Engine Block Heater ?

[playadude]

Hey Guys,

I have a 2011 Tahoe, 120k miles. It's a workhorse for me and my 3 kids (I'm divorced).

I drive it from Denver up to Frisco Colorado every weekend to ski. It sits outside of a house I share with neighbors, then it hauls us back and forth to the ski slopes.

I'm really careful with my Tahoe and want it to last. Do you guys think it would be easier on it if I put an engine block heater on it ?

It's near zero or 10 degrees F regularly overnight. I'm really careful to warm it up in the morning before I drive it.

Thank you

 

[Derick]

I'm not sure what kind of heaters these trucks need, but I used a freeze plug based block warmer in my old explorer. It was a 25 dollar investment, and took about 20 minutes to install.

Now, to your question, does it need it? No. It absolutely does not. Would you benefit from it? Sure! Again, you'd have to find out what kind you need for these motors, I'm not certain myself, but it goes under the 'why not' category. If it's a cheap investment, then why not. At bare minimum your heater will get warmer a few minutes quicker.

One suggestion is this. Put it on a timer. Run it for 4 hours, then off 4 hours, etc etc etc.....that way you wont burn out your block heater element. Remember, the block heaters are there for two purposes, keeping the water from freezing, and to keep the fuel from getting all gelly. Since stock antifreeze is usually good to -20 or -30, you're good there. Gasoline doesn't gel like diesel does....so you're good there to.

100% it will be unnecessary, but hey, if you can get one cheap and install yourself...why the hell not?!

 

[greenhornet]

I had a block heater in my 2000,5.3 Tahoe. The frost plug unscrews with a large allen socket. The new heater screws in. It does help on quicker warm ups and uses a bit less fuel when cold ,faster engine warm ups.It was not cheap,about 100.00 dollars but i found it useful when real cold out I would put one in my 2015 Tahoe but they want 200.00 + dollars for it CDN.

 

[donjetman]

A block heater is a good idea if you park outside. Synthetics in everything too: engine, frt and rear diffs, transfer case, power steering. Synthetics flow better a lower temps. We have a 2nd home near Leadville, CO. We've seen minus 28 before. No block heater but we have a garage to park our vehicle in at night.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

While I’ve only used the ebh when I went snowmobiling in New Hampshire. I’ve ordered an engine block heater in everyone of my Tahoe’s and suburbans. I don’t know why. For 95$ I figured why not

 

[Doubeleive]

I'm not sure what kind of heaters these trucks need, but I used a freeze plug based block warmer in my old explorer. It was a 25 dollar investment, and took about 20 minutes to install.

Now, to your question, does it need it? No. It absolutely does not. Would you benefit from it? Sure! Again, you'd have to find out what kind you need for these motors, I'm not certain myself, but it goes under the 'why not' category. If it's a cheap investment, then why not. At bare minimum your heater will get warmer a few minutes quicker.

One suggestion is this. Put it on a timer. Run it for 4 hours, then off 4 hours, etc etc etc.....that way you wont burn out your block heater element. Remember, the block heaters are there for two purposes, keeping the water from freezing, and to keep the fuel from getting all gelly. Since stock antifreeze is usually good to -20 or -30, you're good there. Gasoline doesn't gel like diesel does....so you're good there to.

100% it will be unnecessary, but hey, if you can get one cheap and install yourself...why the hell not?!

all these trucks from at least the early 90's to current have a plug hole for a factory block heater, some even come with one already installed depending on it's destination, the wires is usually just wrapped up out of sight like the trailer power connectors, it's a plug-n-play part, you can find them on ebay, amazon etc for lower prices. the nbs have them on the passenger side and I believe the nnbs is on the drivers side.

 

[89Suburban]

They also make an in-line coolant heater that mounts in the lower radiator hose if you don't feel like messing around with freeze plugs.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Low...z8rfAhVFlVkKHQYkAQAQ_AUIECgD&biw=1920&bih=938

 

[trailblazer]

Please know that if you hook up your own custom block heater or have the factory one and cut off the special thermostatic plug, you will most likely get a Check Engine warning light. This applies to at least the 2007+ trucks. Lots of people have tried to “fix” the factory block heaters as they do not actually activate until it is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit; they would cut off the plug end and install another male plug thus force on the block heater even it was above zero degrees. Unfortunately this sets a trouble code. I read it has something to do with emission controls.


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[89Suburban]

Please know that if you hook up your own custom block heater or have the factory one and cut off the special thermostatic plug, you will most likely get a Check Engine warning light. This applies to at least the 2007+ trucks. Lots of people have tried to “fix” the factory block heaters as they do not actually activate until it is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit; they would cut off the plug end and install another male plug thus force on the block heater even it was above zero degrees. Unfortunately this sets a trouble code. I read it has something to do with emission controls.


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Good to know!!

 

[trailblazer]

Just some information:

Zerostart 3100109 $50-60 here is one on eBay for $53 shipped