No block heater??!?! Was the 6.5 even available without one?

[Black6.5L1TON]

Well its going to get down in the single didgets tonight and I cant park my truck in the garage like I have been doing for the past few weeks. So I got under it to find the block heater plug and its nowhere to be found. Is this possable? Was a 6.5 even offered without one? Please let me know asap. Thanks again.

Jeremy

[christja]

The plug shouldnt be under the truck, Did you look in the engine compartment directly infront of the drivers seat, My cord was all bundled up and tucked down under all the relays and fuses.

[sixnickel]

All the block heaters I have seen on 6.2s and 6.5s are in a core plug hole in front of the left engine mount. Find the heater and follow the cord up. It should be between the abs unit (or under it)and the left battery.Good luck

[Black6.5L1TON]

Thanks guys, I looked under the hood but couldnt trace any wires from the side of the block. I looked under the truck to find where the heater goes into the block but couldnt see anything for all the skid plates. Im going to go check under the hood better. Thanks again.

Jeremy

[Black6.5L1TON]

Well I found where the heater WAS. The person who owned the truck befor me must have removed it or ripped it off. The heater is there just no cord. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement cord for it? I just hope it doesnt gel up on me tonight. Ugg this sucks. I wish I would have found this befor tonight.....

Jeremy

[christja]

you could probably just rig one up out of a spare extension cord you have lying around. Make sure it is a 3 prong and try to figure out which one is the ground, positive and negative.

[Steeveo]

you could always purchase a new block heater and use the cord from that. Then you have a spare heater if it gives out.

[Black6.5L1TON]

Do you think the cord would be the same from just any old aftermarket block heater?

Jeremy

[RckyMtNDeZL]

Just splice in a new cord. My truck is actually decent starting in single digits, I use deisel Kleen fuel additive...the white bottle. Helps anti gelling in cold weather. ABout 4 tanks of treatment per bottle.

[Black6.5L1TON]

I cant splice in a new cord because there is no cord there. There is just a bare plug-in in the block heater. I called down at advance auto. They said they have replacement cords, so Im going to go down there tomarrow and see what they have. Hopefully one will work. Thanks for all your help. Ill let you know what I find out.

Jeremy

[96chevyK2500]

I got a replacement cord from the dealer for about $20 bucks, just to find out that the heater itself is bad. Has anyone replaced the block heater or used the aftermarket 1500 watt version from SSD? How much of a pain is it?

[sixnickel]

I would go with the stock core plug type. It sits in the water jacket where you want the heat ,not out side the engine. I feel it works better with less than 1/2 wattage. It should be easy to change. the worst part is coolant running down your armpit. Look at the new one see how it is held in and go from there. It works like a toggle bolt. Tie rags around your wrist it helps on the arm pits. Have fun Good luck!

[Black6.5L1TON]

Sorry I havent followed up on this post. I got a replacement cord from advance auto and it worked fine. It seemed to help alittle but Im still haveing some issues. Im gonna make a new post with my new problems. Thanks alot guys.

Jeremy

[njdevi11]

How exactly did you go about replacing the plug heater? I bought a new one just to replace it while i had the engine apart and when i loosened the screw i wiggled it around and rotated it back and forth it would turn but i couldn't pull it out. so i just cranked down the screw and left it. I just got my radiator and coolent lines hooked up now the core heater is leaking air when i pressurize the cooling system so it needs to be replaced.


Basically:
Any notes or tips to tell somebody who hasn't done it?

[sixnickel]

The OEM block heater is held in with a toggle bolt setup. As you tighten the screw it pulls a winged nut down on on 2 more wings that bend out and grab the block. To get it out loosen the screw about a 1/2"then drive thescrew back into the heater then pry out the heater. You have to bend the ears against the block back away from the block. If the new heater is the same look at it, see how the wings work.Good Luck!

[njdevi11]

I actually got it this weekend, it took a lot of wiggling back and forth and seemingly no progress but eventually after around 5 minutes of rocking it back and forth it came out. I plumed the system with a standard 6.2 lower hose cut and spliced together and rotated and my upper hose is a lower hose from an s-10 blazer spliced and rotated as well. I filled the system and the new heater didn't leak, but then my upper hose started leaking... bad hose clamp. Just gotta double check my temps and oil pressure and the CJ is ready for the road/trail.