To prevent engine fluids from thickening, this cartridge heater fits into the cavity of your engine block and immerses itself in the coolant. resulting in less wear and tear on your Kia Soul in cold weather and simpler starts, quicker cab heating, etc.
Features:
- ensures quicker heating and defrosting of your cab and easier starting up.
- Clips into engine block cavity, eliminating the need to remove your frost plug.
- increases the lubrication and performance of engine fluid by warming it
- prevents fluid from thickening and offers protection in cold temperatures.
- reduces moisture in the engine block by preheating it
- emits fewer gas emissions and less pollution
- with a detachable power cord
- Plug into a 120-volt AC outlet by passing through your grille.
- durable heating element made of cast aluminum
- suited specifically for your car
- CSA certified
- Produced in the USA
Specs:
- 5′ cord length
- Power: 400 watts
- Current: 3.3 amps
- Limited warranty of one year
Notes:
- This heater should not be used with a 100% antifreeze solution.
- When the heater is plugged in, do not start your engine.
With this cartridge-style engine block heater, you can start your car more easily and heat your cab more quickly during cold weather. The prevention of thickening and freezing by heating your engine coolant leads to more dependable starting and overall smoother running. Additionally, it reduces workload and lengthens the battery life of your car. Additionally, your engine will experience better initial gasoline vaporization, which results in less emissions and less pollution, because starting your engine while it’s warm results in less condensation in the engine block than starting it when it’s cold.
Simply attach this cartridge-style heater into the engine block’s hollow. The core frost plug doesn’t need to be taken out. The heater’s power cable may be taken off, saving you from having to buy a brand-new heater if the cord is damaged. To make it simple to use an extension cord or 120-volt outlet, the cord can be routed through your grille. Before connecting it in, make sure the heating element is completely submerged in the coolant.
In This Article...
Block heaters are standard in KIA vehicles?
at the KIA dealership. One is typically not included with autos. You don’t have a block heater unless you have a plug for it behind the bumper or under the hood.
Do every car’s engine block have a heater?
Your car may suffer damage from the harsher Canadian winters. An engine needs more time to warm up to its ideal working temperature in the winter. It also cools down considerably more quickly after being shut off.
Overall, more gasoline is consumed to make up for this, and the vehicle’s parts endure more damage as they work harder to heat up the inside.
Engine block heaters are an easy fix for a variety of problems brought on by cold weather.
Some newer models or imports may not have block heaters, even though the majority of cars should. When buying a new car, mark that choice down or ask when you are seeking to buy.
Where can I find a block heater?
Block warmers are either factory-installed in some vehicles or added as an aftermarket accessory in others.
[2] The most typical kind of block heater consists of an electric heating element inside the engine block that is connected via a power cord that frequently passes through the grille of the car. Certain block heaters are made to swap out one of the engine’s core plugs, heating the engine by means of the coolant. [3]
What is the price of installing a block heater?
You’re considering employing a block heater as a result. If you’ve chosen to actually utilize one, then you’ve made a wise choice. Therefore, you’ve come here to learn more about installing a block heater as well as how much it will cost to buy one and have it installed. The question “How much does it cost to have a block heater installed?” cannot have a single answer. No one method exists for putting in a block heater, either. However, there is a general overview to give you a good notion and put you at least in the ballpark for pricing and a DIY alternative as well as a general understanding of how and where were installed.
First off, the type and design of block heater you’ll need for your specific engine will determine how much it will cost. So let’s get right to it. Block heater prices can range from about $40.00 to about $120.00. The commonest and most widely used ones currently in use appear to be around $70.00! Given the substantial return using one will provide, this is a very minor investment. You now have a general sense of price. Currently, this solely involves buying the heater. Obviously, the price will go up if you want someone else to install it for you.
Block heater installation costs can differ as well. This is because some freezing ports can be easily accessed for installation, while others can be a little more challenging. As you are well aware, the cost increases as more of the mechanic’s time is consumed. However, it would be safe to assume that the average installation cost for a block heater would be between $100 and $200. For the advantages your heater will provide, you still only need to make a small investment. More on that later.
