Block heater draw

Hi there guys I ordered a genuine Toyota block heater kit today and I totally forgot to as the gentleman I spoke to about the draw on it. Does anyone have any tech specs on this? Thanks guys!

 

Welcome to TW!

I got no clue on the draw, but I remember reading here about a Tacoma catching on fire using a block heater. I’ll try to find that thread.

Found it:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-block-heater-recall.665044/

 

^ I was about to mention that

 

Yeah, imagine waking up to your truck fully engulfed in flames…

 

Pretty sure it's 400w. About 3.5amps.

 

Hey technically it heated the block.

@CanTaco91
Where are you at that you need a block heater? It’s not an old diesel engine.

 

Probably made in Japan, it was that good.

 

I also saw this thread thank you. I made sure with cochrane Toyota that it was the new part number that replaced that particular one. Our dealers here in Ontario had zero and everything was back ordered. That’s not a bad draw at all. I know it’s overkill I just see it as a preventative measure on those really cold nights. Rather have a semi warm engine start than a stone cold one struggling to start.

 

Also I’m going to have my local dealer install it so it can be covered under my warranty should anything go wrong with it. I was advised to do it this way pay that dealer shop rate to cover my ass.

@CanTaco91
Where are you at that you need a block heater? It’s not an old diesel engine.[/QUOTE]
I’m aware I just came out of a 17 ram 2500 Cummins before this one. I figured the less stress I put on the truck during winter cold starts the better.

 

Make sure you plug it into a GFCI.

I'm not sure what went on in that fire thread but it looks like it may have been plugged in inside the garage and may not have been in a GFCI plug. Not saying it would have changed anything but it's definitely worth having that extra layer of protection.

That being said....I have mostly lived in "plug-in" provinces and have never heard of any fires. Not that they don't happen but I wouldn't worry about it any more than I'd worry about any other random way for a house or truck to burn.

 

I’ll be plugging mine into a timer which has built in surge and overload protection which will be most likely plugged into the garage door opener plug. Not sure if it’s gfci or not but I’m sure the time will suffice. Also imo having the truck plugged in inside the garage isn’t a great idea either for this very reason