My truck is parked out side the garage, the wife car and my race car has priority for indoor garage storage. a few question:

1. I just moved from Georgia to Chicago and was wonder do most people in this type of climate use block heaters?

2. I have seen block heater made for the 4.2 and 4.6 expedition, but will this item be sufficient for a 5.4 32Valve Navigator, part#XL3Z-6D008-AA KIT-ENG BLOCK HEATER.

3. What is the process and difficulty installing this heater?

Thanks: David

 

I never installed one so I can't say how hard it is. But a temporary fix might be to get a heated (electric) dip stick. I have on for my small backhoe and it works pretty good. I got it at NAPA for about $20. The only problem is it has to be a reasonably straight tube. The dip stick doesn't flex much.

 

Welcome to the north. I've been in the Chicago area 30+ years and never met anyone that used a block heater here. They are for the extreme cold north of the border.

Make sure you have a good battery, that's most important. Get it tested if needed. On extremely cold nights (below zero) it'll be a little slow to turn and catch in the morning, but if your electrical system has no problems and your battery is good, you will be fine.

 

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Live up in Alberta Canada and I use my block heater quite a bit. Usually if it is colder than -15 c (5 F - i think) I plug my 00 Eb in. IMO it's just easier for the battery and motor to crank it on a cold morning and help the oil get to the top of the motor quicker. ( i'm no mechanic so I'm not too sure on this ).All I know is my 5.4L sounds alot quieter when I start it on a cold morning if it has been plugged in compared to not plugging it in at all. I'm not too sure what it is like pricewise for electric in Chicago but it doesn't cost much more a month to have a couple of vehicles plugged in when it is cold.

As for installing one on a Mod motor I can't say. I have installed one on my 91 5.0L stang and it was very easy to get at. I think on the Mod motors you have to remove a frost plug to install a block heater if you don't have one already. The issue might be how accessible the frost plug is.

 

In Detroit, I’ve used them on my older cars when the battery/alternator system gets week, but as we have heard here, it is definitely easier on the whole engine on cold morning whether your car is new or not.

You can get a timer to plug the heater into, that way it only come on about 2 – 3 hours before you need it instead of burning electricity all night.

Also if you are not used to it, it’s real easy to jump in the car when you are late and forget about the plug. That can make a mess…….

To recap – it’s not really needed if your truck is maintained well. If you want to take a little more care and help you system last longer, it’s a good idea.

 

DTL
I live "north of the border" as they say! I have a friend that installed the frostplug heater in a 2000 Expy 5.4L---he had expert help too---it was a real problem getting the plug out as he was very worried about getting debris in the block--also he had the truck on a hoist and it was still a difficult job. He pulled the plug on the drivers side rear of the block. There are things in the way. He tried to drill it and then pull it out. That didn't work. Hard to drill there. Ultimately he pried it out with a small bar. But it took a lot of time and work.

He loves it--we don't get real cold weather here--but he feels it's major advantage is he gets heat in the vehicle much quicker on a cold morning.

I own a 2000 Nav 5.4, I've looked at those heaters--I think the small benefit in this area is outweighed by the risk of the thing leaking when you least expect it and stranding me on the road, not to mention the cost and labor---its just an expanding plug with an o ring. I know of at least one case where several yrs after installing, it leaked enough to strand someone.

If I lived in Fargo ND--I'd have one, but not in SE Wisc and certainly not Chicago---I totally agree with the other poster--have a good battery and make sure your electrical is good and you'll be in good shape---these vehicles have major drain on electrical system. If you don't have the ability to have the battery tested every yr after it's 3-4 yrs old, a good policy would be to put a new one in at 4-5yrs old. They aren't that expensive if you shop around.

Hope that helps you in some small way. Just my opinion.