block heater, keeps the coolant nice and warm to keep the block warm, so when it's 30 below, the car will start
Except those things ain't frost plugs - common mistake. They are casting plugs and just happen to help the dummy in a cold climate avoid cracking his engine block if he's too late adding anitfreeze. I once made a hell of a buy on a 41 Buick Super convertible that belonged to a university student who was a "foreigner" from Tennessee. One night the temp suddenly dropped to 30 below and the cooling water failed to stay liquid to his considerable surprise. Head, block and radiator a dead loss.
I was in Anchorage Alaska in the 60 and all of the parking places in town had an electrical outlet to plug in while parked.
You quoted me, but I never mentioned frost. I said freeze plugs and that's what we called them. As they hopefully get pushed out as things begin to freeze up and give more room for the water expansion and avoiding some of the problems you mentioned..
Those were a factory option... I had one in a '69 Camaro I once owned. I still have the cord that it came with... It did work great during them cold ass mornings.... I think you can still buy those from GM...
flux capacitor...lol.block warmer plug it in at night when cold after use so block wouldnt freeze over night
Up here in Wisconsin we just park next to a current bush and plug it in. Actually my new Ranger pickup came with one - it's not even an option. All trucks sold up here get them.
It's an early hybrid engine from back in the green days of the Carter administration. It didn't catch on too well because of the distance limitations of the extension cords.
Wow block heater...that'll come in handy when it gets down to 33-34 degrees this winter for a few days. The history of the car is even stranger. I bought it from a guy who drove it up from the Rio Grande Valley and kinda thought it might be a heater but I've never seen one. How do I take it off? Is it a freeze plug that has to be pryed out? Maybe it's better left alone huh? Suddenly I have flash backs of scenes from the movie "Alien"...you know the guy with the thing on his face that looks like some kinda crab or spider. Wow where is Sigorney Weaver when you need her?
If it doesnt leak then youre probably fine leaving it, if you are doing engine work then id take it out. That center bolt will loosen and then you should be able to just pop it out with a screwdriver or prybar. The ones ive dealt with have a rubber o-ring around them as a seal (rather than a press fit like a normal frost plug), and they are only tightened to like 20-30 inch pounds so it should come out pretty easily.
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