Ever tried this block heater?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 286
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From: PA, USA
Ever tried this block heater?
Hi all! Happy New Year!
It was down to about 10F this AM and it got me thinking that a block heater may be a good investment. Can anyone recommend a good aftermarket model? Has anyone every tried this one?
LMC Truck Parts - Page 103
It was down to about 10F this AM and it got me thinking that a block heater may be a good investment. Can anyone recommend a good aftermarket model? Has anyone every tried this one?
LMC Truck Parts - Page 103
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Prince George, BC
I would just buy one from your local auto parts store. They are pretty well all the same. Very easy to install too. Drain the coolant out of the block or the coolant will pour out all over you when you pop the frost plug out. (I got covered in hot coolant when I did mine 
) Clean up the plug port really well with some emery cloth so it will get a good seal.
You will still need a brief warm up period before running it too hard in cold weather. It just eases starting and speeds up the engine getting to operating temperature.
There should be no reason for them to have an effect on your bearings since it is in the cooling system. If it does cause bearing failure, you have much more serious problems on your hands
) Clean up the plug port really well with some emery cloth so it will get a good seal. You will still need a brief warm up period before running it too hard in cold weather. It just eases starting and speeds up the engine getting to operating temperature.
There should be no reason for them to have an effect on your bearings since it is in the cooling system. If it does cause bearing failure, you have much more serious problems on your hands
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 834
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Years ago, when my son was a baby, I put a heater on my wife's car. We lived just north of INDY, and it got very cold and stayed cold.
Don't know if they are stll available, but this unit was cheap, and easy to instal. It was a few inches long and was hooked up by cutting the hose to the heater, and inserting this inline heater between the two cut ends. Experimenting with a timer, I found that 3 hours was long enough to heat all the water in the engine and the heater core, in 10 below temps.
Her 327 Camero started right up and the heater was blowing hot air instantly. Think it came from JC Whitney.
Frank
Don't know if they are stll available, but this unit was cheap, and easy to instal. It was a few inches long and was hooked up by cutting the hose to the heater, and inserting this inline heater between the two cut ends. Experimenting with a timer, I found that 3 hours was long enough to heat all the water in the engine and the heater core, in 10 below temps.
Her 327 Camero started right up and the heater was blowing hot air instantly. Think it came from JC Whitney.
Frank
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Pad heaters from this outfit were discussed some time ago -- lots of folks seemed to have good things to say about them ( I DON'T have one)
Flexible Heater Pads. The best car heater, diesel engine heater, replaces block heater, magnetic heater, ideal for volkswagen beetle,
Thet would seem to be easy to install.
Wonder what happened to the old tank heaters -- had them in a couple vehicles, and they worked pretty well. You put a tee into the lower rad hose.
Flexible Heater Pads. The best car heater, diesel engine heater, replaces block heater, magnetic heater, ideal for volkswagen beetle,
Thet would seem to be easy to install.
Wonder what happened to the old tank heaters -- had them in a couple vehicles, and they worked pretty well. You put a tee into the lower rad hose.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
Any of the actual block plug heaters will do just fine. They are mostly just a small heating element inside a copper housing. They are not too hard to install but read the directions carefully. There are usually a specific block plug in your engine they need to be installed in. Also be careful there is usually a small screw in the center that is used to tighten/hold it in the block. They strip out very easily.
If you live in a climate where it does not get really cold like below zero then one of the pad heaters for the oil pan, or lower hose heaters will do just fine. They work good but just not as efficient in excessivly cold climates.
If you live in a climate where it does not get really cold like below zero then one of the pad heaters for the oil pan, or lower hose heaters will do just fine. They work good but just not as efficient in excessivly cold climates.
