What size is the block heater hole?

[chris142]

Block heater above the starter is pouring out coolant. Can I remove it and install a freeze plug? if so what size? Napa has no clue!

 

[chris142]

Ok. That was not too bad. Worst part was getting the old block heater out. Freeze plug is a 1.5 inch.

Starter has a grease zerk on the nose!

 

[MTKirk]

Ok. That was not too bad. Worst part was getting the old block heater out. Freeze plug is a 1.5 inch.

Starter has a grease zerk on the nose!

For Chrissakes, replace it with a new block heater!!! The wear & tear you'll save on your battery & starters will pay for the thing in a year. Yes even in SO CAL, under 50 plug it in!

 

[whiteboyslo]

Mine takes MAYBE a second or two to fire, even when the coolant temp gauge reads 38 degrees (seen it once so far this winter). Block heater isn't necessary if the glow plugs are working, at least in sunny Socal.

Mike

 

[MTKirk]

Mine takes MAYBE a second or two to fire, even when the coolant temp gauge reads 38 degrees (seen it once so far this winter). Block heater isn't necessary if the glow plugs are working, at least in sunny Socal.

Mike

What if you ever go to Mammoth, Tahoe, or Big Bear. What if you want to sell it? There are good reasons why most diesels rolled out of the factory with block heaters installed, considering how manufacturers cheap out on everything else doesn't that tell you something?

 

[MTKirk]

Beside the easier starts, the block heater gets the oil in your crankcase up to temp faster so it can better feed through the oil pump and critical oil passages faster. Cold starts are the number one wear factor on our engines. The faster your engine warms up, the better, in many different ways.

 

[icanfixall]

No problem with running wothout a block heater in Cali. Even if the temps reaches zero degrees a good glow plug system will fire up or engines just like a sunny day. We do run anti freeze coolant out here. No need for a block or fuel heater but.. We need an in truck heater...

 

[chris142]

I have never used the block heater, 5 seconds of glow and its running. I'm not worried about not having it. Nothing available today and I gotta drive it home tonight. I can always put a new one in in the future.

 

[jwalterus]

No problem with running wothout a block heater in Cali. Even if the temps reaches zero degrees a good glow plug system will fire up or engines just like a sunny day. We do run anti freeze coolant out here. No need for a block or fuel heater but.. We need an in truck heater...

I'm not sure if I envy you or wanna cuss at you

High temp today: 8*F

 

[MTKirk]

I'm not sure if I envy you or wanna cuss at you

High temp today: 8*F

Yep, it's block heaters, battery blankets, filter wraps, and oil pan pads for us! I think you might have it even worse than me, I was in Glendive this weekend & ran into some sub-zero nonsense that came from your way.

 

[chris142]

I'm not sure if I envy you or wanna cuss at you

High temp today: 8*F

Ive never seen that cold. 28F is fridged here.

 

[icanfixall]

so far this year I have seen frost on the garden and a few bags of plant food near the garden. But I still did not use my block heater. Actually in all the years I have owned my rig never have I used the block heater.

 

[mu2bdriver]

...under 50 plug it in!

How long do you plug it in for? If 50f was my threshold it would get plugged in 10 months/yr and I'd be working for the power co!

 

[OLDBULL8]

Go to a hardware store and get a rubber sealing plug, install it until you can put a freeze plug or a block heater in.

 

[Hydro-idi]

Rarely should we need to use the block heaters in Cali unless you lived up in the hills. These engines seem to start fine above 0 degrees F with a healthy injection & GP system. I do agree that using one will significantly decrease cold start engine wear tho. 15w-40 is damn near molasses in cold temps, and using block heater prior to startup will warm up the oil, making it much easier to flow. Matter of fact, I plugged in my block heater when I was ready to fire up my reman engine. Even put a heater underneath oil pan. 2 cranks and it fired up. There's probably nothing worse than startin up a brand new rebuilt engine for the first time in cold weather without heating it up first.