I was driving in my truck today and my heater started to blow cold air. My temp was fine, when I got home about 5 min later I noticed white smoke.....I looked under the hood and antifreeze was leaking from the Block heater. (Is this a freeze plug?) I took off the connector and noticed on the bottom of the heater (on the block) that there was this hole, it looked like it has threads in it. I am sure that is were the antifreeze was coming out of. Do I need a new Block heater? If so does this one just pop out from the block? If not how do you take it out. Does anyone know if I can get this at Napa or is it a Dealer Item?

Its late and I hope someone can give me some advice...Thanks In advance

 

The Dodge dealer may have it but it will be much cheaper at a Cummins parts place. The heater screws into the block. It is not a freeze plug. Try to tighten it before you replace it.

 

Here are instructions for removing/changing the heater element.

Block Heater Replacement Instructions

 

will check cummins first thing Thanks

 

Mine looks nothing like that artical. I think there is a set screw that is missing. Not sure and I cant find it in my repair manual. Kind of a Crappy picture. Hope it helps.

 

maybe this easier to see

 

That set of instructions were from that owner's '99 24 valve Cummins.
They might look a little different.

 

Thanks for all your help. What happened is the Allen head broke off and that is were the antifreeze was coming out off. I got the part at Kenworth for $45.00 I took about an hour to do from start to finish. I lost all the antifreeze in my Radiator, so I flushed the system.

3500030 is the Cummins part number that fit my 95 5.9 Cummins.

 

As you found out the heater doesn't thread in on a 12 valve, the allan head expands it in the hole.