Questions on Freeze Plug Engine Block Heater

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T

Toyota Kijang

10 Year 15 Year
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Etats Unis
Dear Mudders,

The engine block heater (freeze plug type) on my 22RE powered Yota pick up is not giving out heat anymore. Everytime I plug it in at night it doesn't warm up the engine the next morning.

So I'd like to gather some thoughts on this matter from fellow Mudders here:

1. What happened? Did the unit burn out? Is it common for this thing to burn out that easily? On average I only use this plug in heater probably 10 times in a year.

2. I take a meticulously, religiously, insanely good care on my Yota pick up. The coolant is still fresh, the water pump is new, the radiator has been recored all the hoses are new also. So I doubt there is any build up that's causing the heater to fail.

3. If I were to replace it with a new plug in heater, what brand would you guys recommend? Someone told me one time that there is a company out of Canada that makes plug in heater for Toyota. The name of the company sounds French. Anybody knows who they are? Their website?

4. I call around some shops they want 2 hours labor plus part roughly comes down to around 300 buckaroos. Dang man! I am just tight right now. I am still recovering from christmas spending spree. Aren't we all? Dang it dang it dang it ! :bang:

Thank you so much guys. Sure appreciate all the info especially on question number 3.

Regards.
TK
 
Toyota Kijang said:
Dear Mudders,

The engine block heater (freeze plug type) on my 22RE powered Yota pick up is not giving out heat anymore. Everytime I plug it in at night it doesn't warm up the engine the next morning.

So I'd like to gather some thoughts on this matter from fellow Mudders here:

1. What happened? Did the unit burn out? Is it common for this thing to burn out that easily? On average I only use this plug in heater probably 10 times in a year.

2. I take a meticulously, religiously, insanely good care on my Yota pick up. The coolant is still fresh, the water pump is new, the radiator has been recored all the hoses are new also. So I doubt there is any build up that's causing the heater to fail.

3. If I were to replace it with a new plug in heater, what brand would you guys recommend? Someone told me one time that there is a company out of Canada that makes plug in heater for Toyota. The name of the company sounds French. Anybody knows who they are? Their website?

4. I call around some shops they want 2 hours labor plus part roughly comes down to around 300 buckaroos. Dang man! I am just tight right now. I am still recovering from christmas spending spree. Aren't we all? Dang it dang it dang it ! :bang:

Thank you so much guys. Sure appreciate all the info especially on question number 3.

Regards.
TK
Click to expand...


Pull the plug off it and check the heating coil with an ohm meter. They are pretty simple and when they corrode they generally leak before they stop heating. I'd suspect a bad cord.

If you have to swap it yourself, try not to lose the cross bar into the block but don't sweat it if you do. Swapping a block heater is a 2 banana job. Do it yourself if you are tight for cash. The heater itself won't be more than $30

I think the company is Temro. They call themselves Phillips and Temro these days and HQ in Winnipeg.
 
yeah, and also keep in mind the resistance....

I had one on an old truck when we had a bad blizzard here a few years ago...

I plugged it in using a long extension cord and this was after the snow and the engine was sitting a few days, so the engine was real cold...

There sorta wasn't a point after all that. Sure they're nice to have, but think of all the coolant that needs to be warmed (lots or resistance till then) and BTT the current got to the end of the cord...

I was just as well off letting the antifreeze and a longer warm up time deal with it. Unless you're in the deep, frozen north, I don't see a use for it. Nice to have though, but really not worth the trouble.
 
I once had the idea of a mirror heater trucks have (they get darn hot!) in or on the outside of the oil pan.

Hit a momentary (push on, spring off) toggle switch and use the power from the battery... No cords..
No long plug ins with just a minor difference in warm up times...

That's as far as I got with the idea...


Also seems I heard freeze plug style block heaters can develop leaks, but I'm sure it's not a common thing...
 
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Hilux said:
I once had the idea of a mirror heater trucks have (they get darn hot!) in or on the outside of the oil pan.

Hit a momentary (push on, spring off) toggle switch and use the power from the battery... No cords..
No long plug ins with just a minor difference in warm up times...

That's as far as I got with the idea...


Also seems I heard freeze plug style block heaters can develop leaks, but I'm sure it's not a common thing...
Click to expand...

If it is cold enough to need a block heater, your battery or batteries are at a reduced capacity so anything that is going to draw current from them before cranking is going to be a hindrance to getting the rig started.

My HDJ81 has a 120V oil pan heater as well as a lower rad hose coolant heater but I don't use either above -30C.

Crazy, you should just put in a remote start and let the rig run while you're getting ready to go.
 
Check the plug. I had to replace and wire in a new "head" on both my 85 and 86 trucks. Got both plugs from Lowes.
 
lowenbrau said:
If it is cold enough to need a block heater, your battery or batteries are at a reduced capacity so anything that is going to draw current from them before cranking is going to be a hindrance to getting the rig started.
Click to expand...



Yeah, my idea, I'd start the truck 1st and sit in the truck while I had the switch pressed... :-/

I don't like the idea of forgetting it's on, or leaving it on... But you gave me an idea to wire it to where the ignition interrupts it... Get in, start it, press the button, get out... Next time the ignition is turned off, IF you forget to turn it off, it cuts itself off...

Self sufficient...



lowenbrau said:
as well as a lower rad hose coolant heater
Click to expand...


ATTENTION: 88. You ever heard of those things?

lowenbrau said:
Crazy, you should just put in a remote start and let the rig run while you're getting ready to go.
Click to expand...

I think he's rolling in a 5 speed...

I would NEVER put one of those in a 5speed, or rig one to work in it... Had a customer A LONG TIME AGO come into the Ferd place I worked. She had been washing her SUV with her keys in her pocket and the repetitive motion of standing and crouching hit the right buttons and the thing started... She came in b/c she couldnt figure out how to turn it off...

I don't know why he's got a problem with it idling... :confused:
 
lol...it burns alot of gas waiting for it to warm up. My rig runs really cool. yea everything is working right
lowenbrau said:
If it is cold enough to need a block heater, your battery or batteries are at a reduced capacity so anything that is going to draw current from them before cranking is going to be a hindrance to getting the rig started.

My HDJ81 has a 120V oil pan heater as well as a lower rad hose coolant heater but I don't use either above -30C.

Crazy, you should just put in a remote start and let the rig run while you're getting ready to go.
Click to expand...
 
somebody just informed me I should get the coolent heaters. They also circulate the coolant and keep everything warm.;)
Hilux said:
Yeah, my idea, I'd start the truck 1st and sit in the truck while I had the switch pressed... :-/

I don't like the idea of forgetting it's on, or leaving it on... But you gave me an idea to wire it to where the ignition interrupts it... Get in, start it, press the button, get out... Next time the ignition is turned off, IF you forget to turn it off, it cuts itself off...

Self sufficient...






ATTENTION: 88. You ever heard of those things?



I think he's rolling in a 5 speed...

I would NEVER put one of those in a 5speed, or rig one to work in it... Had a customer A LONG TIME AGO come into the Ferd place I worked. She had been washing her SUV with her keys in her pocket and the repetitive motion of standing and crouching hit the right buttons and the thing started... She came in b/c she couldnt figure out how to turn it off...

I don't know why he's got a problem with it idling... :confused:
Click to expand...
 
cruiser88 said:
somebody just informed me I should get the coolent heaters. They also circulate the coolant and keep everything warm.;)
Click to expand...

circulate? :confused:
 
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