Block Heaters
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Block Heaters
anyone have a circulating block heater in there truck im just wondering the best place to hook it up at. my truck is currently running a 351 windsor. any tips would be awsome thanks in advance.
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From: North Texas
I was going to ask why you would heat a gas engine, but then I noticed your location. Brrr.
Most block heaters I've heard of are just heating elements that plug into a coolant passage, like a freeze plug hole. The coolant would circulate slightly on it's own as it heated.
Circulating or recirculating heaters... perhaps the line to/from the heater core? It would heat the engine and to a much lesser extent the interior. Just make sure you are not running warm water through the radiator. All your effort would be for naught.
Most block heaters I've heard of are just heating elements that plug into a coolant passage, like a freeze plug hole. The coolant would circulate slightly on it's own as it heated.
Circulating or recirculating heaters... perhaps the line to/from the heater core? It would heat the engine and to a much lesser extent the interior. Just make sure you are not running warm water through the radiator. All your effort would be for naught.
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From: Louisville,Ky.
Most heaters either go into a freeze plug hole or the lower radiator hose. They don't actually circulate, but keep the block coolant warm enough that you will have some heat when you first start the engine.
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yes the most popular block heaters go in you freeze plugs but i have one with a little pump in it that actualy circulates the coolant and keeps it warm but it needs to stay on the engine side of the thermostat so i am thinking (and have heard before) of putting it in the heater hose im thinking that the one off the water pump will be the best because it will draw the coolant from a lower point of the motor and put the warm coolant into the top after going through the heater core so the heater should be warm right away which i am realy looking forwart to becuase its very cold here alreay and its only november. thanks for the help guys
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The recirculating is better IMO, It just installs "inline" on a heater hose.
They make another with goes on the lower rad hose..better yet as the coolant in the water jackets gets warm if it is plugged in long enough.
They only need plugging in for an 1 1/2 hr to help out.
They make another with goes on the lower rad hose..better yet as the coolant in the water jackets gets warm if it is plugged in long enough.
They only need plugging in for an 1 1/2 hr to help out.
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The one that goes to the block.
The idea is to get on the block side of the closed thermostat.
The idea is to get on the block side of the closed thermostat.
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How's it goin' eh? Yes the inline heaters are the way to go. And as Dennis says you want it on the block side of the heater core so it's heating the coolant in the motor rather than in the radiator. I had one on a Dodge pickup and used it with two in block heaters as well when I lived in Alberta. I'm not sure where you are in BC but I found that when it was cold and there was a bit of a breeze then no amount of block heaters would keep the oil thin enough to start. If you have to park outside like I did then you should cover the grill to keep the wind out when the truck is parked.
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I have 2 block heaters & an oil pan heater element.
When all 3 are plugged in........ the revolving disc on the electrical meter almost flies out of the glass.
The truck is instantly warm and the engine just purrs from the git go.
When all 3 are plugged in........ the revolving disc on the electrical meter almost flies out of the glass.
The truck is instantly warm and the engine just purrs from the git go.
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hey, thanks guys, i ended up putting it in my heater hose line and it works awsome, the block is warm to the touch in the morning after sitting outside all night and as soon as i flash the truck up the heater already blows warm air!!!! sooo good
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That's only for extreme temps in say... January. (we get the odd week of -40*C sometimes)
Normally the truck only needs to be plugged in a couple days a year as I am still in the "land of the chinook".
Please read.
I'm inside (near the top) of the orange circle shown here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook...oks_in_Alberta
Normally the truck only needs to be plugged in a couple days a year as I am still in the "land of the chinook".
Please read.
I'm inside (near the top) of the orange circle shown here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook...oks_in_Alberta
Last edited by Mil1ion; Nov 14, 2006 at 12:48 PM.
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From: North Texas
"Calgary can expect a white christmas 59% of the time"
We have quite a few adults down here that have never seen a white christmas, especially south of the Dallas/Ft Worth metro area. Matter of fact I've used a cactus for a christmas tree before.
We have quite a few adults down here that have never seen a white christmas, especially south of the Dallas/Ft Worth metro area. Matter of fact I've used a cactus for a christmas tree before.
Last edited by derherr65; Nov 14, 2006 at 01:45 PM.
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From: Calgary Canada
I live in calgary and Dennis is right, those chinooks sure do help break up the long cold winter. It's nice to have the ice melt off the streets a couple of times a year. My job takes me to exciting locations like Fox Creek Alberta that don't benefit from this. Let me tell you, it makes a huge difference.
Morning temps today in Calgary were -10C (14 F). Pretty brisk.
Morning temps today in Calgary were -10C (14 F). Pretty brisk.