Engine Block Heater ?

[Doubeleive]

I bet a few of you are wishing you had one these about right now it's cold out

 

[Derick]

haha I'm considering it now. my truck is at the mechanics anyhow, so it'll sit today, and when I get it friday itll be 60.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

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?!

Actually I drive 5 miles to work and it’s just barely warming up when I pull into the parking lot. It gets down to -40 with windchill here. 2014 Tahoe.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

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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Huh? My Tahoe doesn’t do this and o haven’t modified it

 

[mikez71]

If you modded your block heater, or have aftermarket, you can turn off the DTC with tune.