Anyone have them on their J? How do they work in the cold weather? Ever installed one yourself?

I was thinking about going to the dealer and picking one up, in hopes that it will take less time for my car to warm up.

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Yes I have a block heater installed. It cost me about $70 for parts and labor. I only use it when it's below zero other than that I use my remote starter.

One day it was so cold here only half of the cars in the parking lot started and the cars that started were the ones that had block heaters. <br>

I use mine when it's really cold and it makes a big difference on the start and on how quickly the temp needle starts moving.
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do you plug it in the whole night until the morning?

The best way to go would be to get a timer that will turn it on 3 or 4 hours before you leave in the morning. I know they sell them around here specifically marketed for block heater use but any timer will work fine. If you've got one for your xmas lights, that'll do the trick.

I don't have one so on the few occasions that I plan to drive to work in the morning, I'll just leave it plugged in overnight. I plugged it in this morning when I left for work since I intended to drive it when I got home. Plugging it in half an hour before you intend to go somewhere probably isn't of much benefit since it does take a few hours to warm up the block.

I can't remember whether it's 3 hours or 4 but beyond that, you're just wasting electricity and quite a bit of it. The block heater is just an electric heating element and you're running it for nothing. You don't need to keep the engine warm all the time so beyond the 3 or 4 hours it takes to bring it up to whatever temp it gets to, there's no need for it. <br>

I have a block heater and here in eastern canada it's been going down to -20 ,-30's with the windchill ,i plug my car in at 12am before bed and at 7am when i leave for work it starts so much easier,i also notice it heats up quicker not as fast as i would like but still quicker..my car had the block heater just the cord was cut off i wired up a new plug 2 weeks ago and it works great...i wouldn't install it in the block myself,they can be screwed up very easy and that'll cause a leak plus when you pop the plug outta the block don't loose it inside or it'll be near impossible to retreive....really tho i'd just pay the labor and get a professional gauranteed job done.. <br>

Rob

I actually went and purchased a block heater for the ecotec, it turned out to be a large project, and I intend on putting it in when I do a coolant flush. Its a real pain to get to. Its located in back behind that coolant bar. Dealer prices too high for me. I think they wanted $240 for everything. PPFFTTT! I can almost purchase some Koni's for a few bucks more......no thanks, I'll do it myself. Also my recomendation, don't get a block heater unless yours came with one!
-James <br>

http://fox302.com/index.pl?s=vf&user=03lssprtcavy&category=Cavy&file=stabbar.jpg
After downshifting into 3rd, and redlining, might as well find 4th and find the speed limiter....its therapeutic.

They come standard on Canadian cars

Two J's... 5 years... never used it... ever. I actually unplugged the cord and have no idea where it is!!

...j <br>

<br><br><a href="http://www.lenkorules.com/"><img src="http://s93165229.onlinehome.us/images/zm/sig/LRDCsig3.jpg"></a>

the 01 motor i put in my 97 came with the block heater , i had to win 2 2.3 block heaters just so i could get the power cord


LOL


doubt ill ever use it but worth having



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My Ecotec came with one from the factory also. My car also came from another dealership up in MN. Ive never used mine either.
Later
Redrider02 <br>

<img src="http://home.mchsi.com/~j9992/wsb/media/400800/site1024.jpg">
Who wants a mustache ride

no j's come with a block heater; they have a engine coolant heater

and yes, it worls nicely. the minimum time to have it on is 4 hours, and don't forget to unplug it before driving off!




"i promise we won't get drunk, and go out in boat in the dark, stand up in the boat and fire the gun into the air unless we have life jackets on."

I used the one on my Cav once, on my truck I've never touched it.



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Club Vantage - http://www.club-vantage.com

i got one on my 96 2.2..havnt used it yet..is there some way to know right away if its working?

96cavillac (Nik) wrote:i got one on my 96 2.2..havnt used it yet..is there some way to know right away if its working?

Nope.



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Club Vantage - http://www.club-vantage.com

When I lived further up north I had a International Scout (actucally I still have it) and those things have a 20 litre radiator along with the coolent in the engine and what have you (it also held 10 litres of oil, maybe that is why it has over 800,000 km).

Anyhow, I used to have multiple heaters, A VERY large coolent heater meant for a semi, along with oil pan heaters and battery warmers meant for larger trucks, as well as a in cab heater. And I had them all plugged into a power strip under the hood so I just had the one plug sticking out. I would turn my heater on about a hour before I had to go anywhere and that truck was toasty.

I live in Victoria now so I doubt I will ever need them. But if you get a large enough heater it can heat the coolent in a hour.

Luke