Block Heater

This is what I have:

$16 GE 24-Hour Heavy-Duty Outdoor Mechanical Timer, 2 Grounded Outlet Timer, Programmable Daily Cycle, 30-Minute Interval Outdoor Timer, Weather Resistant, Outdoor Light Timer, Black, 1 Pack, 15138

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Programma...targid=pla-323303024332&region_id=972485&th=1

 

I use this Noma for both of our vehicles.
Starts it up at 4am and runs until 8am.

 

Reviving this thread, but I had attempted the block heater install in November of last year. Got the Kats heater half way in before I got it wedged between the engine block and transmission, and couldn't get it back out. You can see in the first pic that the hole doesn't have much room between it and the side of the trans.

Fast forward to today - took off the cat support bar and used a pry bar to wiggle it out. Ended up following the advice of somebody on a different block heater thread and shaved a bit off the side of the heater. Slid right in no problem, got it clipped in. Good to go! It's waaaay up in there. Even with taking the cat support out, be prepared for some cuts and scrapes if you have larger hands. Funny thing to be doing in July, but I was already in there doing the accumulator delete + trans shield vibration dampening. At least it's done right and all ready for the winter now.

 

Looks good. The shave is key. It hit -40 in Denver last Jan. I too have to shave the side off & install mine before that shit hits again!!

 

Would definitely be useful for the -40 days! Do you know if there's supposed to be any resistance when putting it into the block? Mine just slipped in lol

 

Does it leak antifreeze past it? You use any sealant?

 

Nope I haven't had any issues. I had it (improperly installed) since last year and looking at it yesterday there was no seepage. I don't think it directly interacts with the coolant system like that.

 

Block heaters typically heat the antifreeze.

Just watched a video & it installed into a dry portion of the block. Really weird

 

Yup, no 'direct' interaction. I didn't have to drain the coolant or anything - super easy install (provided you shave down the side and take the cat bracket off). Somebody here is more knowledgeable than me assuredly, and maybe can answer what surrounds that existing cavity for the block heater.

 

Ya these and atleast the other Toyota one's i've installed have been into a dry cavity which is close to a water jacket. Not directly into a coolant jacket like "conventional" ones.

Maybe a wet heater works better because it's directly contacting coolant. However i'd say the dry style last longer as there is no danger of coolant leaking through it and shorting it out or it overheating and burning out from starting the engine and having a void of air around it

 

Do you had more info on this? I'm always a fan of extra vibration damping, but I haven't heard of this one.

 

Yup! Check out this thread on it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-trans-noise-fix.693545/page-3#post-30009751

 

Coldest reccorded temp in Denver is like -30 in 1800's. -19 in January 2024. Your car does not care about wind chill. Only your body does. Don't mean to be a dick, but -40 is very uncommon, even up here, so I assume you're talking wind chill.

 

Hehe... we get -40*C here in Alberta without windchill... I don't recommend it.

 

-40C. a magical crossing point where F and C meet

 

Just to echo what’s already been said, these don’t use a frost plug like I’m used to, just slip into an existing dry cavity.
If you are someplace real cold I’d recommend the Fairbanks special and add an oil pan heater/battery blanket into the mix, using a 3way plug. If you’re dead set on directly heating the coolant there’s those hose heaters, but those have always seemed like a problem waiting to happen to me

 

I could totally see an upper radiator hose melting from one of those. More risk than I'd be willing to introduce into the system.

 

Spent decades in Fairbanks and have gotten to know exactly what that means

 

Most modern Toyota engine blocks are open deck die cast aluminum without any or few hole plugs to the water jackets. Aluminum conducts heat very well.

These two things combined make these dry block heaters pretty easy and effective.

Jeff

 

It does have to clip in & then you know its seated correctly. That’s after you shave it. Here’s the one I bought.

That was a cold Sunday man. I had to be at the stock show & we had @ least -25 around there. That night when I got home with the wind -40 was pretty close. I actually drove the 4Runner that day

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/01/16/colorado-weather-cold-temperature-lows-arctic-blast-overnight/