[s-cars] block heaters

[Raymond H. Tomlinson]

Our I5's have a "freeze" plug that can be removed to install a block heater.  This warms the coolant, which in turn warms the oil.  I believe this plug is on the right side of the block, behind/under the exhaust manifold.  Run your leads around the back side of the block, over the tranny bellhousing, and up the LF rail. Exit through the lower grille, and zip tie to the bumper cover.  Be sure to use a little grease on the plug that sticks out, otherwise, you'll have trouble getting the plug cover off when it freezes to the plug itself.

When I lived in Vermont, I actually had a post wired outside for my car, complete with retracting extension cord, wired on a timer in the house.  If you plug the block heater in all night, it will cut the life and temp of the heating element drastically.  Hence the timer.

In the house, I set the timer to turn on around 4-4:30am, so that the car was warm by 7 before my commute to work.

Now my commute consists of a 6 minute walk to the train, followed by 20 minutes of people staring at my crotch.  That's on a good day.  Some days, they get to stare for 45 minutes.

Drat.

Ray Tomlinson