Installed a block heater tonite . . .

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donco

donco

Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Threads
36
Messages
198
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Website
www.nmia.com
What a royal pain in the a$$. Let's hope it's worth the effort. My reward for being a faithful husband and provider is a trip to North Dakota for Christmas. They've been in the minus teens all week with no letup in sight so figured I better go prepared this time (nothing like begging for a jump in sub-zero weather when the oil turns to glue).

A quick call to Cruiser Dan confirmed they still exist. Napa carries the original "kit" that Toyota used to sell, made by Pyroil. Napa/Balkamp part number: BK 6053513 in their "Parts Pro SE" section:


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400 Watts, $41, 35mm

It's also the same part used in the 80 series according to Dan.

I'll post a few more pic's later. I mounted it on the passenger side and had to take the exhaust manifold off and work from above with a mirror. There's just no way to get to it from below with the diff in the way. The factory freeze plug was in to stay. I drilled a few 3/16" holes thru it with a 90 drill to butcher it and then was able to get it sideways with an air chisel.

To do it again, I'd forget about the block heater and just get one of the heater element sleeves that splices into the lower radiator hose. Oh well, maybe some day I can list it as a perk when it comes time to sell the family truckster.
 
I've been wanting to install one but that doesnt sound fun, I think I'll pass. Congrats on getting it in tho!
 
I have one in that I intend to install when I finally do the timing belt. It's been waiting a while.

On my diesel suburban I had a block heater and trickle charger for the battery both running to a single plug in the front. When they were plugged in I never had a rough start.

Synthetic Transmission oil also works wonders for the real cold temps. In ABQ you have the worlds best Amsoil source, an actual shop with bottles of oil on the shelf for great prices. Without the attached Multilevel marketing it's a great product.
 
Hey, where in ND are you going? I was thinking about a block heater, but you've convinced me to avoid it.
 
This bring smile to my face. I grew up in North Dakota. I remember one morning when I started up my car and the oil spurted out around the oil filter. Turns out that the oil kinda froze up. My dad wondered why and found out that the fuse was tripped thus the block heater did not do it job warming up the oil tank.

But if you are thinking that it will help warm up the car faster. No it does not. It just keep oil warm and thats it. Its radiator fluid that needs to be warmed up before your car gets warm.
 
dfrelich said:
This bring smile to my face. I grew up in North Dakota. I remember one morning when I started up my car and the oil spurted out around the oil filter. Turns out that the oil kinda froze up. My dad wondered why and found out that the fuse was tripped thus the block heater did not do it job warming up the oil tank.

But if you are thinking that it will help warm up the car faster. No it does not. It just keep oil warm and thats it. Its radiator fluid that needs to be warmed up before your car gets warm.
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That block heater replaces a frost plug. It sits in the coolant and keeps the coolant warm and in turn the block as well. It will help the engine warm up faster as well. That block heater along with a quality synthetic oil and he's set up for some extreme temps.

Great job on the install by the way. I put the style that replaces a 2 inch section of your radiator hose in my little 3 cylinder metro and it's WELL worth the 30 bucks it cost. On the Cruiser I think I'd go with the style like yours, actually in the block.:cheers:
 
A few pic's:

The heater is held in place with a toggle nut that screws snug from the outside. I gooped everything good with high-temp RTV.

tbh1.jpg


tbh2.jpg


O-ring seal fits snug.

tbh3.jpg


tbh4.jpg


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The instructions said to mount it in the 2nd freeze plug from the front. BS on that I say, it's smack in the middle behind the motor mount so I "cheated" and put it in the front one (right). Note the cool block drain on the (lower left).

tbh6.jpg



The hardest part was getting the old freeze plug out. You can tell it took alot of time to butcher it as badly as I did but finally got it out. The heated plug held leak-tight overnight. I ran it a little bit last night to circulate the coolant. I checked the radiator level this morning and had the heater element plugged in all night, I'd say it was in the upper 20's overnite & the coolant temp was luke warm, only took a few blocks to feel warm air coming out of the vents this morning.

Yes, I'm running Amsoil. Paul Greenberg is a great resource. He sponsored my own dealership many years ago. I'm running full synthetic ATF in the trans via numerous 4-quart drain & fills about 15k miles apart.

We're headed to Bismarck.

I did the timing belt at 100k miles back in January '06. Personally I see no advantage combining the block heater job with a timing belt job, there's not much overlap execpt for removing the air cleaner box.
 
dfrelich said:
This bring smile to my face. I grew up in North Dakota. I remember one morning when I started up my car and the oil spurted out around the oil filter. Turns out that the oil kinda froze up. My dad wondered why and found out that the fuse was tripped thus the block heater did not do it job warming up the oil tank.

But if you are thinking that it will help warm up the car faster. No it does not. It just keep oil warm and thats it. Its radiator fluid that needs to be warmed up before your car gets warm.
Click to expand...

AHHH, North Dakota...what I would give for some southern climate like that.
 
Elijah said:
That block heater replaces a frost plug. It sits in the coolant and keeps the coolant warm and in turn the block as well. It will help the engine warm up faster as well. That block heater along with a quality synthetic oil and he's set up for some extreme temps.

Great job on the install by the way. I put the style that replaces a 2 inch section of your radiator hose in my little 3 cylinder metro and it's WELL worth the 30 bucks it cost. On the Cruiser I think I'd go with the style like yours, actually in the block.:cheers:
Click to expand...

I asked my friend where it warms. I dont live in ND anymore so I do not need to know about it. :-) But yes... you're right. he says it is for coolant fluid.
 
Living in Idaho and having relatives in MN and WI we've done battle with ND many times at Christmas. You might consider adding a quart of Heet with every tank while you are up there. I've had a fuel pump freeze up in our Cruiser in ND while driving due to water in the fuel and another time in our Tahoe the tank froze enough to block off the fuel pump. We fly most of the time in the winter now. And thankfully we aren't going this year. Supposedly they are getting hammered by the storm that I hope are finally at the tail end of now. Cold, Windy, Flat is what ND is all about.
 
1loudLX said:
I'll trade you a room in NY for a 200
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250 in the cool Ottawa area ... -15°F in front of my door this morning :D

I bought exactly the same last year (but 25% more priced)... still have it in the box :rolleyes:
When I saw the notice, explaining where you have to mount it, and were unable to see the location without taking anything apart, I decided to wait a little bit...:D
Congratulation... you did it !
So far, my lc (130.000miles) is still cranking pretty well, with M1 0w40 and the battery it had when I bought it in Frisco.
The heater start warming after 5 minutes iddling in the driveway (And I love my heated seats).
But, you're in the truth... it's better to have one.

Give me more details please... haw many time to see the core plug ?
etc ?
 
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I had a free plug style one in my Jeep wrangler that came from the factory. After 150k miles, It corroded and fell out.

I replaced it myself with an aftermarket one. Torqued it to spec and within 30k miles it fell out. I had the Dealer put in one, after 10k miles it fell out. 4th one got put in and I sold the Heep.
 
Quite a thread resurrection BM.

Have you tried one for the 100 series?
 
Not in the 100 yet, just the heep wrangler:/ I'm on the hunt though. I'm leaning towards the magnetic oil pan type heaters because of my experience with the frost plug kind. I think I recall a Toyota having a screw in OEM block heater. I think it was a camry? I don't think it would ever fall out, just corrode in place:)
 
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