Had an 03 Trailblazer and Windstar, both had a block heater, part of the winter package. 2017 Acadia and Rav4 not even an option from the dealer to put one in. Sure probably no one ever used it like I did at 15 degrees or colder.
Replaced the battery 7 years old, If I had a block heater I would have let it go. Sure I went to the toyota dealer for a new battery.
Dealer was “Is there a problem?” Me. No it is 7 years old and not as perky on starts as it used to be. 6 below started fine with new battery, oem 550 cca. On we go. Could get 650cca, but if it lasts another it might outlive me. Auto whatever toyota battery replacement no memory saver had to pay 3 grand to fix the car. Sure battery was cheap from the dealer, sure labor was high, $80 but other quotes came out about he same except for the free install guys. Felt it worth the cost in case anything went wrong.
Weird stuff happens, got new tires on the acadia, local guy. Now on windsheild display shows tach. Used to show radi station and song.So speed limit is still there and after reading the manual this is what it is supposed to do. Like I care, but does flash to song and radio station at new song.
One poster here has already established there is no need for a block heater. Simply put an electric griddle under the oil pan and cover the engine with a blanket.
Some years back, I had a 1971 Ford Maverick. We had a snow storm and I had a long driveway. I couldn’t get through the driveway, so I left the Maverick at the end of the driveway. That night, the temperature dropped to -22 Farenheit (22 degrees below zero.in the morning, I got a call from a friend that needed help thawing water pipes. I got in the Maverick. It turned over slowly, but it started right up. I let it warm up for 15 minutes before I took.off to be certain that the gas line wasn’t frozen and then took off. This was in the days of the carburetor and distributor points. I had 10W-40 oil in the crankcase.
My next car was a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 260 V-8 engine. It had a carburetor and electronic ignition. I had 10W-30 in the crankcase. The car sat outside because I didn’t have s garage. It never failed to start when the temperature dipped more than -20 degrees. When I was in high school my parents had a 1954 Buick with the nail head V8. It always started in sub zero weather even though it wasn’t garaged. If a car is in any kind of shape, a block heater isn’t really necessary, although it does let the heater put out heat more rapidly.
I am a 1941 model. I have a hard time getting going in cold weather. Mrs. Triedaq has tried warming my block (head) with a hair dryer to get me going, but it doesn’t do any good. I still stay in bed.
I’d just make sure I had a good battery and full-synthetic oil, using whatever’s specified for cold weather. While I had a garage at home in Anchorage, the work parking lot was outside, never had a problem in 12 years.
I’ve got the charger on my four year old battery. Tested about 75% after short drives and lack of use. Up to 85% over night but I think I will just replace it. Looks like about a 30% increase in cost and we’ll see about availability.
I have the plug in memory saver that goes into the test port that I’ve never used before.
Many years ago, when I lived in WI and we routinely would see a week or so -25 at night and not above zero during the day, I got a dipstick heater as a gift from a friend. For the few times it might be needed, it worked pretty well. Just pull the dipstick and insert the heater rod… no modifications needed.
? Do you mean that after you had the 7 year old battery replaced the car no longer worked correctly? And then you had to pay an add’l $3,000 to fix that problem, which turned out to be related only to the car’s computer losing its stored data during the battery replacement job?
Not me personally, advance auto guy while replacing battery in daughters saturn I took in for her. He gave that as a reason they used them at the time when I asked if they used one.
I used to use the dipstick heater with my vw in South Dakota. I’d always order the block heater with a new car, but with fuel injection not really needed and haven’t used one for years. My cars don’t sit outside though either.
I’ve still got one of those magnetic ones somewhere. Used to try to use it with the mower for plowing but alas aluminum engine. No stickey.
I have seen the block heaters (for the coolant) much more in Diesel equipment and vehicles in my part of the world more then gas vehicles, very rare to see a gas vehicle with a block heater down here in the south…
Heh heh. Block heaters require electricity. The one time my diesel had trouble, big trouble, starting was at scout camp. It had gotten down to 20 below over night. We were required to park way up on the hill unless 4 wheel drive
drive to get up the icy road. (Interestingly my posi traction olds made it down and up again no problem). I even went up and ran the car before bed the night before. I should have driven it. We had to jump and jump and jump that car before it finally started just before everyone gave up. Five cold and hungry scouts waiting to leave. Never buying a diesel again.
