Which engine heater for a w123 do you all think is best or sufficient? The conductant one screwed into the block or the int-line hose one for the coolant, I believe?

Is it hard to put one in the block? My car lived in SoCal and never had one.
Lowest temp here about 0F. I haven;t needed one before, but if I can make starts as easy as possible I would do a heater.

Thanks!!!!!

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

it is a pita to install. i have never done it personally but my indie has done a couple for me. one they said they had to use a 5' breaker to unscrew the freeze plug.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It'll be a ***** to install a block heater after all these years. I installed a lower radiator hose heater last winter and it worked well. Easy install.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

heater, but in your climate, as much as you would use it, the hose heater would be more than adequate and, as indicated previously, much easier to install.

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)

I had a heater on the radiator hose and it barely kept the engine at starting temp. I'd have to crank it for like five years before it would start, and even then it would stall unless I kept my foot on the go pedal.

So I had the garage in town install a block heater. Now it fires right up and idles smoother than when I start it during summer temps.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

you dont have to run the block heaters all night. if you are up a couple hours before starting you can plug it in then and it will work fine. perhaps even just one hour early, too.


it is surprising how much electricity they use.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Block heaters put the heat where it is needed, therefore, even at -30 f, plugging in two hours prior to startup is usually adequate. Once temps drop to about +20 f or lower, I plug mine in about an hour before startup; starts as though it is summer.

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)

Anyone know how much it would cost to instal a block heater? By a shop?

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Kenni
'85 300D turbo
208K miles
FOR SALE (kinda)

Depends on the shop but i'd say around $50 would be fair

50 to 100. it is pretty buried under the manifolds. hard to get at and pretty much must be done from underneath.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My lower coolant hose heater keeps the entire setup near 70C when its on for a couple hours...it works excellently. And it was very easy to install.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I would guess closer to the $100 mark PLUS the heater.

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)

What is this "block heater" thingy I've been hearing about ?

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You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

a heating element mounted on a large threaded plug (about 2.5" d.) that screws into a freeze plug hold in the center pass side of the block. with a cord that plugs into it and hangs out the front of the car like a small black tongue. when it gets really cold plug it in to make the car start like its summer.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Something you don't need to know about in either Southern California or Hawaii.