So, my 3vze was leaking again. After getting underthere I noticed a little drip under the block heater. I took the oil filter off and just tried to take the plug boot off, but...woosh! All the coolant came rushing out. That thing was ready to just fall out.

Questions:

Where do I get a new one?

Any tips?

I had a rag over the oil filter intake area, do I need to do anything special if some coolant got into the engine? I don't think more than a shot glass could have gotten in, but I could be wrong.

Pics:

 

Is that what a block heater looks like? the thing in the 2nd pic?

haha sorry but i havent seen what they look like.

HAve you tried an auto part store? Or online?

 

Yep, that's a block heater. Goes in a freeze plug hole.

Autozone said no. Everything else is closed. I am pretty deep in rural the countryside. Online is fine, I just can't seem to find it.

 

 

You don't say where you are but lots of places will have them.

Napa will, dealer will and autozone can order them etc.

Or, you could check the one you have out and put it back in.

Or, if you don't need it, put a plug in.

 

I got a new one from NAPA. Took some work to get it in, but seems to be holding up. Those things are kinda cheesy.

 

is this it? i'm thinking about this for cold indiana mornings. do you run yours on a timer? any idea on consumption?

alfio

 

When I replaced my motor I did NOT replace the block heater. They are a pain (leaks) and fairly big power users. I did put a 75 watt silicone pan heater on. The advantage of the block heater is you get warm air quicker. The pan heater heats the oil and you get oil pressure quicker. I figured oil pressure is a little more important than warm air a little quicker. Plus on a really cold moring (-40F) at a very remote lake where the ice fishing is not bad, I can preheat the truck with my 550watt generator.

 

I use a timer on my block heaters. About 3 hours on does it.

They draw about 400 watts.