engine heater
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
engine heater
what type of engine heater is best for a fe i have found inline,block,pan.magnetic and dipstick what is the best it is below freezing right now in cal and will be like this for several days and the rest of winter is about 35
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
When I lived in Idaho 20 years ago, where it got VERY cold, I used an in-line in my truck's 352, and a block heater in my Plymouth Voyager's 4 banger 2.2L.
They both held the engines at about 65 - 75 degrees F, which helped the engine, but still took awhile to warm up to comfortable inside heat.
The inline I think is better for a V-engine, because it uses a percolation effect to circulate coolant, whereas the block heater replaces a wash plug, and only would heat the one side.
Be sure to mount the in-line properly. They are one-way, if I correctly recall. Make sure it pushes water from the heater core to the engine, not from the engine to the heater core. (Don't ask me how I learned not to do that!)
Also, make sure the heater valve is open.
They both held the engines at about 65 - 75 degrees F, which helped the engine, but still took awhile to warm up to comfortable inside heat.
The inline I think is better for a V-engine, because it uses a percolation effect to circulate coolant, whereas the block heater replaces a wash plug, and only would heat the one side.
Be sure to mount the in-line properly. They are one-way, if I correctly recall. Make sure it pushes water from the heater core to the engine, not from the engine to the heater core. (Don't ask me how I learned not to do that!)
Also, make sure the heater valve is open.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 0
From: Grande Prairie, AB
Im using a freeze plug heater. It works pretty good, I give the ol girl 5-10 mins, then she's ready to go. I tried the oilpan one last winter, I couldnt get it to stay on very well. ( maybe cause I was putting it on in -30c weather?)
So i never had a block heater last winter, kinda rough. So anything is better than nothing. Im satisfied with the freeze plug one.
So i never had a block heater last winter, kinda rough. So anything is better than nothing. Im satisfied with the freeze plug one.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Heaters in California? 
Sounds like you need to move out of the mountains and down to Palm Springs.
Anyway, when I lived in cold country, the engine heater that worked best for me installed in the lower radiator hose - if the weather was above 15 degrees the heater would blow warm air when I first started the truck.
But better to move - nothing you can do about the cold walk out to the truck! And in cold weather the girls all bundle up in coats!
Cold
Sunny beaches 
Sounds like you need to move out of the mountains and down to Palm Springs. Anyway, when I lived in cold country, the engine heater that worked best for me installed in the lower radiator hose - if the weather was above 15 degrees the heater would blow warm air when I first started the truck.
But better to move - nothing you can do about the cold walk out to the truck! And in cold weather the girls all bundle up in coats!
Cold
Sunny beaches
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Ouch! I moor a boat there at Bethel Island - with fresh water cooling there is no antifreeze in the engine - it is boxed in, but there is no heat in that space. I had better do something about that -
On Edit: Called the guy in the slip next to mine - he is going to plug in a trouble light and set it in the engine compartment for me. Thanks for alerting me to the problem - all I needed was a cracked block.
On Edit: Called the guy in the slip next to mine - he is going to plug in a trouble light and set it in the engine compartment for me. Thanks for alerting me to the problem - all I needed was a cracked block.
Last edited by WillyB; Nov 22, 2004 at 06:55 PM.
