I had my block heater installed on NYE, and two days later it blew the seal. I had coolant pissing all over my block, turbo, manifold, and the whole engine bay. I took it back to the local Mitsu dealer (where I had it installed) and they warrantied it and put a new one in there.

So here it is nearly 2 months later and my block heater blows the o-ring again. WTF?

Anyone else had the same problem?

 

any of ya ?

 

Does anyone else have a block heater? I'm definitely interested. I was thinking of adapting something like this:

http://www.frostheater.com/

 

Bump for an anwer.

 

What o-ring?

 

theres a seal between the block heater and the block, right?

 

I don't have a block heater and was curious. The only o-ring in the cooling system I know about is on the back side of the water pump. Where does this unit mount?

If an o-ring or a seal keeps going bad I have to wonder if maybe the thermostatic control on the device isn't working and the thing is overheating, especially since it sprayed coolant all over in the engine compartment. The system was pressurized like when the engine was running. A heater only needs to keep things a little warm.

 

The unit mounts in the freeze plug on the front part of the block. it's on the passenger side below the manifold.

 

How is it working for you? Did you get it figured out? I just bought one of the last two in the US. MM discontinued them. Maybe this is why. Hope not cause I'm putting it in. It doesn't have a very good system to hold it in. I was hoping it was threaded.

 

I had the original replaced right after I made this thread.

a month later, it happened again so my dealership took it out and put my freeze plug back in. I was sick of dealing with the PITA of coolant spraying all over my engine bay.

 

When they knocked the freeze plug out, they may have scarred the hole and left a bur that damaged the o-ring seal on the block heater. They also may have not lubricated the seal upon installation, which can damage it.

 

Thanks for the update. I'll keep an eye on how hot it will get the coolant. The block heater in my truck will only get the coolant to 135 no matter how long I leave it plugged in.
Was it blowing out when you were driving or parked heating?
Thanks for the reply.

 

another alternative is one that goes in the radiator pipe. Ive always had issues with block heaters in my old Jeep.

 

I've installed ones on diesels that are electric and are magnetic so there are no seals at all. It just sticks to the block and you plug it into a 110 outlet. Whats the point of a block heater if you have to turn the car on to get it to work... seems kinda pointless...

 

Never heard of one that you had to start the engine.