I changed the oil and filter yesterday and while I was at it thought I might as well do some cold weather mods.
I will give everybody that is thinking of installing a block heater a tip. Get the actual Toyota block heater. Do not try to save a couple bucks and get the Kats block heater. They are both cartridge style block heaters so, why not, you ask? Two reasons, #1 the Kats heater is rough cast and will not fit into the machined hole in the engine block without sanding down all the rough edges and even then it may not fit. #2, Kats does not supply you with the required G-624 silicone grease that you are supposed to coat the heater element with before installing. The problem with that is, in my one-horse town, that grease is unobtainable. Sure, I did find it on amazon but it is high-dollar stuff.
So, save yourself a headache and get the Toyota block heater for our trucks.
Here are some pics I took while attempting to install the block heater.
The package says "frost plug" well it's not. It is indeed a cartridge style heater.
See that hole above the two bell-housing bolts? That is where the OEM style block heater goes. It will help greatly if you are a double jointed, skinny, contortionist with long arms. Even then, there is a bracket that goes from the exhaust flange to the bell-housing that you will have to remove.
Here's a better shot of it.
Unfortunately, that is as far as I got with that. After a bunch of unsuccessful tries with some dielectric grease I had in my tool box, I realized even Kats recommends the G-624 grease. I also realized how rough the Kats block heater casting is compared to the Toyota block heater. To be continued.........................