I need one because mine, apparently, doesn’t work. And I don’t have a garage (let alone a heated one).
If I got up at six, stuck an electric space heater under my oilpan, and let it run for an hour or so, what are the chances of having my car running again by 7:15?
Is this a dangerous idea? Will it set my brake fluid on fire?
And on a related note, how big of a pain in the ass is it to install a new block heater?
*And just to make this crystal clear: A block heater is like heat tape on household water pipes. It’s a piece of metal attached to a car’s enging block, plugged into normal AC current, which keeps a car engine at a temperature above absolute zero.
Are you sure it’s your block heater, and not just the cord? This happened to me - get a new end, splice her on there, bingo, bango - yer in business.
Regarding the space heater under the oil pan - ARE YOU FREEKIN’ CRAZY?!?!?! Ahem. Sorry - that has bad idea written all over it. A teeny, tiny little spark from that spacer heater, and yer whole car could go up, forgetting about the break fluid.
Best suggestion I can think of - Get a boost - get a buddy to come over - hook his car to yours and let his run for a few minutes - your car should turn over, and you should be able to get it to a garage to get your block fixed.
This last technique worked for me many a time when I was trapped working in a mall, with no where to plug in, and a day-time high of about -45. For you folks in warmer climes, trust me - that’s really freekin’ cold.
BTW chique - I’m not sure it’s ever been cold enough ON EARTH to get your car engine to absolute zero.
Has your master cylinder ruptured? Do you coat your engine’s surfaces with brake fluid? Are you fueling your vehicle with brake fluid?
Here in Ohio, we run most of our motor vehicles on gasoline, which can be mighty volatile stuff. I think if I were somehow talked into placing an electric space heater under my vehicle, I’d be wondering about the gas more than I would about the brake fluid… (Of course, first I’d shoot the dumbass that suggested the heater in the first place.)
Installing a new block heater is a piece of cake…when it’s in a heated garage and you have the time. You have to drain the anti-freeze whether it is a soft plug heater or a lower hose heater.
Head for the parts store and look for a magnetic oil pan heater. Just stick it on the side or bottom of the pan and run the wire to an accessable spot to plug it in.
If you often have to buck deep snow you’ll probably have to remove it or chance loosing it.
They make another type that is supposed to replace your dipstick but I never had much luck with them.
