1978 F250 SCAB 4wd, 6.6, factory air

Coolant circulator/engine warmer device (the one mounted on passenger side of engine bay and plugs into 110v AC) - can I just ignore this thing or should I pull it? I dare not plug it in to test it because I'm scared if it does come on it may pump rusty gook or who-knows-what into my coolant system! FTR, the antifreeze I drained when replacing the heater core wasn't rusty looking. I don't foresee needing it where I live near Memphis, but how to run hoses if I do remove it? I'm not at the truck at the moment, but aren't there 3 hoses run to it?

Really don't want to have to install a freeze plug if I don't have to. That would require removing an inch of "rust proofing", you know, the naturally occurring kind! Seriously, not ready to drive to car wash but that bay will get cleaned.

 

My Galaxie (also with a 400) came from South Dakota and it had a block heater too. I had to deal with it because the hoses were cracked and leaking. Rather than replace the hoses on something that I'd never use and likely didn't work in the first place, I pulled it. One end spliced into the heater hose (replace with one continuous length of hose); the other side tapped into a water jacket on the block with a male/male pipe. I was able to remove the pipe with a small pipe wrench (hit it with PB Blaster over a few days) and replace with an NPT plug. I guess it depends how yours is installed but I can't see why a freeze plug would have anything to do with it.

I can't really recommend what you do. If it's not causing problems and it doesn't bother you, leave it. If it's causing problems, decide if it's easiest to minimally deal with them, or remove entirely, depending on how hard that would be. YMMV (your model may vary)

 

I misunderstood another thread, I guess. Heck, I may even be older than my years and am easily confused and forgetful.

What was I talking about? lol. Oh, yeah. Threaded hole - no pop-out plug. That could be done. Guess it won't hurt to leave it as is until I get the Gunk after the engine bay in a few weeks.