i have been thinking about same kind of block heater for my 5.4. its a 99 f250 with a vf5. did ford offer the block heater option in them? is there anybody with one for a 5.4? i saw that napa has one thats a 600watt freeze plug style. i havent talked to them about it, but am wondering what u guys think.

NAPA AUTO PARTS

 

They were an option from Ford. I have had a few 4.6 and 5.4 trucks with them. I Know the aftermarket ones tend to leak around the seal where the plug is removed I was told by Ford that they really aren't necessary unless the temp goes below -15F. I have one on my current V10 and I think it makes a difference even around 32F I know the Freeze plug style can be purchased from the dealer and Ive seen a few on Ebay. I would stick to motorcraft if you install one

 

do u know where the freeze plug is located at and if u do pop it out do u have to drain the block? i dont drive to far everyday and i would like to limit my idle time for it to warm up. and its 30* out and raining right now so i dont recessarily want to go out to look at it. if it was in a garage or shed, id be all over it.

 

I have a 99 with a factory block heater, so you should be able to get it from a Ford parts counter somewhere. You will have to drain the block to remove a freeze plug.

When you talk about warming it up, are you talking about warming the engine or warming the passenger compartment? If you're concerned with the passenger compartment, there is a company that makes an electric heater that mounts under the seat of most trucks. It's house voltage, so you'd have to run a plug out similar to as if the truck had a block heater.

 

Warming the engine. Im not to worried bout the cab. It's a reg cab too so when it warms up, it's hot. I understand that gassers are different than diesels and I always like to let my vehicles warm ip because it don't like beatin on a cold motor. Where is the freeze plug exactly?

 

Here is the universal option
ZeroStart Magnet-mount Engine Block Heater - JCWhitney

 

Has anyone used the napa freeze plug block heater? I think it is made by belkamp

 

I know it has been a while that ive posted on here but just wondering about the circulating heater like people put on older tractors. I don't know how much i would trust them, but would like some input. if not i would like to put in a ford one because id rather not idle it too much and it doesnt really get warm driving to school unless i let it idle but that gets expesive.

 

You should look into an oil pan heater, the flexible pad style that sticks on and about 500 watts. They are extremely easy to install and work well. The oil is the most important part of your engine that you want hot anyway. Being mounted on the pan on the very bottom of the engine, they help heat the entire engine when the heat rises. The magnetic style are only 200 or 300 watts and that will do very little, they also don't make very good heat contact.

I just installed one on my 6.0 a few days ago, I'm really happy with it. Even with the factory block heater the oil in the pan does not get warm. There is a big difference in cold start sounds and my engine is much happier.

For some reason every time block heaters come up people go off about how you don't "NEED" one, and that is always a silly argument. Most people outside of Antarctica don't need block heaters just to get the engine started. But they do provide much much much less startup wear and better fuel economy, even if you live in Florida.

 

I would just make sure you battery is OK and not worry. Drive your truck once a week on 30 mile trip to get it fully warmed up and get all of the fuel vapors out of the oil.