Does anyone have the engine block heater installed? It takes miles to start getting heat in our car. My wife will warm it up for 10 minutes and the heat is barely warm with temp gauge above the 160 degree mark. She has to drive a couple of miles after a 10 minute warm up to start getting good heat. The temp was 16 degrees this morning with a steady 30+ mph wind, so it was cold. I wonder if its more cost effective to have the block heater plugged in and a 5 min. warm up and get heat faster. I had one in my Suburban and right after I unplugged it the defrost would be a little warm on start up.
kawazar
I am NOT RECOMMENDING you try this, I'm only telling you what I did in my wild youth:
I had a problem getting my old Opel Manta started one minus 0 degree F day when I was in college in the late 1970's. Long story, but while I was home for Xmas break, I had replaced the cam shaft and decided to put 30 wt oil in it for the 1000 mi drive back to school. After I got back to school, the next morning, it wouldn't even turn over. I had some charcoal and a metal garbage can lid, so I lit the charcoal, and when it got down to coals (no open flames), I slid it under the engine. Five or ten minutes later she started right up. I then replaced the oil with a lighter weight.
Do this at your own risk.
I had a problem getting my old Opel Manta started one minus 0 degree F day when I was in college in the late 1970's. Long story, but while I was home for Xmas break, I had replaced the cam shaft and decided to put 30 wt oil in it for the 1000 mi drive back to school. After I got back to school, the next morning, it wouldn't even turn over. I had some charcoal and a metal garbage can lid, so I lit the charcoal, and when it got down to coals (no open flames), I slid it under the engine. Five or ten minutes later she started right up. I then replaced the oil with a lighter weight.
Do this at your own risk.
On the right next to the windshield fluid bottle. They tuck it somewhere around there. Are you sure you bought one with the vehicle, that is not a standard option any more. GM knows how to earn your hard cold cash.
Installed mine today. Factory heater, aftermarket cable (compatible and rated to the same specs; starts at 0F, but was almost half the price of the factory cord). Installation was very easy. Reach up from underneath and snap it in to place. Literally a 5 minute job.
ETA: Here's the cord I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ENEBWK
And the heater: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N48VO46
ETA: Here's the cord I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ENEBWK
And the heater: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N48VO46
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Some tractors have seperate heaters which burns diesel fuel , they circulates the engine coolant and keeps it warm enough that you don't have to idle the engine that 1000rpm all nite.
They just turn off the engine and this heater keeps both cabin and engine warm and saves about 70 % from keeping the engine idling.
They just turn off the engine and this heater keeps both cabin and engine warm and saves about 70 % from keeping the engine idling.
>>>>>is that a reason why many semis when parked in cold areas- leave the engine running instead of shutting down?
That's one reason plus keeping the heat going for the sleeper cab if it is being used. With diesels, fuel consumption at idle is extremely low to the point they don't worry about any reduced mileage.
That's one reason plus keeping the heat going for the sleeper cab if it is being used. With diesels, fuel consumption at idle is extremely low to the point they don't worry about any reduced mileage.
I now live in south western ontario and block heaters aren't used much around here... however I used to live in northern ontario... Timmins to be exact and the temps would sometimes get below -35ºC and even lower than -40ºC and block heaters were essential to getting things started. Yes they don't heat up the transmission but your vehicle will actually start. I have a 2006 chevy colorado without a block heater and I haven't ever needed one to date since we don't see much below -20 to -25ºC where we live. The reason they heat up the coolant and not the engine oil is because when things are extremely cold the cylinder walls and pistons tend to not want to slide with each other too well and by heating them up they will allow the engine to start significantly easier. Just ask anyone that drives diesel equipment in northern ontario if they have a block heater on their equipment! hahahaha...
The best thing you can do is drive it,that gets everything moving at the same time.Why would you want to warm up the motor and then slam the still frozen tranmisson into gear.Not good.Startup run for a couple mins and drive slow to get everthing moving.Been doing that for a long time up here in Wis.Knock on wood.
Yes, I do need a picture of block heater in the car, because the Traverse I bought is supposed to have one(as per the dealer), but I could not find the cord, nor the block heater. I checked the manual, there is only one phrase says "coolant heeter", no "engine block heater" in the manual. That's why I need a picture to where it is and what it looks like. under my traver hood, I found a black plastic cover with 6 retangular shapes in the middle, which stays on top of the engine, is that the engine block heater?rbarrios said:
I am trying to upload a small picture, but failed.
So can you use and aftermarket block heater, with a GM cord end? Seems like a round about way to do things. Up here in Southern Ontario, I didn't opt for the block heater. If we get 1 or 2 nights where it hits -18*C, that is a COLD winter. The coldest we've had this winter so far is -17*C, just last week. By the time my wife has the kids up and ready to go out anywhere, its usually 9:30am at the earliest, so by then its usually warmed up a few degrees. Today it was -1*C.
this answer the question...
Block heater on GM vehicles
GM has installed temperature sensing circuitry into the plug on factory installed block heaters. It prevents the heater from operating unless it is colder than 0°F or -18C. It may seem insane, but it really does make sense if you understand why. If you install an aftermarket block heater without this circuitry, the PCM will see warm coolant, but a cold engine and cold air coming into it. Remember, it's the PCM's job to determine the correct air/fuel mixture. A cold engine block and cylinder head act as a fire extinguisher when you first start up the engine. So the computer commands a very rich mixture. How does it know what temperature the engine is? It used to look at only the coolant temperature. But now it looks at both coolant temp and the temp of the metal itself. If it see a discrepancy between the two numbers, and the outside air temp coming in through the intake is 0° or above, it assumes there's something wrong with the coolant temp sensor and sets a trouble code.
Bottom line, if you add an aftermarket heater, it must have the temperature sensing circuitry in it or you WILL set a trouble code. Also, if you ever have to replace the power cord to the factory block heater, you must use a new GM power cable
Block heater on GM vehicles
GM has installed temperature sensing circuitry into the plug on factory installed block heaters. It prevents the heater from operating unless it is colder than 0°F or -18C. It may seem insane, but it really does make sense if you understand why. If you install an aftermarket block heater without this circuitry, the PCM will see warm coolant, but a cold engine and cold air coming into it. Remember, it's the PCM's job to determine the correct air/fuel mixture. A cold engine block and cylinder head act as a fire extinguisher when you first start up the engine. So the computer commands a very rich mixture. How does it know what temperature the engine is? It used to look at only the coolant temperature. But now it looks at both coolant temp and the temp of the metal itself. If it see a discrepancy between the two numbers, and the outside air temp coming in through the intake is 0° or above, it assumes there's something wrong with the coolant temp sensor and sets a trouble code.
Bottom line, if you add an aftermarket heater, it must have the temperature sensing circuitry in it or you WILL set a trouble code. Also, if you ever have to replace the power cord to the factory block heater, you must use a new GM power cable
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