I've heard talk of an "engine block heater" and I know that it is supposed to keep your engine from getting too cold at night. How exactly does it work though? Is it like a portable heater that clamps to the engine, or is it something you have to spend hours installing? Also, where do you buy one, cause it gets cold here at night in Washington and since I dont have space in my garage, I would like to take the best care of my TL possible. thanx guys.....

 

I don't know how many different versions of block heaters there may be out there, but the one I've heard of actually heats the oil. The warm oil then makes for an easier crank. There may be variations on this that use the coolant as well. However, I don't know what this does to the oil's properties as far as breakdown might occur. I wish I could say I had the problem, but right now it's pushing 80 here in Central Florida! Hope you can find something that works.

 

Honda block heaters usually replace the coolant drain plug on the block with a heater element. As you might imagine, this heats the coolant which, in turn, warms up the block. All you have to do is snake the wire from the element to somewhere hidden at the front of the car and plug it in when it's cold. Not much use for those in South Florida though...

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2000 WDP 3.2TL non-NAV

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by RAdams on December 14, 2000 @ ]</font>

 

you can get the block heater from the dealer. theyre really cheap...$30 cnd for me. but installation will be more. if i recall correctly, it was $130 on my 4runner. if i knew it was so much, i wouldnt have gotten it

i got it for free on the tl, so why not.
i was told that it keeps the oil pan warm. ive seen a big difference on cold starts

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THE ONLY TL THAT MATTERS
99 Satin Silver TL
Custom Ractive Air Filter, Comptech Swaybars, PIAA 1500 XT, Alpine V12 pushing Diamond Audio M3 Components, Alpine V12 pushing Boston Accoustics 10' w/box, Alpine CD Changer, Remote Starter, Hands Free Startac Kit, 35% charcoal tint, tweaked grill, silver painted calipers, foot well lights!, OEM wood gauge clusters, rear splash gaurds, block heater.

 

Yea, it gets pretty chilley in Central Florida right now....I was a little worried it wouldn't start this morning, the 75 degree temperature and such

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"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb." --Dark Helmet

www.distributed.net

 

I hear they suck up electricity like a mofo.

 

They heat the coolant.

They don't draw all that much energy.

I had one on a Mustang 5 liter and switched it on with a timer.

With the modern low viscosity oils and anti-wear compounds, it really isn't that necessary unless you live in the Arctic. Then there is always Mobil 1 0w30.

BTW, the heaters tend to leak. All that thermal cycling is murder on the seals.

I'd give it a long think before you go for it.

Rage On!

 

if it really leaks can I tell the sign of it by keeping an eye on the coolant level or what ?