Block Heater Leaking (1 Viewer)

[Canuck]

Man when it rains it pours with this truck (gauges, knuckles need rebuilding). The engine has been loosing coolant as of late and I though the worst that it was a gasket or cracked head. But it turns out it's seeping out of the block heater plug in the block. I've looked through the copy of the parts microfiche I have for my BJ70 and can't find anything pertaining to the block heater so I'm wondering if it was a dealer installed option. Anyways how do I go about fixing it? Should I just buy a new gasket(if that's even available) or do I need to buy a whole new block heater? And when I pull the plug (haven't quite figured how I'm gonna get it out from behind the injection pump ) I assume coolant is going to start gushing out right?

 

[jzilla]

You can just replace the block heater for like 25 bucks.
Mine was leaking as well.
Think you just need a screwdriver.
I would guess it would leak coolant, my coolant was already out when I replaced block heater.

 

[cruiser_guy]

It'll gush coolant. If you find yourself needing to remove the fuel delivery pipes make SURE you protect them from water/coolant entry. Deisel injection systems and water do not mix. If you need to move the injection pump be real careful to get it back in EXACTLY the same spot. Pump position controls timing.

 

[crushers]

Man when it rains it pours with this truck (gauges, knuckles need rebuilding). The engine has been loosing coolant as of late and I though the worst that it was a gasket or cracked head. But it turns out it's seeping out of the block heater plug in the block. I've looked through the copy of the parts microfiche I have for my BJ70 and can't find anything pertaining to the block heater so I'm wondering if it was a dealer installed option. Anyways how do I go about fixing it? Should I just buy a new gasket(if that's even available) or do I need to buy a whole new block heater? And when I pull the plug (haven't quite figured how I'm gonna get it out from behind the injection pump ) I assume coolant is going to start gushing out right?

a new block heater from Napa fits fine and are about 25-30 bucks. put a huge tray under where the block heater is and take the old one out. leave the cap on the rad for now and loosen slowly and the coolant should come out controlled. if not no biggie. when you install the new one you might have to trim the wings just a tiny bit. install and then tap flush with the block. refill burping all the air out of the system. if you have a 70 or a 74 then this is a huge PITA. get the solid brass heater not the tin chrome of brass looking one. the solid brass is a nice unit.
cheers