davidjbarnes
New Member
I do not but would be very keen on installing one myself!! Can anybody comment on these and their effectiveness?
Engine Block Heater
- Thread starter Noogie
- Start date
Any pictures out there showing how to get to the plug and its location? thanks
Noogie
Member
Thanks for all the info, fellas! This winter the old girl has been starting (with a bit of James Bond smoke screen) but smoothing out quickly. It only gets down to the low 30s here in VA. I still think I may put a heater in though. I have block heaters on the engines in my boat and what a difference!
They work about as well as the freeze plug type. But the lower hose on the L300 is the inlet and blocked by the thermostat; might be better to place it in the upper hose.
InstrumentOfPeace
Active Member
Did you do this yet? I've actually pulled my steering wheel apart and plan to cast a piece made from Flexane that I can mount my gauges into.
Maxismolkin
Member
Yes, boost and temp gauges installed.
Attachments
InstrumentOfPeace
Active Member
Ahhh, he placed it on the column. Got ya. I do like that idea. I’m thinking of putting mine where the horn is.
my opinion is based on when i lived in alaska where if you didn't have a heater you couldn't start your car or truck or heavy equipment. glue on silicone pads work o.k. but they had to be left on in really cold temps and really only heated the oil. freeze plug heaters worke.uld leave your interior manual heater lever on and the result was you had instant interior heat as well. as SK66 previously said plumb it into the upper radiator hose. an added benefit is that you didn't have to crawl under the van to plug it in or to install it and in the lower 48 where i live now it takes about 30 min and your van will start and run as if it's summer. the added benefit of having instant interior heat and defrost is a big plus. easy installation as all you have to do is cut out a section of the hose and run the plug. flip
jixaw
Well-Known Member
For the freeze plug type, what’s the process for removing the plug? Just lever it out?
I’m assuming I’ll need to drain coolant from the engine (it’s coolant not oil if I read this right). What’s the best way to drain coolant from the engine? When I did my thermostat lately I drained the radiator but when I pulled the thermostat, coolant was still in the engine and gushed out and i spilled a bit.
I’m assuming I’ll need to drain coolant from the engine (it’s coolant not oil if I read this right). What’s the best way to drain coolant from the engine? When I did my thermostat lately I drained the radiator but when I pulled the thermostat, coolant was still in the engine and gushed out and i spilled a bit.
Olive_Juice
Member
For what its worth, I have found that placing a backpacking stove on a low flame for 15-30 minutes under the oil pan has helped me in a couple pinches. I had to do it again today in sub 30 degree weather to reposition my car before we get 36-60 inches in the next few days.
Last edited:
sirstarrett
New Member
Hey man how long do you leave it on for? and in what temperature?
I'm also in VA and have been having same issues. I was ready to install a block heater, only to find out the the copper wire running from the relay, to the glow plug bar was hanging on by a few strands. Just put a new connection on the wire and starts right up.
Attachments
Bradykull
Member
I second these questions… i still need to install my freeze plug block heater, and a sensor in my upper rad hose housing for a spare coolant gauge. Would be nice to drain coolant and do all of this at once, and then refill coolant.
Jixaw, why did you do your thermostat, if you dont mind me asking?
I do not have any cabin heat at all. Could be a thermostat right?
jixaw
Well-Known Member
that’s exactly why I did mine. I had no cabin heat. After I swapped my thermostat, I had heat. FYI - these vans can get nice and warm with the rear heat going simultaneously as the front.
For my engine heater I returned my block heater and opted for an oil pan heating pad. I also got a fuel filter wrap heating pad. My van starts right up as low as 3 F when I run those heating pads for an hour or so
I also threaded in my coolant temp sensor into the spare port (plugged by a bolt) in the metal upper radiator hose housing that bolts to the head (near the injection pump). Super fast easy install and good results.
For my engine heater I returned my block heater and opted for an oil pan heating pad. I also got a fuel filter wrap heating pad. My van starts right up as low as 3 F when I run those heating pads for an hour or so
I also threaded in my coolant temp sensor into the spare port (plugged by a bolt) in the metal upper radiator hose housing that bolts to the head (near the injection pump). Super fast easy install and good results.
Bradykull
Member
Thanks very much!
Evlar
New Member
Would this work in the upper hose? I thought the whole reason it needs to be on the lower hose is to get convective flow. If it does work, i'm all in, because that lower hose looks impossible to get to.
You're not really getting flow unless/until the coolant gets hot enough to cause the thermostat to open, which most block/coolant/oil heaters won't do. Hose heaters with enough wattage might, but it's not entirely necessary; you get conductive heating just due to contact. I.e. installing it in the upper hose is not ideal but will work to some degree... IMO a block heater (freeze plug type) would be better.
Bradykull
Member
I STILL have not installed mine. Can’t make my mind up. I have both a block plug heater and a hose type heater. Not sure what i want to do. PA is pretty much 20F every night now. Making the morning starts, reeeeeaaal rough, and reeeeeaaal smokey. Someone just tell me what to do! Lol!
Would be nice to splice one right into the top rad hose huh? But seems pretty inferior that way.
Would be nice to splice one right into the top rad hose huh? But seems pretty inferior that way.
I'm in PA (Harrisburg) and I don't have/use a heater... I've started at 5˚ (-15˚c) w/o much issue. I also have an Exceed model w/o dual batteries nor cold timing advance.
Evlar
New Member
I picked up the radiator hose heater today, and after I purchased it the guy at the store said, "remember, it has to be installed in a non-horizontal section of hose", which also eliminates the upper radiator hose if that is true. I've been able to start mine reliably (with really long cranks) here in Wyoming where it's really cold until I recently ruined my starter. We'll see how the new starter does when I get it in tomorrow, but I suspect I'll still want some added support with the block heater.