block heater?

[CyberEye]

Am I wrong or does my car not have a block heater? I'd love to be able to plug it in over night while I'm at work.

 

[Irrational]

you do not have one they r for desel cars and trucks and gas cars in real cold places like north canada

 

[CyberEye]

you do not have one they r for desel cars and trucks and gas cars in real cold places like north canada

1. I'm in Canada
2. Probably 75% of every car here has a block heater, hell my girlfriends 1990 mazda 323 has one.

 

[1LE]

I wish mine had one. I need it only about twice a year, but still... Some cars down here you can get it as an option, but most you can't.

 

[nastynas]

Yah, you don't see many cars here in Ontario without block heaters. I'd say proabbly even more than 75%. However, my Talon is an exception, it didn't come with one. You might be SOL like me.

 

[1LE]

If there's any method of retrofitting a real block heater, I'd be interested. I know that you can buy those "dipstick oil heaters", but I don't know how effective that really is.

 

[brucerap]

You can install an inline heater. I just replaced mine a couple weeks ago (factory original finally died). it goes in the lower rad hose. Readily available from Canadian Tire or PartSource. IIRC you need one for a 1.5" hose.

 

[leakyfaucet]

Why do you need one? I've had normal gasoline cars out in weather way way below freezing many times and they never had a problem starting.

 

[IHeartTurbo]

If the block heaters on gasoline engines are the same as on diesels, then you have to take out a freeze plug and put the block heater in it's place. I've had to do it numerous times on Kubotas.

 

[tim_korn_99]

I know at local parts stores here, such as O'reilly, they sell this heater that goes in the bottom of your oil pan. Its pretty cheap, and people that have them, like them.
I don't know much about them, but i know they use a magnet to stick to the bottom of the pan. Maybe someone else on here has some more info.
-Tim

 

[1LE]

Why do you need one? I've had normal gasoline cars out in weather way way below freezing many times and they never had a problem starting.

Well, when it gets into the -5 to -10 range, my car just barely starts. I have an oversized battery that helps, but any colder and I have my doubts about it starting. Like I said, once or twice a year is it, but I'd like it to run then ANY help at those temps could make the difference! Although, right after starting, my power steering pump and fuel pump were both screaming for about 30 seconds so I may have other issues at that point. Oil pressure came up real slow too (there's another good reason, warmer oil flows better!).

 

[CyberEye]

Why do you need one? I've had normal gasoline cars out in weather way way below freezing many times and they never had a problem starting.

because the average temp the past week around here has been about -22F
not to mention that it gets coldest at night, and I work midnights.

 

[4geze63]

i started in -38F with little problems, since I have installed an inline heater which works awsome, alot better then a block heater