Hi all,

I discovered I have a leak of coolant from the outer edge of my engine block heater.

Do any of you have experience replacing these? Any advice or hints? Any experience with how these fail? E.g. catastrophically or will it just continue to weap? Any advice for what brand replacement to use?

It is located in the center of the left side of the block below the heads.

 

Usually they have a rubber seal that deteriorates. I would just pull it out and replace it with a new one of your choice. Looks like it is accessible!

 

Yes relatively accessible. I guess I should just suck it up and drain the coolant and get on with it. Being low down in the block, I will have to be prepared to get all wet. LOL

Anyone else have any experience with these? Any possible surprises?

 

Taking the drain plugs out of the block should help you to not get wet (put them back in and stuff will stop dripping on you). Typically these block heaters tighten with a screw through them but you may or may not be able to turn it. Just make sure you don't push the block heater into the engine - they can be difficult to get out. Remember the have a heating element that sticks out to one side. You can drill it and use a dent puller if you have room. Or drill a much larger hole in the center and pry it out with something big and strong like a large alignment punch or huge Philips screwdriver.. Just don't catch the sealing surface on the block and gouge it up with your removal tool. Good luck!.