Hybrid Engine Heater

[OB1e]

Part number JX6Z6A051D
Best I can find is about $84 before shipping. Anyone install it themselves? Trying to find where to screw it in but empty handed.
Ford wants like $120 for the power harness alone. Anyone who can wire an outlet knows it's like $20 at the depot.

Sponsored

 

[icegradner]

If it's like anything else in modern wire harnesses there is likely a computer module that tells it when to turn on and off. That's why they want $120.

 

[GPSMan]

Part number JX6Z6A051D
Best I can find is about $84 before shipping. Anyone install it themselves? Trying to find where to screw it in but empty handed.
Ford wants like $120 for the power harness alone. Anyone who can wire an outlet knows it's like $20 at the depot.

Dude. I just researched the hell out of this. You can't add it yourself. Has to be factory installed.

Sorry.

DO NOT BUY THE PARTS ONLINE unless you are a master mechanic with a lift and a shop full of tools and like to take apart engines for fun. It's about a 3 day job to add this after it's out of the factory. Wish I were joking. I'm not.

 

[GPSMan]

It is UNDER the primary catalytic converter. Catalytic converter must be removed to access it. Where's the catalytic converter you say? Bolted to the engine headers, between the engine and firewall.

You have to remove the damn steering column as part of the process to get at the block heater.

If yours came with the block heater, use it sparingly. Use it only when necessary. I never thought I'd be saying this: DO NOT USE IT ON A 25°F or 35°F day to boost MPG. It is a ~35 ohm resistor heater. When it burns out, it's gone for good.

Out of warranty, this is probably a $500+ job in labor alone to replace it.

Stupid? Yes. Reality? Yes.

 

[GPSMan]

Circled in yellow shows block heater.

After Catalytic Converter, steering column, and a bunch of other stuff has been removed.

I think this qualifies as "not user serviceable". Boo.

 

[GPSMan]

Ford wants like $120 for the power harness alone. Anyone who can wire an outlet knows it's like $20 at the depot.

You need a specially formed, specially routed, high temp heat proof power cable.
Not $20 "at the depot".

Thanks for sparking my interest in researching this. Adding the block heater to a 2005 Hybrid Escape was cheap and a piece of cake. Boy things have changed.


"This is not your father's Oldsmobile."

 

[GPSMan]

 

[catshreds]

Part number JX6Z6A051D
Best I can find is about $84 before shipping. Anyone install it themselves? Trying to find where to screw it in but empty handed.
Ford wants like $120 for the power harness alone. Anyone who can wire an outlet knows it's like $20 at the depot.

In my day, parked outside during Chicago winters, we just kept a 40 watt incandescent bulb plugged in under the hood; it worked!

 

[TrailMaster]

If yours came with the block heater, use it sparingly. Use it only when necessary.

Out of warranty, this is probably a $500+ job in labor alone to replace it.

I live in really cold country, and have an engine heater on my Ranger. I've discovered a couple hours plugged in to the heater is sufficient for a warm start. I would advise against plugging in overnight, it's not necessary and will just burn out your block heater sooner.

 

[Waterick]

Are there still not other options out there? I grew up up North and seem to remember there being heaters spliced into the water system or even oil dip stick heaters. I don't know their effectiveness or if they are still available.

 

[Darnon]

Are there still not other options out there? I grew up up North and seem to remember there being heaters spliced into the water system or even oil dip stick heaters. I don't know their effectiveness or if they are still available.

They're still available. And the pads that you can stick on. Those are pretty convenient since you don't need to worry about creating any leaks and easier to change if they fail.

 

[TrailMaster]

They're still available. And the pads that you can stick on. Those are pretty convenient since you don't need to worry about creating any leaks and easier to change if they fail.

There are other options! The pump type coolant system heaters work great. That's what I'm using on my Ranger. Stick on pad heaters tend to overheat, and a malfunctioning one can actually boil your oil.

 

[rivermaverick]

I remember these things:

Leave it under the car overnight with a blanket over the engine - all warm and toasty in the morning.

 

[Darnon]

There are other options! The pump type coolant system heaters work great. That's what I'm using on my Ranger. Stick on pad heaters tend to overheat, and a malfunctioning one can actually boil your oil.

I've replaced the pumping style ones a handful of times on our standby generator that uses one so I don't find them particularly reliable. Unless you're buying a 500w pad heater sized for a semi then they can't really 'overheat/malfunction'. There isn't any regulation because the wattage should be just enough to reach equilibrium at "warm".

 

[TrailMaster]

I've replaced the pumping style ones a handful of times on our standby generator that uses one so I don't find them particularly reliable. Unless you're buying a 100w pad heater sized for a semi then they can't really 'overheat/malfunction'. There isn't any regulation because the wattage should be just enough to reach equilibrium at "warm".

I haven't had to replace mine in 20+ years of below zero temperatures. Could be that I don't let it run overnight.

Sponsored