Want to install an Engine Block Heater yourself? This guide may help.

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by rpg51

One question, I know there is a thread somewhere here - its referred to as the "original thread" - but I cannot seem to find it. All the links to it that I have found just bring me to an opening page, not to the linked thread. Not sure why. Could some one point me to it again?

Yeah, some of the recent forum upgrades broke some of the old links. This is probably the one he referred to.

The block heater will almost certainly help your short commute.

[rpg51]

Well, it went in like a charm. Read the instructions here very carefully, practice getting your hand up in to the location and doing dry fits. Get the chord hanging down in the correct spot and be sure you know how to orient the plug before you permanently install the element by pushing and clicking it into place. It helps to feel for the little ramped lump that the clip rides up and then clicks into. Really push your arm way up in there - you can get your arm up farther than you think. Big forearms are not helpful - I can attest to that. I used a headlamp to visualize the area and the cord. But when you are actually installing it you have to go completely by feel.

[Palmetto]

Installed mine yesterday. Could not have done it without the pictures and fine instructions on this thread. Thank you to all who contributed.

For me, the toughest part was connecting the power line to the heating element. That took about 10 minutes of fumbling around.

Otherwise, I followed the directions on this site and I have nothing of significance to add. Just follow the pictures and text.

I will also mention, I had VentureShield installed a couple days ago to protect the paint on the hood, fenders and mirror....I am disappointed. The product runs about one-third of the way up on the hood and, to my eye, there is a visible line running across the hood that is quite distracting. The same thing appears on the side fenders, but it is not as offensive. If I can't learn to live with this, I will pull the product off of the car and eat the $250.

In this case I kinda wish there was nothing Ventured!

[ZC1]

As you said, give it a chance Palmetto and don't stare at it. It's protecting your car and guess what?
Nobody else is going to notice your improved protection.

If you didn't get Ventureshield, you might have bought a bra which doesn't go up any further and has a much more noticeable line.

Your friend,

ZC1

[Aaron]

Does the engine block heater warm the coolant, the oil, or both?

[FireEngineer]

Coolant.

Wayne

[ph43drus]

Originally Posted by Aaron

Does the engine block heater warm the coolant, the oil, or both?

I'm pretty sure it does exactly what it says it does - it heats the metal of the engine block. The heater fits into a little cylindrical closed-bottom hole in the block. The heater doesn't make direct contact with either coolant or oil, just block metal.

When you start the car, both the coolant and oil will pick up some of this heat as they circulate over the warmed metal, but the heater only directly heats the block itself.

Back when I lived up north I remember people buying heaters that replaced your dipstick and heated the oil. The Prius EBH is different.

[WWJD08]

Originally Posted by Green Hokie

This is a guide to help you install the EBH from the bottom of the vehicle. Nothing to remove, except the plastic engine cover (which is extremely easy). Here goes.

1. Place front of vehicle on jack stands or drive it onto some ramps.


2. Remove front engine cover. See photo below. Or, refer to page 424 of the owner's manual. You do not have to remove the engine cover until final routing of the EBH power cord. However, the cover is so simple to remove, you may as well get it out of the way.

Attachment 4503



3. Drop/feed the male end of EBH cord down into the engine compartment directly behind the Inverter Coolant Reservoir. See photo below. This should bring that end of the power cord close to where the EBH hole will be on the engine block. HINT: before dropping the cord down into the engine compartment, you should pre-fit the connection between the power cord and the heating rod by plugging & unplugging the two a few times. This will give you a feel for how the two ends will fit together and perhaps make it easier when you have to connect the two by feel in the later step below. Also, make a mental note of the orientation/position of the pins on the heating rod relative to where the metal clip is. You will need to remember this orientation later to make it easier to plug the two together by feel.

Attachment 4504



4. Slide underneath the engine compartment w/ feet facing front of vehicle. The photos below are taken from this position and will show the location of the EBH slot on the engine block. These four photos are basically of the same area but with each zooming in closer & closer. You will not be able to see the opening of the hole and have to feel for it with your fingers. The hole will be on the left side.

Attachment 4505
Attachment 4506
Attachment 4507
Attachment 4508



5. Reach into the area shown in the above photo and feel for the hole. For me, it was easier to use my right hand. Should be pretty easy to locate it with your fingers. To get a feel for how the heating rod will fit into that hole, you should take a practice run (or two) at trying to insert it. Note, the metal clip on the heating rod needs to face the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, you will not be able to fully insert the rod and not hear the snap from the metal clip as tries to lock itself into place. Once you are comfortable with finding & inserting the rod by feel, you are ready for the next step.



6. Take the grease that was supplied with this EBH kit, place a small dab on the tip of your finger and rub it into the opening of the hole on the engine block. Then, coat the heating rod with the remaining grease. Do not grease beyond the metal clip and avoid getting it on the plug end of the heating rod. Carefully insert the heating rod into the hole on the engine block. Remember, the metal clip on the rod should be facing the rear of the vehicle to allow complete insertion. You should hear the snap of the metal clip as it locks into place.



7. Feel for the end of the power cord that was dropped down in step 3. Remembering how the power cord fit into the heating rod from step 3, carefully plug the two together by feel. You are now done with the most difficult part of the installation!



8. Now, time of get out from underneath the vehicle and finish the installation. Route the power cord along the end & side of the engine compartment and then behind the front grille. Before securing the power cord with the supplied cable ties, test the heater to make sure it works properly by plugging it into a power outlet. In less than a minute, the part of the engine block where the heater was inserted should become too hot to touch. If the heater works, then disconnect the power and begin securing the EBH cord along the engine compartment. The photos below should be fairly self explanatory on where you should route the cord. If your EBH power cord does not have a protective wire loom running the entire length, I suggest doing so and wrapping the loom every 5-6 inches with electrical tape.
Attachment 4509
Attachment 4510
Attachment 4511
Attachment 4653



9. Carefully lower the front of the vehicle back on the ground and you are done! I hope this guide was useful and will encourage you to perform your own EBH installation. Good luck & happy hypermiling!!

FYI #4 step is very important! The pictures show where to look and what you see is the bulge where the heater fits into but the hole for the heater is facing drivers side of where that bulge in the casting is.

[unigeezer]

There's already a heater in the prius, so what's the reason for installing this?

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by unigeezer

There's already a heater in the prius, so what's the reason for installing this?

By getting up the engine block up to normal operating temperature more quickly, fuel economy is improved in the first 5-10 minutes of driving. And in the winter, cabin heat is warmer sooner.

Here is possibly the most complete discussion of the block heater on PriusChat. The topic and the first post suggest it focuses on installation (which actually is described better here, IMHO, largely because of the pics), but it evolved well beyond that. It will take some time to get through it all, but it should provide a good understanding of the subject.