Block Heater Question

[Prolex7]

I am moving to NW North Dakota from Pennsylvania for a job and heard someone mention I should get a block heater.

Is it still necessary these days when our 5th's come with synthetic oil in them? I am from Louisiana so this block heater thing is very new to me and I heard it could get around -30 F in ND. Found one on TRDParts4u that says will fit but just wanted to get some thoughts from you guys before I purchased.

Bottom line: If anyone has experience living in those temperatures how should I prepare my vehicle?

 

[kingpin748]

If it gets that cold there I would have one. Your car will start fine without but there is definitely a difference.

 

[Intruder]

If you're going to be parked outside overnight in very low temps then a block heater isn't a bad idea. I moved to a condo with heated underground parking but park outside all day at work and haven't plugged a vehicle in since. This will be my first winter with the 4Runner but I don't expect it'll be any different.

Up here in Calgary every dealership includes a block heater with a new vehicle. If N. Dakota is the same way I'd wait until you get there to have one put in. Places up there probably won't have to special order one for you and they should be experts at installing them.

 

[Prolex7]

If you're going to be parked outside overnight in very low temps then a block heater isn't a bad idea. I moved to a condo with heated underground parking but park outside all day at work and haven't plugged a vehicle in since. This will be my first winter with the 4Runner but I don't expect it'll be any different.

Up here in Calgary every dealership includes a block heater with a new vehicle. If N. Dakota is the same way I'd wait until you get there to have one put in. Places up there probably won't have to special order one for you and they should be experts at installing them.

Good idea! Locally (Pittsburgh) I called 3 different shops yesterday (one being my Toyota dealer) and all 3 of them could not get them and have never seen/installed one.

 

[1engineer]

If you ever want your heater to put out um, heat, you will get a block heater. At -30F, your vehicle will not warm up for a long, long time. The block heater will do nothing but help. If you were going into colder climates I would recommend additional heat tape and blankets for transmission, differential and transfer case but it should not be that bad in ND.

 

[rickwol]

Hmm, I thought I came across a 3-prong plug in my engine bay. I wonder if mine came with one. I would imagine that with 0w-40 oil which must flow like water there would be no starting issues. I used to work with some people in Rochester MN and block heaters were quite common there.

 

[Titanpat57]

I had one on a truck that had 275,000 on the original engine...I believe they sure help...and its nice to put the heat on right away..:zoom:

IIRC they are never an expensive ordeal.

Good luck with the move:cowboy:

 

[1engineer]

First, there are different types of heaters used to warm up various components on your vehicle. The most common are: Soft plug heaters, dipstick heaters, tank heaters (attach to your radiator hose), engine blankets, oil pan heaters and the list goes on. Also you can get heat tape when you have really cold temps to heat all of your hoses that need heated.

With that said, engine oil temp is just one benefit. A warm engine will also let your heater work better and defrost faster, less condensation will be caused by your fuel and you will go off of the high idle cold start mode much quicker causing you to burn less fuel. If you have ever driven in really cold temps (I have at -50F) and you are trying to see through a little hole in your windshield because there is ice on the inside you will appreciate any extra you can get. Of course running full synthetic oil sort of negates the oil temp a bit but even the heat the engine radiates while a heater is plugged in will heat your battery a little and give it a few more cranking amps for that first start.

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

NW ND, ouch good luck, you will discover a new kind if cold. Sounds like you going to work in the oil fields.

Yes an engine block heater is a good idea if the vehicle is parked outside overnight. They are quite common up here, I live in Minneapolis. I found this Forum posting explaining the different type of engine heaters and several are pretty easy DIY.

Engine heaters - Two Guys Garage Forum

One more piece of advice, if you have just water in your washer bottle you will was to empty it and fill it with washer fluid that goes down to -20*F or lower.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Intruder]

One more piece of advice, if you have just water in your washer bottle you will was to empty it and fill it with washer fluid that goes down to -20*F or lower.

Good point. Another thing to keep in mind is the fuel line. Most of the gas stations in colder climates have ethanol or fuel line antifreeze already added to their gas, but if not you'll want to buy some and add it when you fill up. I once had to hitchhike back to Calgary from Lake Louise after a day of skiing because the gas in my fuel line had frozen and all the garages up there were closed. The only way to defrost it at that point is either to wait for the weather to warm up or have it towed to a heated garage.

 

[Prolex7]

NW ND, ouch good luck, you will discover a new kind if cold. Sounds like you going to work in the oil fields.

Yes an engine block heater is a good idea if the vehicle is parked outside overnight. They are quite common up here, I live in Minneapolis. I found this Forum posting explaining the different type of engine heaters and several are pretty easy DIY.

Engine heaters - Two Guys Garage Forum

One more piece of advice, if you have just water in your washer bottle you will was to empty it and fill it with washer fluid that goes down to -20*F or lower.

