Unused Block Heater Okay to Plug In?

[ckinart]

Hi all,

I've had my SHO for about two and a half years now, and I've never plugged the block heater in (to be honest, I didn't know it had one until last summer). Anyway, I have no idea whether the previous owner ever used it either. My question is this: we're about to plunge into another deep freeze tomorrow, and I'm wondering if there's any harm in me plugging my block heater in and trying it out? Is the heater not working the worst that could happen? I'd rather not come out to a pile of ashes in the morning...

Any thoughts?

 

[Emerald94]

I started to use mine last year (got the car in Dec. '96) and it works fine. The car is much easier to start and quicker to warm up.

 

[ckinart]

Thanx Pierre!

I'm hoping that plugging mine in might help things a bit on these cold mornings we've got coming up.

Corey

 

[Diameg]

Hmmm....good idea guys. Why didn't I think of that?

Then perhaps I won't have to warm my car up for 20 minutes or so every morning.

I know, bad for the car, bad for the environment, blah blah.
However, I only pretty well care about myself and keeping warm. thumb

 

[SolidState]

I just plugged mine in tonight for the first time...

going to be -25 c without wind chill tonight...

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Your SHOs REALLY need garages eek!

25 below 0c ? BEFORE wind chill??

my gawd...


BTW: right now at 6:45pm it is a 'brisk' ( finger ) 50 degrees F

 

[SHO_Driver]

Tonight the windchill is about -41 C. I also haven't used the block heater for at least 5 years cause it's usually in the garage. Just cleaned up the plug and used it. Gave heat in 4 minutes at -23 C.

 

[ckinart]

Yes,
I cleaned up the prongs on the plug last night and plugged it in over night. This morning, the car started noticeably easier than on past cold mornings and warmed up quite a bit faster. Block heater seems to work great!

Corey

 

[iselltonsofthings]

where is the block heater at? The plug I mean.

 

[SolidState]

another consideration for us northern guys is running amsoil.

The white 91 that has sat for a long time now fired right up in this frosty weather without a moan or groan.

It started better than my ATX which is driven daily...

 

[Emerald94]

If your car has one, you should be able to see a plug near the air filter box.

iselltonsofthings:
where is the block heater at? The plug I mean.