Posted: 4/16/2010 12:57:13 PM EDT
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If you were going to Alaska, which type of block heater would you use? Freeze plug, dipstick, or heater hose? Why? Thanks |
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Make, model, year? A lower radiator hose heater is fairly easy to install depending on the vehicle. Also consider if you have a reverse flow system. You may not be able to use the lower hose. A pump style fits in one of the heater hoses. Make sure you have the room and proper position for the pump heater. Some need to be mounted down low. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php Katz is a popular make. EDIT Another thing to assist cold starts is thinner engine oil 5w30 or maybe 0w30. |
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id have a freeze plug heater installed. its the cleanest, similar to oem and will heat directly at the block. the dip stick heater is kinda rinky dink in my opinion and heats the oil first. not sure ow well the heat radiates through the block. the hose heater is just another fail point for the hose in my eyes. also it is away from the block and may take a while for the heat to reach it. |
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1. Synthetic oil
2. engine heater 3. battery heater Where you heading to up here? Those dipstick heaters suck bad. Block heater is good. The tank heater [heater hose] will get the engine the hottest the quickest. Have had a tank heater on dads burb for 15yrs without any trouble with hoses. Just have to replace the heater every so often do too all the run time they get. Get a timer so you can leave them plugged in and the motor/battery will be warm when you go to start. |
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from what I have read, you may also want to look into a) battery heater, and b) magnetic oil heater (may not be needed if you do the block heater
You may also want to consider switching the front/rear differentials, engine oil, and transmission over to synthetic fluids. It would also probably be a good time to check your coolant and flush/refill if needed and replace the hoses/thermostat. Just my thoughts brian edited - beat by 2 min on some of my suggestions.. damn slow arfcom, i kept hitting the submit button but it wouldnt go thru |
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Quoted: Anchor town you can get by without a heater but that puts wear&tear on motor. Better to have than not have. Another thing to do is get the biggest battery that will fit. Cannot belive i forgot that.  Yea, planning on getting a nice Optmia for it. It will come in handy with the invertor that I'm planning on putting in. Thanks for your help. |
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If you install a freeze plug heater check the access to the freeze plugs. Some vehicles can be a PITA to remove the plug and install the heater. Watch your electrical cable routing. If it touches the exhaust it will melt. Once the heater is installed moniter it for leaks for a couple of weeks. You do not want a leak on the road. If it leaks you can loose all the coolant out of the block in a short period of time. |
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I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. |
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Quoted: This is the way to go. It disturbs the least amount of parts.I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. |
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Quoted: Quoted: This is the way to go. It disturbs the least amount of parts.I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. That's how it looks. No leaking no draining the coolant.. |
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Quoted: I'm not familiar with the 2010s but there may be coolant involved with the installation. Most block heaters like to be immersed in coolant. If it's easy to do you might get away with a quick switch. But I have not worked on any later Toyotas. My last was early Tundra.Quoted: Quoted: This is the way to go. It disturbs the least amount of parts.I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. That's how it looks. No leaking no draining the coolant.. Is it shown on the internet? |
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Quoted: Quoted: I'm not familiar with the 2010s but there may be coolant involved with the installation. Most block heaters like to be immersed in coolant. If it's easy to do you might get away with a quick switch. But I have not worked on any later Toyotas. My last was early Tundra.Quoted: Quoted: This is the way to go. It disturbs the least amount of parts.I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. That's how it looks. No leaking no draining the coolant.. Is it shown on the internet? Instructions are: Rear, L.H.S. Put the car on a hoist. Remove the engine undercover. Use special flexible four claw pickup (length 60 cm) to clamp on the clip of the heater to insert the rear core hole through the gap. The clip direction is 9 o’clock and the socket come out of heater at 10 o’clock. Route the cord up and along driver side to the front. Re-install the engine undercover. Please refer to Toyota on-line installation instruction for details. http://manage.toyotaap.com/docs/TOYOTA060208.pdf |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'm not familiar with the 2010s but there may be coolant involved with the installation. Most block heaters like to be immersed in coolant. If it's easy to do you might get away with a quick switch. But I have not worked on any later Toyotas. My last was early Tundra.Quoted: Quoted: This is the way to go. It disturbs the least amount of parts.I'm doing some research and it looks like Toyota has moved to a block heater that doesn't require the removal of a freezeplug to install. Basically there is a port already there for it and after you lube it up with some included grease it latches into a purpose built slot in the engine. That's how it looks. No leaking no draining the coolant.. Is it shown on the internet? Instructions are: Rear, L.H.S. Put the car on a hoist. Remove the engine undercover. Use special flexible four claw pickup (length 60 cm) to clamp on the clip of the heater to insert the rear core hole through the gap. The clip direction is 9 o’clock and the socket come out of heater at 10 o’clock. Route the cord up and along driver side to the front. Re-install the engine undercover. Please refer to Toyota on-line installation instruction for details. http://manage.toyotaap.com/docs/TOYOTA060208.pdf It looks like a plug and play. That's a new one on me. The grease makes sense for good contact between the heater and block. And for corrosion protection. |