engine block heater for piston slap

[dogbreath650]

Has anyone installed an engine block heater in their T4R? I'm hoping to get a recommendation of one that will work well in our trucks and maybe some install tips.

I'm having knocking sounds that lasts about a minute when doing a cold start but then everything smooths out and it runs strong. During the warmer months it's quiet on startup its only when we start getting the cold wintery temps that I notice it. I'm pretty sure it's piston slap as my trusted mech said there is nothing wrong with my engine and it runs strong.

From what I have read piston slap is somewhat common on these higher mileage engines and while annoying, isn't really cause for concern. Still, the noise bothers me so I'm thinking an engine block heater might keep the components at a warm enough temp so I'm not hearing the slap.

Thoughts, recommendations please...

 

[alumarine]

If you want a block heater there might be only one choice.
Part no. C0140-02134
Goes in a casting/freeze plug at the rear left hand side of the block.

 

[3bears]

If you want a block heater there might be only one choice.
Part no. C0140-02134
Goes in a casting/freeze plug at the rear left hand side of the block.

I think the original toyota one is no longer available. Mine is in the frezze plug above oil filter, thats where it is/was when I got it

 

[pluton]

A friend once spent 2 years at college in Rochester, NY. He came back to sunny southern California with stories of people putting [now] old-fashioned hot 100W light bulbs in a box under the oil pan at night and leaving it on all night. Cars started up like it was a summer day...he said. Easy to fab and try?

 

[JZiggy]

Oil pan heater. Much simpler, no risk of coolant leaks. I have one on my 3RZ because it has a touch of piston slap when it starts real cold. I had one on an old Honda Civic that had awful piston slap when cold too. Plug into a timer and give it a couple hours to warm up. It warms the oil directly which is more important than the coolant in this case.