Engine Block Heater

[RustyRat4x4]

I have done some searching and have not seen what I'm looking for.... Is there a block heater for the L & Z engine block's available?? .... Or am I about to play MacGyver again??

[herculesinwyoming]

i have done some in the past, i believe they are all the same size/ or close, the last block heater i did was designed to expand to fit, my l20b has 2 of them on it, and a tank heater> i guess some one needed a tune up

[Jayden71]

I have a heater on my L16. Its not a block heater but goes in line on the heater hose between block and heater core. It gets pretty cold here, bout -15 to -20 and this lil heater does a pretty good job. I have heat pretty quick

[herculesinwyoming]

yeah thats a tank heater as we know them here in wyoming

[MikeRL411]

With a little creative mounting and hose routing you can arrange the tank heater under the battery so that the waste heat warms your battery and ensures that it will crank at sub zero temperatures. Saves buying a separate battery "electric blanket". One caution, most tank heater kits have a pot metal Y connector to tap into the heater hose. Iron blocks, aluminium heads or radiators makes for electrolytic disolving of pot metal fittings. If you live in an area where tank heaters are necessary, hardware stores stock or can get brass Y fittings for you [or polyethelene ones].

 

"When you've lived in Montana and Wyoming, any temperature with a plus sign in front of it is warm."

[RustyRat4x4]

Right on, some things to look into..except the battery thing.. I've relocated that to the bed since my 620 doesn't have a battery platform anymore....

 

I'm not the 'RustyRat' for shits and giggles..

[RustyRat4x4]

i have done some in the past, i believe they are all the same size/ or close, the last block heater i did was designed to expand to fit, my l20b has 2 of them on it, and a tank heater> i guess some one needed a tune up

 

 

I've never seen a block heater installed except on a diesel, those went into the head I'm thinking.... But do know they help the engine turn over with ease during freezing temps..

 

Where do they get installed??

--freeze plug???

--one of those temp activated vacuum switches holes that are plugged now???

[wayno]

You can buy a block heater for a L block, try napa, they can order it in. It is a common size. The best ones go into the block, not the radiator hoses. wayno

[DISLEXICDIME]

my old 620 had one it went in the freeze plug

[Buzzbomb]

I was just thinking about block heaters too..

 

What about the magnet or adhesive kind that goes on your oil pan? Instead of pulling freeze plugs or having to go through the trouble of draining coolant, etc., it seems like one that basically slaps on the oil pan would be a good idea for use on really cold days where it might not be 20 below for weeks at a time. Anybody use one of these? I read elsewhere that it works best if used with a timer that kicks it on about 3 or 4 hours before you have to drive it. Only real drawback I guess would be that you have to take it off before taking off..?

[Sealik]

All the block heaters I have....go below the EM in the frost plug. Standard size.....basically a rubber plug. Part of it hooks into the block, tighten it up and the rubber expands sealing the hole. Done

Good to -40C+.... :)...maybe

[MikeRL411]

When it comes to "in block" heaters there are two types. First is a U shaped heater rod that fits into the hole for a freeze plug that you knock out. The second type is a long heater tube with a threaded sleeve that replaces one of your head bolts and extends into the water jacket [obviously you have to pick a bolt that has the room below and has access to the water jacket].