wtb block heaters?

[rusmannx]

man is it cold.
i need a block heater of some sort. are they generic? will any block heater do the work?
are there cons to using these?
i would like to buy one for each of my vehicles, but i can't find where to get them online.
maybe they are make/model specific (though i don't know why it would matter)?

any help you can offer would be great.

 

[Landpimp]

Toyota has em. I suspect they are the same for all years. They replace on of the freeze plugs on the block.

 

[Jetboy]

You can get aftermarket ones as well. They make some that will go in your cooling lines so they heat the antifreeze and they are the easiest to install, bit I don't think they are as eficient, and you can also get genaric ones for any size of frost plug at any parts store.

 

[theo]

There are also removable magnetic heaters (stick it on the oil pan at night), and dipstick heaters though I've never actually seen one.

 

[rusmannx]

i called autozone today to see what they say.
they have the antifreeze circulation ones for $35, supposed to work on anything.
they have another antifreeze one, but it doesn't circulate: $25
they have the oilwamers that go on the bottom of the pan, and the dipstick ones, but i didn't ask prices. i think i'll just get a generic circulation one, and see how it goes.

 

[Elk Hunter]

Hey, let me know how that works out for you. It is really getting cold here in CO as well and I want to install some sort of heater as well. I was going to install one of the "freeze plug" types. Let me know if this thing works well for you. Cheers.

 

[theo]

I've had freeze plug heaters on most of my vehicles. Auto manufacturers use them a lot. They work very well. The only danger I know of is if your coolant level is so low that the element isn't immersed. This is rare since you have to lose a lot of coolant to get that low. Otherwise, extremely handy units.

I never understood how a coolant heater could circulate the coolant unless it got hot enough to open the thermostat. That's too hot for me. What am I missing?

 

[sherwood]

'Bought the Spector freeze plug unit ('was ordering some other stuff) for $38. IIRC, it had a Balcamp p/n. I think NAPA carries them also. They are 50mm. There were instructions for the LC 6 banger mixed in with other apps. Easy install. I imagine this is the same unit that many OR dealers retail.

john

 

[Elk Hunter]

Sherwood: Can you comment further about how well that works for you and at what temps? I'm looking for something that will work at 0 degrees and I'm curious to know exactly how this baby works. Does your vehicle actually start right up and immediately register at 180 degrees on the temp gauge or does it just keep the coolant above 32 deg? Thanks,

 

[cali-cruiser]

The block heater is basically a heating element that you could find in a hot tub or something like this. The 110 volts runs in and heats up a bent u-shaped tube. All the water isn't at 180 degrees right off the bat but the motor starts up a lot easier and your heater will be warm too. It would work well for at 0 degrees because you can just plug it in the night before and let it run all night so your motor won't catch a cold. The other cool thing is that if its snowing(not too hard) no snow will be on your hood in the morning since it is essentially heated

 

[cali-cruiser]

My $0.02

 

[sherwood]

Sherwood: Can you comment further about how well that works for you and at what temps?

It's a rare thing for it to get down to 0 here in central NC. I think last year's low here was around 16. I have seen it below 10 many years ago. Last night it was around 36 when I cranked to go to work.
My purpose with the heater is just to give the motor all the help I can for longevity. I may even pick up a non-magnetic oil pan heater and make some gizmo to just shove it under the truck and have it press up against the oil pan.... so I can easily slip it in or out. 'Would like to warm the oil a little. Try to visualize a little two wheeled dolly with the heater on one end... at the right height when level. Fulcrum (where the wheels go) would be offset (longish handle) to amplify downforce of the weight for firm contact to the oil pan.

It does warm up a lot faster and as Cal-Crusier said, the cab sure does heat up quicker.

john

 

[mallred]

I use the inline type with the 40, set it up with a timer for about 3 hrs start before I leave in morning

I started this after there was a arctical in the paper stating that to leave it plugged in 15 hrs a day at 10 * it was about $2.50

The truck is warm to the touch on the block when I go to start it and no choke is required

works for me

 

[PabloCruise]

SOme old timers round here throw a stock tank heater on the oil pan. They have a magnet base on them and you can get 'em at the farm and ranch stores...

 

[Degnol]

I believe tha "tank type" heater that goes in the radiator hose and connects to the block drain is the only one that will heat things up AND open the T-stat. They are generally much higher wattage than a block heater. Any of the coolant heaters will not do anything for warming the oil, so I think you should use one of the magnetic oilpan types also.
Had a freezeplug heater in a CJ7 and it worked well, but be sure to insulate it well where you run the 110v cord through the bib or any other sheetmetal. Mine gave me a big wakeup one morning. Maybe it was trying to tell me something...

GL
Ed