Best Engine Block Heater??

[kilomanjaro]

I am moving up north to Alaska this summer, I want to install an engine block heater on my 72 blazer(350 cid) Anyone have any advice on what kind to look for/ what works best? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have never used one on a gas engine down here in kansas. thanks
john

[gonebad2]

The type I have seen install in a freeze plug hole. A freeze plug is removed and this is put in it's place. It consists of a heating element that is about three inches long and is bent into the shape of a long thin loop. There is a receptacle on it. It was two copper pins that one end of the electrical cord plug into and a standard male plug on the other end. We have them installed on all of our fleet vehicals at work and they seem to work just fine. It can get pretty cold here in Northern Nevada but nowhere near as cold as Alaska. People up there may use some other style. I have also seen a type that slides into the dipstick holder in place of the dipstick. I have heard from people that they are not as effective as the other one I described to you. It would probably pay off to do a Google search on engine block heaters to see what else is available. I don't know how effective they would be in an extreme condition like Alaska. My Wife grew up in Northern Minnesota and has told me stories that the parking lots were lined with electrical outlets so people could plug the car in while they would shop. She said it was not only for the convenience of coming out to a warm car but rather a necessity if you wanted the car to start. When it gets very cold, oil turns very very thick. Good luck in Alaska...

[gonebad2]

That's very ironic.....I looked at your location...Manhattan Kansas..My wife lived there for about a year before she moved out west...Small world.