Engine Block Heater

[wardoghandler]

Hi to all,
Dale and Debbie from Fairbanks,Alaska. We are all in at 12,844. My only concern is getting a block heater installed which is a must in Fairbanks, in winter. I have notified the company several times about my concerns, so far no feed back. I wonder how easy it will be to access a freeze plug when the engine is installed not to mention dumping all the glycol. Hopefully I can get the factory to put the block heater in while the engine is out of the car! Call me paranoid or maybe in possession of the facts! Later D&D

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Hi to all,
Dale and Debbie from Fairbanks,Alaska. We are all in at 12,844. My only concern is getting a block heater installed which is a must in Fairbanks, in winter. I have notified the company several times about my concerns, so far no feed back. I wonder how easy it will be to access a freeze plug when the engine is installed not to mention dumping all the glycol. Hopefully I can get the factory to put the block heater in while the engine is out of the car! Call me paranoid or maybe in possession of the facts! Later D&D

I recall a dipstick heater, don't know if their still around
Welcome, you've found a great forum for all things Elio.
Just for a giggle, is there a Pep Boys nearby?

 

[BiloxiGeek]

When I was stationed at Elmendorf a couple guys had heaters that went inline on the lower radiator hose. You'd cut it just outside the block and install the heater contraption like a Tee joint. All depends on the clearance to the fan or other parts. That heater always seemed like a better solution than a freeze plug block heater cause you'd get good convection to the block and the radiator.

 

[W. WIllie]

So it gets below -34F in Fairbanks.
(I know I know, Google it!)

 

[BiloxiGeek]

Here's one...
Kat's (16600) 1.5" Lower Radiator Heater Hose https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F8KTD1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_edW.wb4YCTEZ6

 

[Jambe]

Many moons ago I asked about block heaters and was told they would be available. That may not still be the case. I haven't noticed ANY freeze plugs on the new engine.

 

[Marshall]

If they haven't designed an engine heater into the new engine, do you think a plain old electric blanket would work? I'm old school and making things do with little $ is always an option.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Fairbanks can get down to -40f to -50f. Drive around the city and there are places to plug in your block heater at many places including Walmart and certain restaurants and of course the airport.

There are dipstick heaters but those are of limited value in the deep cold. An oil pan heater is installed on the outside of the oil pan and can add more wattage. I've seen complicated installations including coolant heaters and electric pumps, but that was on a truck, not sure of the tech is transferable.

 

[Muzhik]

I think you're going to have to wait until the at least the pre-production units are completed and certified. Then you can get the specifications for a head bolt heater (since the heating elements have to be engineered to fit in a specific sized bolt hole). Once you have that information, you might be able to find an equivalent product already on the market. (For those not familiar with that particular term, it's a heated bolt that gets bolted into either the engine block or into the radiator.)

I'm assuming you have a garage. Even so, you may need to combine this with a blanket to keep the heat in the engine.

 

[Frim]

I recall a dipstick heater, don't know if their still around
Welcome, you've found a great forum for all things Elio.
Just for a giggle, is there a Pep Boys nearby?

Will you put a ski under the rear end?