How long should I leave my block heater plugged in? There is no mention of it in the owners manual and I don’t have a timer (yet)

 

With the cold temps these days, I was actually thinking of plugging mine in for the first time. I would think a half hour to an hour would be good but Im just guessing.

 

Good question.

I think 2 hours before you start the Z will be fine.

I actually tried the engine block heater for the first time yesterday night because of the cold weather. But since I park my Z in the garage, I didn't feel that much of a difference.

Also, when I had the block heater plugged in, I really don't know if it was working at the time since there's no indicator.

 

I had an engine block heater in my last car and the manual said that you could leave it plugged in over night. I would usually plug it in when I parked the car for the night and then unplug it right before I left for work in the morning. All the engine block heater does it keep the oil and block warm (if I remember correctly). I think that only plugging it in for 30 minutes or so won't be long enough to actually warm everything up, especially if it gets really cold overnight where you are.

 

When I lived in MT I would plug it in when I got home and leave it overnight as did most others did when it was cold out. This was on a 88 toyota 4x4, I don't think the block heater design has changed since then...

 

engine block heater? Is that a factory option?

 

maybe its standard just here in Canada, but im sure NJ gets just as cold, so you may have one too.

I definitely notice a difference starting the car after a night of plugging it in versus not plugging it in. It starts up like it was summer, otherwise it hesitates a bit and the engine takes a long while to warm up.

I can tell its working because u hear a little buzzing noise after its plugged in, probably the heater working.

 

I lived in Greenland, and drove a pick-up. When I parked the truck for the night, I plugged it in. Don’t worry about overheating.

The truck also had an auxiliary heater on the passenger floor. When you got in the truck in the morning, it was nice and toasty inside. If I ran a errand, and parked the truck for an hour, I just left the motor running.

BTW the current temperature at Thule AB, Greenland is 3 degrees.

 

thats about what it is here in Toronto 5F (-15C) but with the windchill -22F (-30C)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Most have a thermostat ---so, over night ----But, take a ride down to the nearest Trading Post with a couple Beaver Furs and get a timer, Make sure it is rated for a Hi Amperage, then set it 2 hours before u are ready to leave.

Fact is, They do suck up some electricity and it WILL show up on ur bill

 

if you have it, where would it be located?

 

let's put it this way, unless you got a extension cord coming out of the front of your car and the plug looks like it goes into a light socket, chances are you do not have a block heater. those are only set as a option for areas that have winter temp that average below zero as a daytime high.

 

oh thanks for the info Z04. I was wondering what it looked like but nvm then.

 

Engine block heater?