Have a 1991 jeep cherokee. I was wondering if anyone has added a engine heater to their vehicle? It's supposed to be -20 F next week. I'm pretty sure my jeep will start. But I wanted to know if it's worth it and if an engine heater has any/ causes issues? Apparently they're only 50$.

 

The oem is a freeze plug replacement.They work okay, but I prefer an oil pan heater. The worst it can do is up your electric bill. The least it will do is make it a lot easier to start when its cold. Especially on the wrong side of zero.

 

What style? The freeze-plug block heaters are probably the best, but the oil pan heating pads one arent bad either. The block heater is way more practical though, one of my ex GF's had one installed in her explorer and it would blow hot air like 5 secs after it was started. So awesome when it is below zero out - and I hate having 3 layers of crap on when I am trying to drive.

I think both styles are beneficial at least because it helps bring the motor up to operating temp fast which reduces fuel consumption, fuel loading the oil, etc. Toyota Prius does the same thing with an insulated cooling system to keep it hot for at least a few hours.

 

From a little research on installation. Freeze plugs require the intake manifold to be taken off. Seems a little labor intensive in winter. I might just wait til summer.

The engine block may be magnetic depending on what you get, what I've noticed in my 5 minutes of research. This is probably what I'll go with for now. Maybe give my parents the magnetic one when I get freeze plugs. They'd love that.

 

There was a thread on this just in the last few weeks.

Someone installed a unit that goes in the radiator hose, and is very happy with it.


At 20 below, you probably also need an oil pan heater.

Here's the thread: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/low...estion-184210/

 

Normally the coldest it gets for extended periods of time is about 5-10 F. This is just a fluke weather system in Wisconsin. Maybe 3 days like this a year. I don't plan on going anywhere.