Engine block heater
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Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 59
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Engine block heater
Hey all,
Just wondering if installing an engine block heater to prevent wear from driving an engine below operating temperature is necessary in the winter, doesn't get super cold though. Usually around 15 F when I leave for work, sometimes as low as 0 F. Not really concerned about warming the cab, I can deal with a little cold. Never had problems starting the engine.
On another note, a mechanic over the summer said I need a new idler arm, pitman arm, and lower ball joints before I could get a wheel alignment, befause the front wheels had play in them. I just replaced the idler and pitman arm and the play was gone, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the ball joints, they were replaced 3 years ago. There's now a little play again and the joint at the end of the idler arm can be wobbled back and forth a bit, not side to side though, which someone told me it shouldn't do, is that true? The roads around me are pretty poorly paved, but only 6 months before it goes bad seems excessive. Didn't get too much driving in that time period either, only 700 miles. Does anyone know if there's something else that could be causing the problem? The idler and pitman arm were thoroughly greased prior to installation.
Just wondering if installing an engine block heater to prevent wear from driving an engine below operating temperature is necessary in the winter, doesn't get super cold though. Usually around 15 F when I leave for work, sometimes as low as 0 F. Not really concerned about warming the cab, I can deal with a little cold. Never had problems starting the engine.
On another note, a mechanic over the summer said I need a new idler arm, pitman arm, and lower ball joints before I could get a wheel alignment, befause the front wheels had play in them. I just replaced the idler and pitman arm and the play was gone, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the ball joints, they were replaced 3 years ago. There's now a little play again and the joint at the end of the idler arm can be wobbled back and forth a bit, not side to side though, which someone told me it shouldn't do, is that true? The roads around me are pretty poorly paved, but only 6 months before it goes bad seems excessive. Didn't get too much driving in that time period either, only 700 miles. Does anyone know if there's something else that could be causing the problem? The idler and pitman arm were thoroughly greased prior to installation.
5 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 346
Likes: 95
From: Winnipeg, Canada
As a lifelong Manitoba resident, I know a bit about block heaters but I'll leave the front end stuff to the experts. A block heater simply warms your coolant so that the vehicle starts easier when the temperature is extremely cold. Once the engine starts, your thermostat warms things up in the usual way. In my experience, as long as you drive it easy until your engine is getting warm you're not going to damage anything even if it's very cold out (like -30). You don't say where you live but even 0 degrees fahrenheit is only -18 celsius. Here in Winnipeg, many people don't even bother to plug in their block heaters until it's -25 celsius. So if the coldest it gets where you are is 0 fahrenheit, I would say you're wasting your money putting in a block heater. One more thing: block heaters can short and cause fires. Just a couple of months ago, my brother-in-law plugged in his block heater in his garage, and a couple of hours later everything was ablaze. He lost his SUV, the garage, and all of its contents. Thank goodness for insurance. Many automotive experts are now warning people to never plug in the block heater if the vehicle is in a garage.