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C block heater

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by Nic Lechner, Jul 4, 2012.

  1. Nic Lechner

    Nic Lechner Junior Member

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    My daily commute is 5.5 miles and I spend 2-3 of them with a cold engine. Looking to get a block heater and this one is listed in the PC store for the C but it does not list the C as a compatible model.

    PriusChat Shop : Toyota Prius Engine Block Heater [Prius EBH] - $59.00

    Anyone have any experience with this heater and a C?
     
  2. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    It should work, the c uses basically the same engine as the gen 2.
     
  3. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    FYI,
    Following is a copy of my post.

    Ken@Japan
     
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  4. Nic Lechner

    Nic Lechner Junior Member

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    So it will work.. Just in a different spot?
     
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  5. Ryephile

    Ryephile The Technophile

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    Bumpies. Has anyone verified for real this cylindrical block-heater works on the c?
     
  6. Nic Lechner

    Nic Lechner Junior Member

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    I installed mine last week. Purchased from the PriusChat shop. Installation takes about 20 min, you need to remove the tranny breather valve (or whatever it's called) to get the heater cylinder to line up with the cylinder hole. Then it just slides in no problem.
     
  7. Nic Lechner

    Nic Lechner Junior Member

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    Also, the heater installs in the nearly identical spot as the images posted above.
     
  8. Ryephile

    Ryephile The Technophile

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    Perfect, thank you. (y) :D
     
  9. james cook

    james cook Member

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    can I get a video guide so i don't have to pay 100 dollars for labor? please
     
  10. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    Bump for install video or pics showing what needs to taken off to reach valve.

    Thanks.
     
  11. james cook

    james cook Member

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    I ordered the block heater but haven't had time to fool around with stuff I've never touched before....lol..double bump
     
  12. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    Okay, after taking a look on the car this actually looks really easy. I am going to order the heater today. I will post some pics showing how to install when I'm done for anyone who wants them. But I think if anyone takes a look under their hood and compares it to the above pictures that should be enough.
     
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  13. james cook

    james cook Member

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    thanks bro...I'm retarded when it comes to cars....
     
  14. Revan86

    Revan86 Animal nerd and alt car guy

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    Yeah you rock.
     
  15. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    Hopefully the heater will arrive sometime before the weekend and I will do the install on Saturday. (y)
     
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  16. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    Okay. This was really easy, so I think anyone should be able to do it themselves and save the install money. It took me maybe twenty minutes.

    First let me say, I know nothing about cars, and in no way am giving authoritative information. Just an account of my experience which seemed to go well.

    First, I removed the Coolant hose that is located above the hole where the block heater goes in. This was probably not necessary, but made accessing the area alot easier. A fair amount of coolant came out, it was messy and sticky. There is likely a better way around this, but I figured this was the quickest.

    Then I removed the valve referred to in Nic's post above. You can see in the picture where the valve was (there is coolant puddling around where it was located). This was by far the only "difficult" part. I used a pair of standard size C type vise grips, if I had a smaller pair it would have been a bit easier. The size of the vise grips only allowed me to turn the valve about 1/8 of a turn at a time. I have large hands so the process was cumbersome and a bit frustrating. Not because it was hard, but because I knew with the right tool it would have been alot easier.

    Once the valve is off the heater slides right in. I also included a pic of the valve for clarity.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    One question I have for anyone else that has installed these. Where did you run the wire to? Right now I have mine run to the area just right of the hood latch. There was some empty space there so I coiled the extra wire and secured it there. What else have people done?
     
  18. BlueStreakinC3inIN

    BlueStreakinC3inIN New Member

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    So, have I missed the cost vs. benefit analysis on installing this device? Seems that actually warming the battery would be more efficient use of electric's cost. This small ICE will warm up quite quickly relatively speaking.
     
  19. strongbad

    strongbad Member

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    Gasoline is a very inefficient way to warm the engine. It's also much more expensive per BTU than electricity. Not only does a block heater save money by saving gasoline, it greatly extends engine life. Oil circulates sooner and quicker in a warmed engine. The engine wear from a single cold start is equivalent to hundreds of miles of steady-state warm engine freeway driving.
     
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  20. mjHession

    mjHession New Member

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    You said it better than I could have. ;)