ENGINE BLOCK HEATER - HOW TO?!

[Titan2727]

So I did notice an extension cord nicely tucked under the hood when I installed the ARB compressor the other day. I actually forgot that I had one..question is; how do you use it? Is it something that stay plugged in overnight during winter or is it something you plug in for a few in the morning before a cold start?? Anyone have this option in there JEEP?

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[Columbus104]

They really provide no benefit until the weather is bitterly cold (below 20 degrees overnight). Studies have shown that you get no benefit for running it more than 4 hours, and after that you’re wasting electricity. My advice is to buy a cheap timer outlet to turn on approx 2-3 hours before you leave, and not use it until it’s cold enough to warrant it.

 

[Titan2727]

They really provide no benefit until the weather is bitterly cold (below 20 degrees overnight). Studies have shown that you get no benefit for running it more than 4 hours, and after that you’re wasting electricity. My advice is to buy a cheap timer outlet to turn on approx 2-3 hours before you leave, and not use it until it’s cold enough to warrant it.

So let me get this straight. When I get home I would have to pop the hood, unravel the cord and plug it into a timed outlet. Then in the morning unplug it, rewrap the extension cord under the hood, close the hood and start the vehicle right?

Sounds like waAAy to much work for me...forgive my lack of knowledge but I thought maybe the whole engine block heater thing worked much differently than that. I could see living in Antarctica but it hardly gets THAT cold in the states where this would be of any benefit. Maybe I'm missing something on the benefit to having one.

 

[RAZA]

Block heaters are used religiously up in the great white north. Essentially the plug get's relocated as a pigtail near the front bumper, and left there for the duration of the winter (even whilst driving). Sure makes a difference in -40C/F.

 

[Titan2727]

Block heaters are used religiously up in the great white north. Essentially the plug get's relocated as a pigtail near the front bumper, and left there for the duration of the winter (even whilst driving). Sure makes a difference in -40C/F.

Well, it's an added benefit I guess will prob use when i go up north for skiing..but even then will be a hassle to find an outlet and extension cord. Oh well, was only $95 upgrade

 

[Krondor]

This is why I wasn’t too upset that it wasn’t included with my cold weather package. Not cold enough and I garage my vehicles.

Awesome if you live in much colder areas and/or have to park outside in the uber chill.

 

[Columbus104]

Well, it's an added benefit I guess will prob use when i go up north for skiing..but even then will be a hassle to find an outlet and extension cord. Oh well, was only $95 upgrade

More or less that's true. For vehicles sold in Alaska or northern Canada, this is a must-have because it gets so cold that engine fluids can freeze otherwise. But those don't freeze until it's BITTERLY cold (like -30F or below). So there's a reason you don't see it on many vehicles in the lower 48. You'll only get a handful of uses out of it every year. But like you said, it was only a few bucks. And if you ever decide to trade in your Jeep in Alaska, it will def be a valuable feature!

 

[XJ-99]

There''s only one time in my life that I could have used a block heater. That was when I lived in Utah and the overnight lows were in the -20's (and that was for one week only). I now live in Western Washington and will never need to use one here.

 

[Titan2727]

There''s only one time in my life that I could have used a block heater. That was when I lived in Utah and the overnight lows were in the -20's (and that was for one week only). I now live in Western Washington and will never need to use one here.

maybe i can use it to heat up lunch on the trail

 

[Jmonroe]

Back in our home state if Wisconsin there was always a week or two when the overnight temps were well below zero, at times even the daytime highs would remain below the big "0". I'd do just as suggested, the plug would be tie wrapped so it was accessible without opening the hood. If I felt it would be needed I'd plug it in when I got home for the night.

It's nice to avoid unnecessary wear on the engine or strain on the battery, not to mention the near instantaneous availability of heat and defrost.

We no longer need a block heater, post retirement. If it's too cold to wear shorts and sandals, I move farther south.

 

[Titan2727]

Back in our home state if Wisconsin there was always a week or two when the overnight temps were well below zero, at times even the daytime highs would remain below the big "0". I'd do just as suggested, the plug would be tie wrapped so it was accessible without opening the hood. If I felt it would be needed I'd plug it in when I got home for the night.

It's nice to avoid unnecessary wear on the engine or strain on the battery, not to mention the near instantaneous availability of heat and defrost.

We no longer need a block heater, post retirement. If it's too cold to wear shorts and sandals, I move farther south.

Great input!! Thank you!!

 

[muskynut]

So let me get this straight. When I get home I would have to pop the hood, unravel the cord and plug it into a timed outlet. Then in the morning unplug it, rewrap the extension cord under the hood, close the hood and start the vehicle right?

Sounds like waAAy to much work for me...forgive my lack of knowledge but I thought maybe the whole engine block heater thing worked much differently than that. I could see living in Antarctica but it hardly gets THAT cold in the states where this would be of any benefit. Maybe I'm missing something on the benefit to having one.

Ok... Well I have a cabin in the upper north woods of the U.P. and it does get down into the lower limits of the thermometer,-30 and below at times. I do have the block heater on my JLUSs, but it has not seen the winter yet, but getting close now. So I did open up the hood, and un raveled the cord, and much to my dismay.... just try and relocate it close to the front bumber... HA.... In order to use it you would have to drape it out to the side of the hood in order to plug it in. Even if you snip the zipties it doesn't make it, it is now closer to the side hood latch. Now you would think the cord should be able to make it to the front, so it could hang out to make a connection.

Come on Jeep...WISE UP...!

 

[viper88]

maybe i can use it to heat up lunch on the trail

Save the $90 for the engine block heater if all you want is to heat lunch. Here is a free hack. LOL!!

 

[Mrjimmystewart]

In Connecticut when I still had 6 volt vehicle, it didn’t take much to make it veeerrryy slow to crank over. The aftermarket block heater was a 100 watt light bulb under the oil pan. Really dating myself, today, LED bulbs won’t generate enough heat for that!

 

[tanyet]

Does anyone know what temperature the heater brings the engine up to? I've always wondered about these things. A book I read as a teenager called Drive It Forever advocated for these. I could see that it would be very beneficial if it brought the engine up to operating temperature before a crank since most engine wear occurs in the first minutes after starting the vehicle.

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