Advice for a block heater

[canon3383]

With winter setting in and very cold temps, some of us have to drive our trucks daily. Can I get any advice on an engine heater for my 1985 z24? I have heard the dip stick ones suck and I don't want to try and remove a freeze plug if I don't have to. It's 13 degrees and had trouble at 40.

[datzenmike]

There are inline water heaters for the heater return line.... but you must remember to keep the heater flow valve open so it circulates and install with the outlet towards the front lower rad hose. Just set heater to hot. The ones I had made a chugging sound like an old style coffee percolator. I like these as it pushes hot water into the engine and out the block at the back. I've used them, and the heat gauge is already reading just at cold when you get in in the morning. Block heaters work pretty well but rely on convection rather than forced circulation. A good thing about a block heater is you can put more than one in.

 

I spent a few winters in Ontario with a new B-210 and later a 521. I ran 10W oil in the winter which really helped with the starter cranking. I don't recommend it unless fearsome cold and... oils are better today. I had to run an extension cord out to the vehicle anyway, so I got a battery warming blanket as well. As battery temperature drops so does the cranking amps.i