also has a boat.

LOL for the comments above.

DrC --

This is a rich ground for commentary, but I will try to keep it short. A 5w oil is good down to about -30°F. A 0w is good down to -40°F.

Those are the lowest temperatures at which the oils will flow for start. But that said, those low temps will cause slow cranking as I'm sure you have noticed.

A block heater will make your cold weather starts pretty much effortless, as the oil will flow much easier. When I lived in Northern Montana we had plenty of nights down to -20 or even colder....cranking was super slow. Then I moved into a house with a heated garage kept at 40°F all winter and both vehicles started like a dream.

There is a website I frequent and one of the members is a long-haul trucker; he has used 15w40 in his trucks for 20 or 30 years, always had a oil pan heater and never had a problem… And he used to live in Alaska near Fairbanks where it gets much colder than the lower 48.

So long-winded post short, you would be fine without a pan heater, but starting will be much quicker and easier with one (and also less stress on battery/starter/etc) as well as getting heat a bit quicker.

Needed? No. Improvement? Yes.

Not sure how this topic got sideways so quickly, but I had a block heater before on an FJC and never used it. Im not going to waste money on one on this truck.

This video is a good reference for oil in cold climates. Most engine wear happens at start up. Since this truck will live outside, I will just spend a little more on syn oil and call it a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkg0oDUXs8&feature=youtu.be

nobody cares about your boat captainkilmer! already told you i dont brag about what i own. you write checks for everything you own & have zero mechanical knowledge proven by your wacko comments on here. & you had to pay a guide to show you how to catch a fish!

people who cant back up their comments or are losing an argument or debate resort to personal attacks & name calling... & bragging about what they own!

keep digging the hole youre in DB... i thought the 10/40 conventional oil you use in your 5/30 engine stopped your leaks that you blamed on "super slick" synthetic??? yet now you say you STILL have 2 drops a week!!! LOL!! you just posted this today in the 3rd gen section... how embarrassing for you!

You don't brag firebird 'cause you gots nutin' to brag about!

Avoiding the Capital gains taxes - legally using the IRS / Tax Code.

Goldman Sachs (NY/office w CEO above) has plenty offshore. They in over 100 offshore places. Why?

They braggin at ya DB!

BTW... for others reading here... synthetic oil causes oil leaks in many older engines. Just google it and see for yourself.

Bro if you were a real baller, youd be bagging tuna with a 70' Hatteras with twin 1800hp cat diesels

just give up buddy, you are the laughing stock of this entire forum!

i dont brag because i have some modesty & dont feel the need to stoop to your pathetic level. you brag about stuff & call people childish names because you get called out on your BS & cant back up the crap you post & cant even identify or fix your own oil leak even after using 10/40 conv oil!

BTW... for others reading that arent aware of captkilmers delusional comments... he says synthetic oil will cause "head gasket issues" because its "super slick" yet he cant provide a single piece of evidence as to how thats possible. he blamed synthetic oil for his leaks but still has leaks after using 10/40 conv oil in an engine that calls for 5/30. he thinks water pumps last 4 years. & has gone through 4 starters in 150k miles. he has to pay a dealership to do a simple trans fluid drain & fill & thinks its ok when the dealer uses T-IV fluid in his WS transmission! & he also has a boat & caught a fish so hes the mechanical expert around here!

I would not think of living where i do without a block, oil pan and trans pan heater. Some will even get a battery blanket on top of those 3.

Depends how cold it gets there. In Alberta here anything below -25C or -15F I usually plug in over night. I run synthetic in my V8 but I think its healthier for the engine to plug it in overnight and let it warm up for a minute in the morning before driving. Not sure about your area but powers cheap here so its cheap insurance to plug it in.