General Engine Block heaters for Alaska, Norway, Sweden, etc

[Pete Brown]

Hi,

Has anyone installed a suitable frost plug engine block heater for the B58 engine? I am concerned about reducing cold start engine wear. If you found one, what model did you use, what wattage is appropriate, how easy was it to install, etc.

Something like this is what I had in mind:

 

[303ChickenMan]

Hi,

Has anyone installed a suitable frost plug engine block heater for the B58 engine? I am concerned about reducing cold start engine wear. If you found one, what model did you use, what wattage is appropriate, how easy was it to install, etc.

Something like this is what I had in mind:View attachment 7874538

I’m curious. Did you ever install the block heater?

 

[Pete Brown]

I did not. I live in Anchorage where our winters are mild enough that it’s normally not really necessary. We are on the water (Cook Inlet). If I lived 50 miles north, I would give it strong consideration. There is an owner in Fairbanks who went whole hog with a block heater, battery blanket, and other equipment. I may be able to drag up the details if you’re interested.

 

[Pete Brown]

I’m curious. Did you ever install the block heater?

I found this older post:

https://www.theineosforum.com/dbtech-social/discussions/engine-oil-heating-pad.247/reply?quote=2188

 

[303ChickenMan]

I did not. I live in Anchorage where our winters are mild enough that it’s normally not really necessary. We are on the water (Cook Inlet). If I lived 50 miles north, I would give it strong consideration. There is an owner in Fairbanks who went whole hog with a block heater, battery blanket, and other equipment. I may be able to drag up the details if you’re interested.

Thanks for the response! No need for you to go through that work. I appreciate it, though! I love your part of the world.

 

[Pinochip]

I reached out to DEFA about a block heater, or coolant heater. I currently have their cabin heater I'll be installing. This is their response:
The biggest issue is they need to be installed in a heater hose, so the inside diameter of the hose is crucial. The plumbing also must allow for coolant circulation when the engine is off. Some vehicles have electronic coolant valves that may close when the vehicle isn’t operating.



We have complete engine heater kits that work with 16mm and 18mm inside diameter hoses, and we have a couple of heaters that would fit other sized hoses available, but I don’t have a complete list offhand. This type of installation sometimes requires sourcing hardware such as clamps and hose connectors, as well as making brackets to support the components.

I recognise that this is now a little far out of my reach, and I don't have the know how to do something like this... But it's something for someone that does lol.