The majority of block heaters are put in your engine’s freeze ports. Simply put, the freeze port is the hole in the bottom of your engine. Typically, there are only a few ports. The freeze port is a hole that is carved out of the engine during casting. The port hole is then covered with a freeze port cap. These caps are lighter in weight than the rest of your engine and are machine-pressed into the ports. The idea is to create a weak area where engine fluid can crack in the event of a fluid freeze. As a result, your engine block is prevented from cracking, and in the event that it does, you only need to replace the freeze port cover and not the entire engine block. Some engines lack freeze ports but do have specialized ports for installing block warmers. If not, there are various heaters that can perform in a comparable way.
Are block heaters possible to install?
Some block heaters, like as blanket-style heaters and those intended to replace your dipstick, are simple to install and transfer from one vehicle to another. In actuality, changing your oil and installing a dipstick heater are both equally challenging tasks.
If your car doesn’t have a block heater, what can you do?
Even though your vehicle lacks a block heater, you might have access to a plug. Even later in the life of many automobiles, installation of a block heater may be an option, however there are other ways to keep your car’s engine warm while it’s parked overnight.
A thin heating pad that is powered by an electrical outlet and is attached to the vehicle’s oil pan with a strong adhesive is used by glue-on oil-pan heaters, such as the Wolverine heater. Unlike a block heater, which heats the engine coolant, this sort of heater heats the engine oil directly. By ensuring that the engine oil supply is thin and warm when drivers start the car, it might more immediately help with cold engine starts. I first decided on a Wolverine heater for my Subaru because it was less expensive to install than a block heater, and I’ve used it for three years now with no problems.
This design of heater is popular with Labrie as well. He claims, “I use these on my automobiles. I like that they become extremely, incredibly hot and immediately heat the engine oil. Block heaters just warm the coolant, but glue-on pans quickly heat the oil to a blistering high temperature so you don’t have to leave them on all night.
In-line coolant warmers, which are fitted inside the vehicle’s coolant hose, are also an option. This is an option to heat engine coolant when a block heater is not available, albeit it is becoming less common.
There are also battery warmers that serve as a kind of thermal blanket to maintain your battery at a temperature that is closer to optimal. Although I’m not a huge fan of these, Labrie notes that many of his clients use them in conjunction with block heaters or oil-pan heaters. You shouldn’t require one if your battery is strong and reliable, but many drivers do in order to have a little more support on chilly mornings.
What degree of heat do you require a block heater for?
Let’s look at what an engine block heater does before discussing when you should plug in your engine block heater. Oil circulates through the engine block at engine startup to lubricate all the various moving parts. The oil becomes thicker and more sticky when we experience really cold winter temperatures, such as -20 C or lower. As a result, your engine works more, consumes more gas, and emits more pollution as the oil moves through it more slowly. The engine block heater maintains the engine block at a temperature that allows the oil to remain thin and flow through the engine block with ease.
When to Plug in an Engine Block Heater
The key thing to keep in mind is that if it’s going to be exceptionally cold at night or in the early morning, you should probably plug in your car. The precise temperature at which you should consider using your engine block warmer varies. Modern cars can typically start in temperatures as low as -30 C, but if the block heater isn’t plugged in, it may put greater stress on the engine. As a general guideline, you should turn on your engine block heater when the temperature drops to -15 degrees Celsius or lower, just to be safe. Before temps go so low, you might need to plug in the engine block warmer if you drive a diesel car.
How Long Should I Use the Engine Block Heater
There are numerous opinions on how long the engine block heater should be plugged in, same like there are numerous opinions on when to use the engine block heater. While avoiding financial waste, you also need to ensure that your car will start in the morning. The engine block heater should only be plugged in for a total of four hours, most people can agree on that much. Any farther is merely a waste of electricity. To ensure that your car will start, you should also plan on plugging it in for at least two hours. In conclusion, you can leave your engine block heater plugged in for anywhere between two and four hours, depending on how cold it is.
