Block heater install

[Monk]

Have you ever had those jobs that you figured you'd be the messiest dirtiest job in the world?

Well that's exactly what I was thinking when I decided to do my block heater today.



After doing a lot of reading online etc, I took the plunge.

Almost every other post I heard people saying *messy job*.



It started off with me seeing a pipe fitting on the side of the block that look like it was for coolant just below the freeze plug.

It took a quarter inch ratchet extension and after couple good pulls she loosened up and coolant come out of her.

Now I had a big tote for moving and that was perfect for getting all the fluid.



The thing nice about that little pipe plug it was below the frost plugs so after everything was drained no more dripping.



LOL I even put my latex gloves over my sleeves on my clothes I figured it was going to be a true mess.



Then I size up the freeze plug and see videos with everybody that have small nail hammers , I decided to step it up and use my 5 lb Sledge.

Lol it only needed two small TAPS in the frost plug spun.



The big parts that freak me out is that it fell inside the block and right away I started losing my mind. Lol a little bit of patience and positioning right inside the block I was able to get my vice grips to grab it and pull hard to get the plug out.



I lubed up the heater seal a bit, I read that aiming it down was best so I installed it that way tightened her up, then I ran the extension cord so it comes out the side of my truck as I prefer it this way.

Honestly no joke I probably got 10 drops of water on the driveway, i was clean !!! I was expecting a flood and I was expecting to be covered in the crap.

It took about 8 liters of antifreeze to top it up.



Very fast job and zero regrets heheh.

[Monk]

This is the frost plug above and the little pipe plug I took out

[Monk]

LOL this is the part that made me go insane where I thought I screwed myself over

[Monk]

This was the plug pulled out

[Monk]

And this is the finished product

[Monk]

And then after I ran the electrical part which was the easiest part

[Monk]

And last but not least, I ran the plug to the side of my truck I backed out of the driveway one too many times with it still plugged in the front so this way I can see it

[GreenMeanie]

Nice. Close call on the plug. If that would have gone in you would be putting up more interesting pics LOL

[Monk]

Update,

Not sure why but since day one my cord got very very hot to the touch.

Figured was just working....but last week she died some how.

So, I went back to Napa to get another block heater.

The job again went super easy, lol didnt even get wet.

But the new heater looked sorta different

I tried to "test" the old block heater with the new cord but wouldn't fit.



Then noticed the element was "beefier" prongs were larger as well even had foil around the bottom half of the cord for heat protection.



Same part number etc, not sure why so different, but shes in, and hopefully all is now good forever hehe