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block heater for a gas motor ?


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Posted

Ive been looking around and only find block heaters for the d-max.. does anyone make one for the gm gas motors, Id like to get one for the big block.. It doesnt get extremely cold here, but there are some weeks in jan/feb that we see -5 ish.. And im sure its easier on the motor if its slighty warm before a start-up on a day that cold.

 

I would give my left nut for a garage to put my baby in..but cant swing it right now..

Posted

I dont know about gm but ive seen aftermarket systems from jegs and summit. They are universal.

Posted

Ok, How involved are they when it comes to installing it? Does it go into the block..Or in the oil pan?

 

Ok, How involved are they when it comes to installing it? Does it go into the block..Or in the oil pan?

 

Ok, How involved are they when it comes to installing it? Does it go into the block..Or in the oil pan?

Posted

I believe those replace the freeze plug. I would assume you just drain some coolant and take out a freeze plug and replace it with the heater.

Posted

Yea.. I just checked that ebay link, That looks good.

But isnt there supposed to be a rod or element on the other end of the power cord side? Were it goes into the block i thought there would be something that went in.. unless im not seeing it.

Posted

That ebay pic looks like the factory kit. I bought mine from gm dealer for like 30 bucks. Worth every penny. Don't go aftermarket or universal. They do not work well, been there done that. The way gas prices are its gettin cheaper to plug it in and warm the thing up.

Posted

The heating element is recessed some. You'll need to drain your coolant than knock out a freeze plug to install it.

Posted

An engine block heater heats the coolant in the block, and oil pan heater heats the oil.

 

The units are only 400 watts and go in the rear freeze out plug. If your going to do this, I suggest buying two and putting one on each side. That's still only 800 watts but it heats both sides of the block. The factory only put one in on the driver's side. My old Ford had one 750 watt heater on each side of the block and boy of boy did they work well, especially on those -20F mornings. Instant heat and the engine started like it was 70F outside.

 

DEWFPO

Posted

Very good, Thanks guys.. so its not a big deal for me to do in the driveway myself..I have a good ammount of tools..

Posted

I remember reading a while back on this website about the factory block heater installed on my 5.3l 1500 and there is actually a thermostat on the plug that will only activate current in subzero temperatures. I was a little disappointed to hear this simply because while I lived in Alaska there were plenty of mornings where the temp would hover in the positive single digits which is still not good for the motor. In the end though I would have prefered to have an oil heater in conjunction with the block heater because the block heater only does the coolant. Heating the coolant is nice since it gets warm coolant to the heater core giving cabin heat earlier but unless you run some type of zero weight oil those first few minutes of running the motor is going to be pretty rough. I suppose if you just want to get faster cabin heat then just a block heater will do but just remember that with the factory heater the plug has that thermostat on it.

 

EDIT

 

By checking that Ebay listing though it appears that one does not have the thermostat on it. The one I installed on my old truck had a little blob at the plug end of it.

Posted

If the block heater is plugged in for long enough it should warm the oil too just by heat transfer.

 

 

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