How can I avoid having my engine freeze over at night?
Fillman suggests that you should change your fluids for cold weather because many of them can contain water. There are formulations of windshield washer fluid for cold weather that are essential for cleaning muck and salt from the road. Make sure it is made for the climate where your vehicle is located by reading the label. Sometimes the label will say “all-season” or “winter,” but it also needs to list the lowest temperature that the specific fluid can withstand, such -40 or -45 C. Additionally, never use plain water to fill the washer fluid tank. Regular water will develop into a huge frozen block when the temperature drops low enough, which could be dangerous on the road. In the engine bay, temperature swings can also cause the water to turn into a haven for mold.
Also remember to use the antifreeze. Your engine’s antifreeze/coolant stops it from freezing up in the winter and keeps it cool in the summer. A 50/50 mixture of water and full strength coolant typically provides protection down to about -30 degrees Fahrenheit. For the correct formulation, make sure to consult your owner’s handbook or the supplier. Antifreeze is also offered in pre-mix and full strength varieties. Never run your car on plain water since it might freeze and potentially cause serious engine damage. Also, never add water to pre-mixed antifreeze or coolant. Because emission-controlled engines operate at greater temperatures even in warm weather, straight water could boil and result in an overheating issue.
Do engine block warmers merit their price?
Over 6 years have passed since this article was published. Some information might not be up to date anymore.
I’m unsure of how frequently I should plug in the block heater because our new car is being parked outside for the winter. We reside in Winnipeg, where it may go down to -30 degrees Celsius, and I only drive once or twice a week. What would ensure that the automobile starts every time? Winnipeg’s Kara
Most people dislike the cold, and your car is no exception. If it hasn’t been plugged in, a modern car should start at -30C, but it won’t enjoy it.
According to Liz Kulyk, communications manager for CAA Manitoba, “people call and say “my car starts at -20, -30, or -40,” but it’s in your car’s best interest to plug it in before you use it when it’s about -15C. Making ensuring the engine components receive enough oil and preventing wear is important for the longevity of the car.
Oil is pumped through the engine block as the engine fires up to lubricate the working parts. The oil is thick and doesn’t flow properly as the temperature drops.
Engine parts wear more quickly than they should as a result of increased friction caused by reduced oil flow. The engine coolant is warmed by a block heater, which also warms the engine block and oil.
According to Natural Resources Canada, charging your automobile before you start it can help reduce its emissions and fuel costs. According to the NRC, a block heater can increase fuel efficiency by up to 10% at -20C.
A chilly engine burns more fuel and emits more exhaust emissions throughout the winter. Because of this, it’s not a great idea to let your car idle for 10 or 15 minutes to warm it up. More gas is being consumed and pollution is being produced than if you were driving. According to NRC, it’s preferable to simply jump in and drive until the vehicle achieves the appropriate operating temperature.
The interior of your automobile is not heated by the heater. But according to Kulyk, the warmer your engine is, the better it will heat the air that is forced into the car, keeping you from freezing to death.
Kulyk claims that after being plugged in, the car will warm up in 5 to 6 minutes as opposed to 10.
NRC advises charging a car two hours before a trip. However, CAA Manitoba claims that, especially in colder weather, your automobile has to be plugged in for 34 hours.
A block heater will get an engine approximately as warm as it will ever get after four hours, according to a 1972 University of Saskatchewan research. The additional heat is then lost to the chilly outside air.
If you won’t be leaving until 7 a.m. the next morning, Kulyk advises against plugging it in when you come home from work at 5 o’clock. “In Manitoba, electricity is quite cheap, but leaving it plugged in for 14 hours just wastes energy.”
You can avoid running out to plug the car four hours before use by purchasing a block heater timer for $15 or $20.
They are available at stores like Canadian Tire and Home Depot, according to Kulyk. I just noticed one being advertised for $10.
Kulyk advises that you should be more concerned about your battery losing its charge if you only drive one or two days a week, especially if it is a few years old.
Kulyk advises installing a battery minder if you don’t drive frequently.