block heater?

[Former Member]

anyone with a block heater really see any benefit from it? I found one online made for a lincoln LS, OEM replacement part for 107$. im wondering how hard it would be to put in, do you think it really would be a benifit?

 

[CrackerJack]

Its probably an oil pan heater. In which case do not get. It sits under the pan and that is not a good thing for a car.

I'd check into it more if possible see where it goes. If it's oil pan like I said, don't even look at it.

 

[twinbopilot]

I've never lived north of the Mason-Dixon line (except for a short while in Dayton OH at Wright-Patterson AFB) so I'm clueless about engine heaters. Why is an oil pan heater no good?

 

[pektel]

if you park in a garage, no need. i.m in the frigid north, where winter temps are well below zero, and have no problems when i park in my garage.

 

[kswpg]

I have a block heater in mine. But here (Winnipeg, Canada) it can easily get down to -22 F, and even to -40 F on a bad night.

Block heaters definitely help then, but if you've switched to a lower weight oil for the winter, mine has had no problems starting after a week outside (without the heater on) with -20F overnight lows.

They make your car a lot happier on really cold nights, but they come standard here, I don't think I've ever seen a car without one. After-market cabin electric heaters are definitely nice too, but that's just for comfort, nothing to do with performance.

 

[CrackerJack]

Oil pan heater uses a magnet to attach to the bottom of your oil pan, it heats your oil and keeps is warm.

The reason they suck is that they stick out 2 or 3 inches, and really gets tight clearance wise.

 

[kustomizingkid]

All the oem ones I have seen go into a freeze plug hole... I had one in my Vic, until it blew out of the block on a WOT run

 

[pektel]

those oil pan heaters won.t work on the ls anyway. Isn.t the oil pan aluminum?

 

[pragmatic]

I've started mine -20F after sitting all night and run it at -38F with no heater and no problems. A good battery and synthetic oil is all you should need for occasional cold starts. Unless you live north of the 49 parallel I don't see the need.

 

[Former Member]

i just wanted quick heat...talking coolant heater, not oil pan heater.