Finally found silicone hose and constant torque hose clamps, and am about to perform a coolant flush with distilled h2o and replace the PHH. During this process I plan to install my Toyota Canada Engine Block Heater P/N 00213-00134 (CDan'stheman). I know that some have simply knocked the freeze plug into the engine but I would much prefer removing the plug. How would one go about remiving a freeze plug and which is the best plug to remove? I believe it is the one in front of the oil filter? Yes it is August but it is never too late to start thinking about winter.
I installed mine in the middle of the block as this would then spread the heat more evenlly through the block. If you want to remove the plug with out droping it into the block, try to hit it with a punch at the top or bottom of the plug to cock it and when it gives you a lip to grab with some vise grips you can then pull the plug out. If you use a pin punch or drill you can then screw a corse screw in to grab the plug then pull it out. Space is sometime not that great and you will have to be inventive to do this while the engine is in the truck. good luck later robbie
The instructions should include a specific freeze plug to install it in. I simply shoved mine into the block after fighting with it for well over an hour. It's fairly tight in there to get a tool into the bore and grip the thing with the required strength/power to reef on it hard enough to extract. I'd already spoken with a master Toyota mech and a buddy at Toyota HQ who both said "knock it in" so I felt good about giving up after the ol' proverbial "college try".
Be sure not to overtighten it as you can wrech that spreading metal part easily. There's no sudden increase in resistance to cue you in that you've stopped pulling it tighter into the hole and begun deforming that part. Best way to avoid this is to liberally use the O ring grease that comes in the kit so you're ensured it's home. Then keep the correct tool in the car to give it a tweak later if a drop or two appear. If you overtighten it, you're toast and will be buying a new one as you can't get just the metal spreading part. Also, the smaller part that's got a threaded hole in it that does the actual spreading has a sharp edge where it contacts the spreading metal part. I noted that if I flipped it 180 degrees the other edge was nicely tapered, so I did so. This was the second one I installed after 10 years of service by the original. The edge on the old one had badly damaged the spreading part because it "dug into" it rather than sliding like the tapered edge. I also lubed it slightly to further assist in the sliding.
Guess you need a new dealer - like Cdan. Kinda funny that I believe these are sourced from Toyota Canada. OK, not so funny to you, eh? Get it - eh? Man, I am funny tonight!
When I was looking into this in the winter, I thought that Dan had also found them to be discontinued...but I do need a new dealer (actually, my wife is dropping the truck off at a 'rural' Toyota dealer that we've used before to adjust the parking brake, maybe I'll ask them)
Does a block heater significantly improve the time it takes to get cab heat? Does not get cold enough here that the motor would need added warmth on startup but the driver could use some
