approx 800-1000 US

 

Dang. Well, if you want the best, you hafta pay the price!

 

Actually yes the block/oil stays warm for several hours after each cycle and by doing it this way I almost always have an easy to start and immediately take off truck all night/day without having to pay to run the heater 24/7. Also unless it is really cold the block retains the heat fairly well, though I must agree with a previous post the single block heater works seems to work best in the I-4 engines. In the V-6 or V-8 you could try installing a second heater in a diagonally opposite frost plug, it would cost more to run but would guarantee a completely warm block. Parking your vehicle nose in to a wall or placing a cover over the grill would also help by reducing airflow through the radiator, just be sure to remove the cover before you drive away the next day to prevent overheating.

 

I owned two different Toys (77 Celica & 79 SR5 P/U) when I lived in Fairbanks, both had 20r's. I had both of them set up with battery blankets, external engine tank heaters, and cardboard covering at the minimum of 3/4 of the radiator. The 79 also had a heat pad siliconed to the oil pan. I used 5W30 and would only have the power on to the various items on for an hour before I drove. Worked pretty good until app 45 below. At 65 below nothing really worked well. 40 to 65 below for a couple of weeks will really stress the motor bad. The Celica died after 118k, I sold the P/U at 150k. My 89 P/U has 285k, 60k in AK. I seriously doubt that I would have that many miles on it if I still lived in Fairbanks. Alaskatoy can tell you how round tires are at anything below 30 below.

 

I had one on a 95 blazer w/4.3 I think it was factory. It would circulate the water, it was one of the nicest options i've ever had on a vehicle. Granted it doesn't usally get that cold here in Indiana, but it was nice to hop in, and have instant heat.

 

Way back in the 80's my boss had a diesel Blazer. It came with a plug in heater, but he goes hunting in sub zero areas (no plugs out in the woods). He bought a propane powered heater. He would screw on one of those green 1 pounder bottles and light it off in the AM before coffee and food. Ready to go when he was.

No clue where he got it, and money was never an issue for his toys