Engine Heaters

[tardboy21]

My commute to work now is only 15 minutes, so I am looking at putting in either a block heater or oil warmer for the winter. I like to let my car warm up, but with the shorter distance, all the components will barely have a chance to get up to temp.

There are two main types I am currently considering.

1. freeze plug type - I inquired at a dealer, and the charge around $100 for the factory block heater. Kats makes a variety of aftermarket plug type heaters, does anyone know the size of the factory one?

2. hot pad heater - these types are generally made of silicone and are made to stick to the oil pan (not magnetized). This would probably work pretty well considering the 6.5qt oil capacity, and would get optimal lubrication on first start.


If any one has experience with these types of heaters or others, I would like to hear some opinions before making my final decision on which to get.

 

[Phoenix]

Over here , you NEED to have one of these , Always had the #1 one.

Works real nice , but it your car doesnt have it , its not that easy to install. specially when the engine is IN the car with all the stuff.

If you get a fixed price , like not by the hour , then go for it.

 

[mattsho1993]

i live in upstate n.y and im deff. getting one do to a drastic freeze over last year were my coolant got slushy on me so i would deff. invest in the first....

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Uh, SLUSHY coolant?

You need better coolant.

My '89 SHO does just fine in temps well below zero.

Power steering groans a bit, but otherwise it does great. Even without any kind of engine block heater. Though, I have considered it.

 

[mattsho1993]

well i had flushed it and got the mixture a little off just i would say like 60/40 rather than 50/50 so it slushed over during a storm my car was a snow bank lol

 

[tardboy21]

Over here , you NEED to have one of these , Always had the #1 one.

Works real nice , but it your car doesnt have it , its not that easy to install. specially when the engine is IN the car with all the stuff.

If you get a fixed price , like not by the hour , then go for it.

The complexity is what I fear to be the problem with number one. Although, perhaps it is easier to get to on the V8. I'll probably jack it up tonight and take a gander.

My '89 SHO does just fine in temps well below zero.

Power steering groans a bit, but otherwise it does great. Even without any kind of engine block heater. Though, I have considered it.

I live in NJ, so it doesn't ever drop below zero. However, it certainly helps the longevity of the engine.

 

[SHOZ123]

If i am not mistaken the freeze plugs on the V8 are on the tranny end of the block.

 

[firebat45]

The heating pad thing seems like a bad idea to me, it seems like it would trap dirt/oil/crap or fall off even. Freeze plug heater works great and I don't think it would be too hard to install one. I took mine out with the engine out of the car but it was super easy like that, with other components around it might be trickier.

It gets to -40 here during the winter. Last winter the only problem I had was the battery freezing, the car itself ran and started fine once it got juice to the starter. Need to pick up a battery blanket for this winter still...

 

[SHODWN]

There is a plug in the motor on a v8 that will unscrew, insert the block heater, plug in a route the cable and your done.

I have one that im putting up on ebay (soon), but if your dealer says 100.00 installed then run to him.

as far as the coolant getting slushy, IMO it has to be pretty much straight water in there. Last winter I forgot to winterize my race car, well just never had the 1 day to do it.. I left straight water and water wetter and nothing popped..

 

[stephen newberg]

as far as the coolant getting slushy, IMO it has to be pretty much straight water in there.

I think Kirk is right. Even at 20% anti-freeze, you are going to have to get seriously cold and stay there a while to get a slush type result.

pax, smn

 

[SHOZ123]

Straight water would not get you through the winter here without freezing if the car is sitting outside.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

not here either.

I do a coolant test in September around here. We start freezing early Oct. Hard freezes start in November.

And what i call DEEP FREEZE hits near new-years. Thats when we have a month or so that never gets above 20 degrees.

 

[tardboy21]

There is a plug in the motor on a v8 that will unscrew, insert the block heater, plug in a route the cable and your done.

I have one that im putting up on ebay (soon), but if your dealer says 100.00 installed then run to him.

as far as the coolant getting slushy, IMO it has to be pretty much straight water in there. Last winter I forgot to winterize my race car, well just never had the 1 day to do it.. I left straight water and water wetter and nothing popped..

thanks, this is the freeze plug heater from ford correct? I've never installed one before, but they seem real simple, just make sure it gets a good seal and inspect right after for leaks.

The $100 dollar quote was just for parts unfortunately not installed.

 

[mattsho1993]

i live in the country upstate new york fields all around we had a bad storm about 4ft of snow snow blew up in the engine bay from underneath and it sat like that for like 3 days till i could pull it out with a truck.... so it was like a giant freezer and it got slushy if it was pure water it woulda froze solid

 

[SHODWN]

I have a few days in the shop this week. I have the factory unit and will see where and how it goes again.. been a long time.

 

[SHOZ123]

On the drivers back side of the block is a pipe plug, 3/4" IIRC. It is the same as what the oil cooler coolant lines use on the bank 2 side. You can see it here on the #4 cylinder area.

 

[tardboy21]

thanks, actually just looked it up on the schematic last night. There's a million lines in the way to its tough to even feel for it from the side. I'm wondering if it is reachable with the intake off.....

 

[NebraskaSHO]

It's nice having one factory installed. But I rarely use it.

 

[stephen newberg]

I also have one that came with the car from the factory, but have never used it. Does not get cold enough in Nova Scotia, and does not even get close to cold enough in lower British Columbia. Those in Central Canada or the prairies would, however, likely need it a good deal each winter, as -25C for extended periods are common in both places. Here on the east side of the Island, it does not like to go below freezing at all, and when it does it never lasts long. Normally less than a few hours a day.

pax, smn

 

[Izzmo]

What does it look like.. the button anyway from the inside?