Block Heater..

[prlwhitecoupe]

Has anyone used their Block Heater yet?....Is it only for extremely low temps or is it good practice to plug it in winter anyways?

[generic808]

Call me stupid if you will, but what is a block heater? Do you mean engine block heater? I live in Hawaii so I wouldn't know anything about the cold. Only on my annual visits to Denver do I ever see snow

[SHIFT_2.5S]

I too was uncertain but was afraid to ask. According to Wikipedia: "A block heater is an electric heater that heats the engine of a car to ease starting in cold weather. They are connected to normal AC power overnight or before driving, via regular power plugs that are fed through a vehicle's grille. This allows easier starting in cold temperatures, by keeping the coolant warm."

[generic808]

Ahh that makes sense

[prlwhitecoupe]

haha yah, I'm guessing it only applies to Canadian owners...since I believe it's standard here along with the heated seats...unless some American owners have it??.....

[bembol]

We have one? LOL

It was always an Option on my previous cars. I'll check tomorrow.

[prlwhitecoupe]

hahah...omg....yah dude....

You should find the cord/plug wrapped up in the engine bay on the passenger side....and since u park outside it'll prolly be better for u to use it...esp when we had the storm! I thought you knew!....s'all good, let me know when u use it!

[gotak]

I used mine on the Sentra. Works well but you should get a timer for it and set it to on for the 2 hours before you leave the house. The manual say use it when it's below -7 but you can always use it whenever it's below zero I think. It really helps the car warm up fast. Only issue for me is they didn't include somewhere to store the cord inside the engine bay.

[stereoca]

You only need to plug in the block heater when the temperature drops below -20 degrees Celsius or so. With modern engines these days, getting the engine to start in the cold is not really an issue anymore. It doesn't hurt to plug it in but you'll just be wasting power and won't benefit starting. The block heater also helps to prevent the coolant from freezing, but in Canada, our coolant has anti-freeze good to -35 or -40 Celsius.

[leif927]

So glad I have never heard of these... Makes me very thankful that our biggest worry here is whether the ground is gonna shake. Don't think I could handle those below zero temps that you Canucks know all aboot, eh.

[prlwhitecoupe]

That would be more of an Alberta accent...but good try.

[prlwhitecoupe]

Btw "Rancho Cucamonga" sounds like some weird Pornstar name...hahaha

[generic808]

Btw "Rancho Cucamonga" sounds like some weird Pornstar name...hahaha

You got to hear some Hawaiian words. Likelike (not pronounced like-like), Kalanianaole, and the best one of them all, our state fish, Humuhumunukuapua'a.

I kid you not

[ohjay]

That would be more of an Alberta accent...but good try.

I'd say that's an eastern thing... i have never heard about pronounced aboot west of Winnipeg. I have heard it areas like Markham though.. made me laugh

and ya the block heater comes in handy, not quite as handy as a garage though. And you NEVER want to plug your car in while its in the garage.. always hear about someones garage that burnt down and the fire started @ the power plug for the garage.. seems to happen at least once a year.. i'm sure it has more to do with lazy wiring in the garage than anything to do with the block heater though.

[prlwhitecoupe]

ic, cool, thanks man.

[leif927]

Btw "Rancho Cucamonga" sounds like some weird Pornstar name...hahaha

It is... City is named after me! ^_^