Clancy209

I bought my car about 3yrs ago. It was built in KY for a Canadian purchaser. It has a OEM block heater installed, looks like all I have to do is plug it in. I can't see where it goes into the block.
If anyone has some info I can use it. I know it is 3 yrs later, just never used it.

Pounder

they usually go in the freeze plug hole !!

Paul Wood

If it's like other block heaters it is already installed in the block in a freeze plug port. The wiring usually comes out the front of the vehicle and you merely plug the unit into household 110vac outlet. There is no external thermostat so the user just has to plug it in and more importantly UNPLUG it before you depart. Please don't ask how I know! LOL. Good luck.

C5Txfan

Paul .. you need a block heater in San Antonio ?? wow gets a lot colder down there than it does up here it seems then !!

Paul Wood

Ha ha C5Txfan! I don't have a block heater in my C5 but I haven't always lived in San Antonio either! I have been in Milwaukee when it was so cold the car rental companies would not rent you a car. They said if the car fails we will not come get you and you are on your own. I would always use the block heaters if the cars were so equipped. They are required equipment in some places and they work well. Great to hear from you.

Clancy209

Just wanted to say thank you for the info. Temp has dropped to the 20s last couple of days so I plugged it in.

Merry Christmas

Fatbob

Tonights low is supposed to be about -25F, and tomorrows high about -13. In this kind of weather it is much easier on the motor to have them plugged in. When you start a motor at these temps it takes a long time for oil pressure to come up. Most modern vehicles will start on their own at these temps, but I like to have then plugged in for at least a couple hours before starting. Ice fishing is a good way to cope. ice gets up to 4 feet thick some winters in ND.

El original

These block heaters do not work at temps ABOVE -18C you do the conversion. Synthetic oil is excellent at low temps as it lubes immediately unlike mineral oil. Good luck fishing...lol. (Right now as I type it is -20C and the block heater on my DD is working. My Corvette and SSR are tucked in and waiting on spring)

3sACROWD

Did you know there is no such thing as a "freeze plug"? They are really called CUP PLUGS. They are not installed to protect the block in the event of the coolant freezing like many people think. The real reason cup plugs are used is to plug the opening that was used to get sand out of the block, especially iron blocks, after pouring the casting. If you remove the large side cup plugs you will see they align with the area between cylinder bores which is a difficult area to remove sand. Many of the new blocks are siamese bores now so there is no sand between the bores.

Other cup plugs are used to seal the ends of oil passages that have been drilled into the block. Drilling clean oil passages is preferred over casting them in order to ensure no debris (sand) can break free during engine operation.

As far as engine block heaters, there are two types; wet and dry. Wet block heaters are typically installed by the manufacturer and often go through the cup plug and into the coolant. This makes it easy for the manufacturer so they don't have to design in an attachment location. Dry block heaters require a boss be designed in but allow for someone to add one after the engine is built. I also believe there are aftermarket heaters that fit down the oil dipstick.