I think I already have some de-icing washer fluid but I will check.

Thanks for the link! Yep I am going to join the oil boom up there. BUT I will be doing title research and due diligence projects so I'll be nice and warm working inside. :keyboard:

Good point. Another thing to keep in mind is the fuel line. Most of the gas stations in colder climates have ethanol or fuel line antifreeze already added to their gas, but if not you'll want to buy some and add it when you fill up. I once had to hitchhike back to Calgary from Lake Louise after a day of skiing because the gas in my fuel line had frozen and all the garages up there were closed. The only way to defrost it at that point is either to wait for the weather to warm up or have it towed to a heated garage.

Dang that sounds horrible. I hope it doesn't get THAT cold! I'll have to ask when I get up there in a few weeks. What temperature does gasoline freeze at? Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks to all for the help and advice. Also, I'm getting my antifreeze tested this week to see what it's rated at. If I were to guess I would say 50/50 mix so I know that probably won't cut it.

 

[Y2KSR5]

I lived in Minot ND for 5 yrs. It does get that cold. I had my extention cord for my block heater snap like a twig when I was trying to roll it up. Feb of 96 the high temp didnt get over 0 degrees for the whole month. Its absurdly cold. I was stationed in Iceland and it was warm compared to Minot. You may wanna trade your TE for a LTD so you can leave it in 4HI unlocked from Oct-May. You will get real tired of shifting a lever all the time. The hiways will be clear then a 2 foot pillow drift will be across the hiway, then clear, then drift, clear, drifts, then ice, then clear, then you dont know clear/ice/water/slush/wtf...Lol! I had a Jeep Cherokee back then and it had Selec Trac 4wd with the option of leaving it in 4Hi Full Time. Was a Godsend.

 

[Prolex7]

I lived in Minot ND for 5 yrs. It does get that cold. I had my extention cord for my block heater snap like a twig when I was trying to roll it up. Feb of 96 the high temp didnt get over 0 degrees for the whole month. Its absurdly cold. I was stationed in Iceland and it was warm compared to Minot. You may wanna trade your TE for a LTD so you can leave it in 4HI unlocked from Oct-May. You will get real tired of shifting a lever all the time. The hiways will be clear then a 2 foot pillow drift will be across the hiway, then clear, then drift, clear, drifts, then ice, then clear, then you dont know clear/ice/water/slush/wtf...Lol! I had a Jeep Cherokee back then and it had Selec Trac 4wd with the option of leaving it in 4Hi Full Time. Was a Godsend.

Yeah I will be around Minot, Williston and Eastern Montana as well! I think once I get up there and assess what it will be like I may just get some better tires than the factory ones I have. Have already researched tires so we don't need to discuss that.

That's the whole reason I purchased a TE so I could have the KDSS and option of having 2wd to 4wd.

This kind of sounds exciting knowing that I have a great truck capable of getting through whatever "drifts" my way. See what I did there?? :banana:

 

[Y2KSR5]

Yeah I will be around Minot, Williston and Eastern Montana as well! I think once I get up there and assess what it will be like I may just get some better tires than the factory ones I have. Have already researched tires so we don't need to discuss that.

That's the whole reason I purchased a TE so I could have the KDSS and option of having 2wd to 4wd.

This kind of sounds exciting knowing that I have a great truck capable of getting through whatever "drifts" my way. See what I did there?? :banana:

I know the whole western side of ND like the back of my hand. I patrolled 150 Minuteman 3 silos while I was there. Kenmare, Rugby, Ryder, Maxbass, Bowbells, Stanley just some of the names I recall....Ive traveled every paved road, dirt road and fire road on the western side of that state.

 

[Lineman]

You'll be okay with out the heater if you have a heated garage. I don't have one on my Runner or Rav4. But I don't leave the vehicle outside for a weekend. Never had a problem.

In winter when it's minus 15 or colder I do run out at lunchtime and crank it up for about 10 minutes, so it doesn't sit from 7am - 5pm..

But it never hurts to get one. Seems like you run synthetic so you're good
there.

 

[Twiggly2]

My Toyota Dealership had an $85.00 block heater special. Parts and labor. -30 with no wind will seem great, but wait until its -60 wind chill and you cant see 10 feet in front of you. Anyways, when you get up this way any dealership will put one in for you for a reasonable price.

 

[Prolex7]

My Toyota Dealership had an $85.00 block heater special. Parts and labor. -30 with no wind will seem great, but wait until its -60 wind chill and you cant see 10 feet in front of you. Anyways, when you get up this way any dealership will put one in for you for a reasonable price.

Yeah I am definitely going to wait and get it done when I get up there. It seems sooo windy up there now I can't imagine what the winter will be like!

 

[Lineman]

The wind doesn't blow in Minot until the winter and yes it sucks!

 

[Slag]

Put a shovel in your truck...

 

[philsey]

I'm thinking a remote start too ...