Engine Block Heaters
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Engine Block Heaters
I have a 94 Z28, 62,000 on a new crate LT1 engine. I'm curious about engine block heaters. It gets pretty cold here sometimes, temps in single digits, wind, etc. I don't have a suitable garage to park my car so I'm wondering about engine block heaters. Has anyone used these? If so what brand? I've seen some that vary from oil dipstick heaters to a heat pad. Just would like to know if anyone has tried these with success, what the pros and cons are, etc.
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thanks! This forum never disappoints!
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The best engine heater tie into the coolant system. They warm and circulate the coolant. I am not sure where you would find a spot large enough for the block heaters I am used to on a LT1. I used the dip stick heater for years and it always worked. In a pinch even an old school drop light/light bulb will work. I only used the dipstick heater when the weather was zub zero. For where I was that was maybe 2 weeks a year.
As long as your coolant is good (you should check it every year) single digits should not be a problem. Nor should you need a warmer. People in the great white north laugh at the dip stick heaters but you are talking -40 degs for days at a time.
If you have an issue with your battery or starter it is because they are at the end of their life. The single digit temps are like a stress test of your cranking system. It is not uncommon on the first really cold day for a dealership to get a lot of cranking issues and power steering noise issues the next day. No block warmer is going to have enough power to warm a battery or starter, at best they would add a few months of life to s failing item.
As long as your coolant is good (you should check it every year) single digits should not be a problem. Nor should you need a warmer. People in the great white north laugh at the dip stick heaters but you are talking -40 degs for days at a time.
If you have an issue with your battery or starter it is because they are at the end of their life. The single digit temps are like a stress test of your cranking system. It is not uncommon on the first really cold day for a dealership to get a lot of cranking issues and power steering noise issues the next day. No block warmer is going to have enough power to warm a battery or starter, at best they would add a few months of life to s failing item.
Last edited by Gorn; Jan 5, 2014 at 08:46 AM.
the last time I used any type of engine heater was in a 1959 chevy.
I used the dip stick heater and it did help
I suppose you could use just a regular heating pad placed in the engine compartment with a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator
I used the dip stick heater and it did help
I suppose you could use just a regular heating pad placed in the engine compartment with a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 62
From: Indianapolis
I used to live in 'garden spots' like Michigan's UP, the Black Hills of South Dakota & Fairbanks, Alaska, so....
A heater that replaces a freeze plug works about the best, followed by a flat battery plate heater, followed by a oil pan heater that is a flat silicone pad that is glued to the oil pan itself.
In Fairbanks, we would run all three of these, plug them into a 4-plug box that we mounted under the hood, (using the remaining outlet for a LED nitelight to show you have power), and don't exceed 1500 watts total power draw to keep from exceeding the amp capacity of an extension cord, (use a silicone jacked cord for temps below -40*F), or the house circuit that you are plugged into.
5W20 or 5W30 oil is good for flow down to -30*F, with synthetics and the 0W30 & 0W40 oils good down past -50*f. Do not exceed a 70%/30% coolant mixture, and do not totally block the grill with cardboard, etc, as if you have a clutch fan you will muck it up quick with no airflow.
You should have seen how we got diesels running after a cold soak at -50*F over night.... Kingsford BBQ Charcoal was our friend.....
A heater that replaces a freeze plug works about the best, followed by a flat battery plate heater, followed by a oil pan heater that is a flat silicone pad that is glued to the oil pan itself.
In Fairbanks, we would run all three of these, plug them into a 4-plug box that we mounted under the hood, (using the remaining outlet for a LED nitelight to show you have power), and don't exceed 1500 watts total power draw to keep from exceeding the amp capacity of an extension cord, (use a silicone jacked cord for temps below -40*F), or the house circuit that you are plugged into.
5W20 or 5W30 oil is good for flow down to -30*F, with synthetics and the 0W30 & 0W40 oils good down past -50*f. Do not exceed a 70%/30% coolant mixture, and do not totally block the grill with cardboard, etc, as if you have a clutch fan you will muck it up quick with no airflow.
You should have seen how we got diesels running after a cold soak at -50*F over night.... Kingsford BBQ Charcoal was our friend.....
Tech Droid
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: North East PA
I have a Chrysler 300M that came with factory block and a battery heater. I live in the Poconos in PA where the temp often drops to below zero, but I have yet to use either one of them. The block heater draws 500 Watt and can get expensive if left on for weeks at the time. The other thing is that you have to remember to unplug the things when you get ready to drive away, or you may cause a 120 volt light show of sparks as the outlet and extension cord get torn up. lol
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As Jim mentioned the ones that replace freeze plugs work well. That is what GM used as factory on my Duramax. And starting a diesel in the cold is not easy.
New a guy that was stationed in Greenland during WWII. they used the exhaust from one diesel truck that ran all night to keep another one warm enough to start the next day.
New a guy that was stationed in Greenland during WWII. they used the exhaust from one diesel truck that ran all night to keep another one warm enough to start the next day.
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They're core plugs, not freeze plugs. But I digress, right MK? lol
Having a block heater is more for "start and drive" convenience as opposed to a "guarantee of starting". I used to have a Monte Carlo that came equipped with a block heater. I never once plugged it in though in the 3 years I had it. The car had seat warmers, and by the time I had the windows cleared, it was good to go on it's own anyway.
Having a block heater is more for "start and drive" convenience as opposed to a "guarantee of starting". I used to have a Monte Carlo that came equipped with a block heater. I never once plugged it in though in the 3 years I had it. The car had seat warmers, and by the time I had the windows cleared, it was good to go on it's own anyway.
In the Staging Lanes
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In Alaska, we'd put about 10lbs of BBQ charcoal in a metal oil drain pan, light it, and when the flame had died down to glowing coals, shove the pan under the diesel truck & have a couple cups of coffee....
Sure enough, those old diesels would crank up then!
Sure enough, those old diesels would crank up then!
Right! Haha.
I just checked the temp where I'm at. -7 F, with the windchill it puts it down to -34 F. This might be a case where I'd want some type of heater for my Jeep, just because it's got 10W-40 in it. Maybe some type of door handle heater so my door doesn't freeze up again.
I just checked the temp where I'm at. -7 F, with the windchill it puts it down to -34 F. This might be a case where I'd want some type of heater for my Jeep, just because it's got 10W-40 in it. Maybe some type of door handle heater so my door doesn't freeze up again.