Inline circulating coolant heater install

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Dec 8, 2009 | 08:12 PM

rvx290

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Inline circulating coolant heater install

I purchased an inline tank style heater for my 05, and I thought it might be easier to check if anyone else has put one in one of these trucks to see if they had any suggestions of what works best ...or what doesnt, I have a couple ahem..chebby buddies that have them in their trucks, and they love them in this cold northern canadian climate.

Dec 8, 2009 | 11:40 PM

mattd17

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From: Ketchikan, AK.

to be honest with you, i would just install the oem heater that inserts into a frost plug opening. i picked up the element and plug connection online for about 45.00. when plugged in overnight, it keeps the engine coolant about 100 degress according to my EDGE unit.

Dec 9, 2009 | 03:52 PM

rvx290

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I have one of those already, basically a must have, where I come from. I would like an inline because they take less than an hour to heat the coolant, as soon as you start your truck, heat is already blowing, which would be more what I am looking for with the type of situation I am in and the work I do.

Dec 9, 2009 | 05:58 PM

xjcamaro89

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From: New Castle, PA

Do you plug it in to 110 with an extension cord like the block heater? And do you just plumb it in to a heater hose? Im sort of interested cause i hate getting into a cold truck and i hate the way the truck sucks gas when i start it in the morning to get warm (im in pa and it doesnt get as cold as way up north, but im a wuss)

Dec 9, 2009 | 07:49 PM

mattd17

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Joined: Dec 2004

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From: Ketchikan, AK.

i got ya now... i helped a friend install one in his Chevy, and it did work good. we just plumbed in directly inline with a heater core hose. he got it at the local NAPA, and it ran on 120 vac.

Dec 9, 2009 | 07:53 PM

xjcamaro89

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From: New Castle, PA

That sounds great.

Dec 10, 2009 | 02:58 PM

hcbph

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From: Minneapolis, Mn

Heater

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvx290

I assume this is the type that has a fitting that goes into a drain plug and a T fitting that goes into one of the heater hoses. Haven't one on this truck but did on an old one. Messy to install and get the hose onto the fitting on the block. You also have to insure you have the T oriented right so it goes the right direction from the heater. Last thing is some of them are not recommended for vehicles unless you have a manual heater valve (opens and closes the heater core). Had one on my old non-ac Dodge, put it on a timer so it fired off about 1-2 hours before I left in the morning and it was toasty warm when you started it up. I don't remember the size but 1200 watts sticks in the back of the mind as a possible size on the one I had. IIRC they recommended a freeze plug unit if you had AC.