Anyone installed a block heater? - Page 2 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

OICU812 · 05-18-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboy99

Maybe in northern parts, but certainly in Southern ontario they don't - at least neither of my subarus did.

Weird for sure. Southern BC is far warmer then southern Ontario on average heck they don't ever even see snow. Oh well all good just interesting.

Talus1 · 05-18-2014, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboy99

However should you put your BRZ through winter - hell yes.

My BRZ is on a three year lease. I got it to prevent squandering big $ on a used 911, or at least to delay for a few years till my sanity improves. I figure I'll take a few months and do some test driving before I decide whether to keep the BRZ, buy some light rims and sticky summer tires and Blizzaks for the stock rims. And maybe a few other minor mods...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboy99

Only got stuck once, but not many hills around here.

LOL, I got stuck in the snow on my absolutely flat driveway. Those old Pirellis only had about 0.14" of tread and they were hard as rock. As a bonus the steel rims were completely rusted. I felt bad the few times I drove it like that. Funny that those rims and tires didn't bother me too much last year when they were on my old WRX...

Maritime Storm · 05-19-2014, 07:49 AM

OICU812: They are only standard on Toyota/Subarus shipped to the Prairies. They're optional in all other markets. The funny part is we haven't sold one yet at our store. Mine will be one of only 5 that will be winter driven in my area.

smbrm · 05-19-2014, 09:43 AM

First cars in the west didn't have block heaters because they are dealer fitted and the part wasn't available!

D_Thissen · 11-17-2014, 03:43 PM

Sorry to bring this back from the dead. What are the chances of a block heater failing?
I had the car plugged in last night (for 8 hours) and it got down to around -15C. I plugged in a Bluetooth OBDII dongle and according to torque, the coolant was at -11C. Just seems weird that in 8 hours it was still below freezing.

jonboy99 · 11-17-2014, 09:29 PM

This thread is a blast from the past!
Not sure what the odds are of a failure, but sounds like yours isn't working. I only need to plug mine in for 3 hours or so to get pretty warm.
Check your extension cable first though - my original one wouldn't work with my block heater for some reason.
Is there plenty of slack in your cable run? The way the motor moves around with stock engine mounts could cause cable damage if it's too tight.

Tcoat · 11-17-2014, 09:33 PM

I had one in a car that would blow the circuit breaker every now and then. Only when it got really cold though, go figure!

D_Thissen · 11-17-2014, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboy99

This thread is a blast from the past!
Not sure what the odds are of a failure, but sounds like yours isn't working. I only need to plug mine in for 3 hours or so to get pretty warm.
Check your extension cable first though - my original one wouldn't work with my block heater for some reason.
Is there plenty of slack in your cable run? The way the motor moves around with stock engine mounts could cause cable damage if it's too tight.

I do what I can lol. At least I searched, right? It worked fine last winter, the extension chord has a little light by the plug so it works. Gonna swing by the stealership tomorrow. Hopefully it's a quick fix with winter around the corner

Edit: is there a fuse for the block heater ?

D_Thissen · 12-19-2014, 04:08 PM

So had the block heater replaced a few weeks ago, used it twice and it stopped working again. The dealership showed me the element, looks like it got cooked.

Anyone else having any problems? I find it hard to believe that I've had two failed block heaters lol

Herby15 · 05-08-2016, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D_Thissen

So had the block heater replaced a few weeks ago, used it twice and it stopped working again. The dealership showed me the element, looks like it got cooked.

Anyone else having any problems? I find it hard to believe that I've had two failed block heaters lol

Looks like I'll be driving my FRS this winter. Wondering if you know the price a stealership charges to have a block heater installed. Thanks

ls1ac · 05-08-2016, 11:01 PM

Just an idea---I use a dipstick heater when it gets really cold. not as good as the block heater, but heating the oil in the bottom of the engine will let the heat rise and help.

11-17-2014, 03:43 PM	#19
D_Thissen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: '13 Argento FR-S (Sold) Location: Ontario Posts: 2,126 Thanks: 3,209 Thanked 1,439 Times in 855 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Sorry to bring this back from the dead. What are the chances of a block heater failing? I had the car plugged in last night (for 8 hours) and it got down to around -15C. I plugged in a Bluetooth OBDII dongle and according to torque, the coolant was at -11C. Just seems weird that in 8 hours it was still below freezing. __________________ My FR-S Build IG: dthissen

11-17-2014, 09:33 PM	#21
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,841 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,294 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2499 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	I had one in a car that would blow the circuit breaker every now and then. Only when it got really cold though, go figure! __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

12-19-2014, 04:08 PM	#23
D_Thissen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: '13 Argento FR-S (Sold) Location: Ontario Posts: 2,126 Thanks: 3,209 Thanked 1,439 Times in 855 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	So had the block heater replaced a few weeks ago, used it twice and it stopped working again. The dealership showed me the element, looks like it got cooked. Anyone else having any problems? I find it hard to believe that I've had two failed block heaters lol __________________ My FR-S Build IG: dthissen

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05-19-2014, 09:43 AM	#18
smbrm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Drives: Scion FRS Ht Lva(AT) Location: Alberta Posts: 409 Thanks: 30 Thanked 81 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	First cars in the west didn't have block heaters because they are dealer fitted and the part wasn't available!

11-17-2014, 09:29 PM	#20
jonboy99 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: Black Panda BRZ Location: Norf London, innit Posts: 156 Thanks: 59 Thanked 36 Times in 28 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	This thread is a blast from the past! Not sure what the odds are of a failure, but sounds like yours isn't working. I only need to plug mine in for 3 hours or so to get pretty warm. Check your extension cable first though - my original one wouldn't work with my block heater for some reason. Is there plenty of slack in your cable run? The way the motor moves around with stock engine mounts could cause cable damage if it's too tight.

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