Any Honda owners with an Engine Block Heaters? - Gas Savers

budomove · 12-03-2006, 09:28 PM

If there is anybody out there with a honda, who put in an EBH, lemme know. I don't know which kind to get or where the best place on the head is to stick it. I really want one I can just plop on the outside of the head without drilling or anything. I am lazy.

I have a 91 civic hatch that I have recently modded for the winter (i.e. wai, grill block, 195f thermostat, m1 0w20) and want that last important mod besides a belly panto really make up for the cold, an engine block heater.

budomove · 12-03-2006, 09:29 PM

An engine block heater(S)?

Ryland · 12-03-2006, 10:18 PM

most engine heaters are oil pan heaters, aren't they? either that or a coolent heater, I would think that warm oil would do the most good as it would flow, and warm up the rest of the engine fastest (a gallon of hot oil should be able to hold alot of heat, right?) so it seems like a vaugly universal type heater should work fine, or you can alwas ask the honda dealer what they install.

budomove · 12-03-2006, 10:57 PM

Yeah, I'm gonna ask the dealer tomorrow, and let ya'll know what they say.

DaX · 12-04-2006, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budomove

Yeah, I'm gonna ask the dealer tomorrow, and let ya'll know what they say.

Keep me posted...I may want to do this too.

zpiloto · 12-04-2006, 06:29 AM

Metro has a great article on his sitehttp://www.metrompg.com/posts/block-heater.htm
everything you wanted to know.

budomove · 12-04-2006, 09:17 AM

just asked honda parts, and they say there is an external bolt on that they use on their new cars. The one that I would need on a 91 has been discontinued. He said the new cars have a bolt on the head that is removed and replaced with the external EBH. He did not know whether my 91 would have this bolt hole or where on the block it might be, as he didn't even know where on the block they currently have the bolt. I will look on my block and see if I can find a bolt somewhere.

MetroMPG · 12-04-2006, 09:28 AM

If you have the choice, the frost-plug type is the best commonly available heater, and a good price/effectiveness combo. I'd go that route if you can.

budomove · 12-04-2006, 10:05 AM

Metro, I'd love to go that route, but my skills are limited, and don't you have to remove the head and put the heater inside the block? just found this magnetic, but you said these are pretty inefficient, huh? Are they any less eficient than the external bolt on, you think?

magnetic:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...c-10101#review

edit: Your oem 300w external is a lot sweeter than the oem honda 15w. went on a hch site where these guys are talking about plugging in for 8 hours. no thanks! and they all paid $135 for that. 60 for part, and another 75 for the dealer to screw the thing in, and run a couple zip ties.

just realized the magnetic prolly won't work on hondas, cuz don't we have aluminum blocks? hahaha

MetroMPG · 12-04-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budomove

Metro, I'd love to go that route, but my skills are limited, and don't you have to remove the head and put the heater inside the block?

Nope. You drain the coolant, remove a frost plug from the outside of the head or block, install the heater in place of the plug, refill coolant.

If you can't do that, be our guinea pig and install a recirculating heater hose unit. Brock, I believe, has a 1000 watt unit on his VW.

budomove · 12-04-2006, 10:32 AM

Metro, that sounds like no problem. I just changed out the thermostat, and this doesn't sound any harder from how you describe it. Now i need to find out where mine is, and what model/size heater plug i will need. thanks!

Silveredwings · 12-04-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

If you have the choice, the frost-plug type is the best commonly available heater, and a good price/effectiveness combo. I'd go that route if you can.

I've read your great page you devote to this subject on your site. I realize that the frost plug type is the most common, but why do you say it is the best? Just curious.

MetroMPG · 12-04-2006, 11:00 AM

Combination of things: efficiency/effectiveness (heating the coolant&engine directly, vs. wasting heat to surrounding air as with bolt-on/magnetic types or inline hose heaters); price (cheap); simplicity (proven OEM style).

Though I'd change my tune if I knew more about the high-wattage (1000+ ?) type Brock uses in his TDI (recirculating inline in the heater-hose). I had read a couple of accounts of them failing though. Also, I don't have enough room under my hood for one of those.

philmcneal · 12-04-2006, 12:23 PM

i have a 7th generation honda civic engine block heater, anyone wants its for dibs for cheap.

DaX · 12-04-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budomove

Metro, that sounds like no problem. I just changed out the thermostat, and this doesn't sound any harder from how you describe it. Now i need to find out where mine is, and what model/size heater plug i will need. thanks!

The frost plug is going to be a 17 or 19 mm hex head plug on the front of the block, right behind the exhaust manifold. I guess I'll go read metro's site before I ask a stupid question that's already been answered.

budomove · 12-04-2006, 01:21 PM

DAX, that hex bolt just unscrews and the frost plug comes out with it? It isn't a press fit plug that you need to pry out?