What's it cost to have a blockheater installed?
 

Does anyone know an approximate price to have a block heater put in. It snowed last night and I have B75 in the tank and no block heater. She was a pretty hard to start this morning. I have the heater I just don't think I am going to be able to install it.

I would find a good independent mechanic-I would think under 2 hours, probably $150-200 + antifreeze, the only problem would be getting the plug out of the hole, sometimes they can seize up-make sure you don't already have it in there(I was lucky, mine was in but had never had a cord installed!). Not a job for the mechanically inexperienced, IMHO.

BioDiesel,

What type of engine heater are U talking about installing?

P E H

should
 

be done for 1 hr.

tom w

I was figuring 1 hr to go get the 2000 lb impact from Snap-On!:rolleyes:

The one that replaces the freeze plug.

I have that that type and don't neccessarily want to by the lower radiator hose type. Although I could install the hose type myself. Just weighing my options

this past jan. we took red to an indy diesel shop. 6 hrs and 300 bucks later she was back in our hands. before we bought her old navy had taken her to the dodge dealer he used to work at and they couldn't get the feeeze plug out. most of the cost is wrestling with the plug. once out the rest is oyster dressing and gravy.

Dang, I was reading through this and it is from back in 05.

here is a thrad showing some of the difficulty to remove the plug.

www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=240529

Charlie

Wow! this is an old thread of mine. I was surprise to see someone dug it out and bumped it!:D

Just for those interested I ended up having the block heater installed by an shop. I want to say it cost about $60, I supplied the block heater though. It's been a few years back so I'll have to look it up.

FYI
 

Local customer had a block heated installed last month by MB dealer $650.00.

:eek: And this is why we call them stealerships... :mad:

Lower radiator hose heaters work and take less than an hour to install. They aren't quite as effective as the OE block heater but ease of installation and replacement trumps the block heater's slight advantage in my view.

Wow this is an old thread, 2005. This is probably one of my first posts.

$650!!:eek::eek::eek: I think when I had a shop do it back then, it ran me less than $150, but I had them check a couple other things while in there. I'll see if I can dig up the receipt.

Kerry is spot on. I had a real block heater in my wagon, and a lower radiator hose heater on my 240. The lower radiator hoses heater are easier to install, but don't heat the block as well.

I don't see how the block heater is going to help with using biodiesel in cold weather, it won't heat the fuel lines or tank. You just have to blend petrodiesel or kerosene

This thread tripped me up again, got to post #3 and realised it isn`t a new one.:o
I have a freeze plug block heater, think it is 400W. heats the engine ok when I need it. Valve cover is slightly warm.

They will not heat the oil in the pan.

I had a shop install the first one. the second one was installed by Metric Motors, price was slightly Higher.

Charlie

It helps some. A cold engine compound with thick biodiesel causes really hard starts. A warm engine with thick biodiesel will start easier than a cold engine with thick biodiesel. But if the biodiesel is too thick you're going to be out of luck no matter what until you heat the fuel system. The filter and the fuel lines are the weak link for gelling BD. The tank usually isn't the problem unless it gets really cold for a sustain time. The block heater does nothing to alliviate the thick biodiesel issue.

Charlie, it tripped me up too. I posted almost the exact same thing twice now. I guess I should dig up that reciept.:D