whers is my factory block heater???

 

Its in the side of the block, just behind and to the rear of the oil filter.

 

Look here:

 

I'm betting you really want to know where the plug to your block heater is. Pop the hood and look in the area behind the pass side headlight.

 

itr plugs in with a normal extension cord doesnt it???

 

Yes It Does

 

It runs about 650 watts or something like that.
If you plug it in, make sure you unplug before you drive off (and don't ask me how I know that).
I usually wrap the cord around the mirror so I see it before I drive off.

 

Be sure to use a HEAVY DUTY OUTDOOR extension cord.

 

Make sure you're using an HD ext. cord. It's 750 watts, unless someone upgraded it. It's stamped on the actual heating element if you wanna climb around the engine bay to figure it out. The element itself is mounted on the block just behind the oil filter and under the turbo. A PITA to get to, to be honest.

The cord should be dangling somewheres behing the passenger side head light. It should be zip tied to some wiring and a clip holding it to the front radiator support.

 

is there any advantage to using a blockheater/coolant pump that will circulate the coolant while it heats it up? I can get on at work for $26, but I didn't know if there was any advantage to it over my stock block heater.

 

I would think so...with a normal block heater it just heats the coolant in a small area around the heater. Circulating warm antifreeze throughout the block would be infinitely better.

 

Yes, the block heater is a 750W heater, running on 120 Volts AC, ~6.5 Amps, and has an electrical resistance of around 18 Ω (Ohms).

The cord normally pops out at the radiator support (passenger side and runs down just behind the grill.


The heater alone will circulate the coolant, via natural convection (laws of thermodynamics). A pump would definitely help circulate the coolant better than natural convection/circulation. Would like to know more about this pump. Does it run on 12 Volts DC (truck power). If so then you will have to worry about battery drain.

 

J.R. they run on 120V AC: http://www.shop.com/Kat_39_s_1500_Wa...p!.shtml?trk=1