Engine Block Heater
 

Anyone know where to find the engine block heater OEM part for the 370?

bump

Found on a Nissan dealer site in Canada. http://www.nissanparts.ca/ Check under accessories for the 370z and you'll see the blocker heater ($327.46 - ouch)

11001-1NC0B

That part does appear on an Infinti parts site in the US and it's half the price south of the border.

Infiniti Heater-Cylinder Bloc (11001-1NC0B)

GL

There should already be one standard...at least I saw it on mine the other day. It's on the driver side near the front of the car beside the intake.

I've never really lived in a cold climate, so I'm not familiar with these block heaters. The Infiniti parts sites also don't show any pics. How big are these things, where do they install? Are they easy to completely remove from the vehicle when not in use? They require wall-outlet AC power to operate right? What kind of temps do they run at?

Just curious about how viable an option it would be, in a warmer climate, to use this to pre-heat the engine and reduce oil warmup time with a big oil cooler setup :)

IMHO it's overkill to install a block heater even with an oil cooler for warm climates. I had one on my Jeep installed when I built it and it was a $50 add-on. I believe this was something built into the block and I know a lot of the after market ones are magnetic and just stick to the oil pan.

As far as power, yep you plug them into an outside outlet. I had mine on a timer to come one a few hours before I had to leave for work. And for gee-whiz I never plugged in until less than 0 degrees out or colder. Oh did I mention this is when I lived in Alaska and saw temps in the -50s? That is when a block heater is needed.

yah, cars are only designed to -40C/-40F. so anything near or below you will benefit from heaters, i think.

Well what I'm getting at is that with all the oil cooling work I've done (which is great when driving the car), my warm-up times are substantial. I typically leave the car idling in the driveway for 10 minutes straight before I even move the thing, and I still have to take it easy a while after that to let the temps get up. And that's in the summer, in our mild winter it can be 15 minutes. It's not ideal to add all that extra idle time to the car, not to mention the wasted fuel and fumes and whatnot. Being able to pre-heat the block/oil before I even start could possibly cut down on some of that idling, maybe...

I can see your point....let me do some digging but for a quick cheap oil heater you can get a universal from JCWhitney or the sort. Hell, even Amazon might have them. It won't be factory but it will be one of the ones that stick on the oil pan. The caveat to that is clearance issues underneath it. Something to think about.

Block heaters are mainly for diesel engines in cold climates. You don't need a block heater for your Z. If you live somewhere that cold, you shouldn't have the Z anyway. My Z has been through two Chicago winters, starts promptly in the cold, and is off the min temp peg in about ten minutes if I have the oil cooler covered. Don't waste your time with a heater.

You shouldn't idle your car warm. You should drive it immediately at low rpm to warm her up more quickly.

Yeah it's hard when you live right next to a freeway though. I get about two blocks of warmup drive before I have to nail it or get read-ended :)

Lol dude. I live in Edmonton Alberta. We see -40c every winter here.. sometimes for weeks on end. Don't tell me a block heater isn't needed it clearly is. And yea my Z is not the best choice of car for this climate but who are you to say I shouldn't have one?

:gtfo2:

:iagree:

My car was destined for Edmonton so it has a block heater. I'm looking to remove the cord though. I don't need it and don't want a big coil of extension cord under the hood. I haven't followed where it goes but I'm assuming the heater is screwed into the block or pan.
Hopefully the cord detaches from it.

Ah your in Vancouver? Do cars purchased there typically come with block heaters? I bought mine in Portland OR so it did not have one from the factory installed. Hopefully you can remove the cord like you said. I would probably remove the extension cord come summer time..

I believe all Canadian models come with the block heater.

The cord is unobtrusive so why would you want to go through the trouble to remove it? On my '09 Z I didn't even know it was there until someone said it came with a block heater.
It may be attached to a freeze plug which is pressed into the block. Then it would be a pita to get it out.

If using synthetic oil, a block heater becomes less useful as the oil won't be as thick at colder temperatures as dino oil would be. But getting down to -40 it would have its benefits especially at reducing cold start wear with little lubrication.

I couldn't come up with anything regarding how the factory installs the heaters. I am pretty sure it's in the block and a PITA to install after the fact and expensive. Best bet is el cheapo from generic auto store near you.

Yea at -40 a cold start is pretty rough on the engine. This is my reason mainly for wanting one. Also so it doesn't take 30+ minutes for the car to fully warm up when it is -40.

Yea.. That is probably the route I will be taking. The dealership wanted 1000 dollars for the part + install

I assumed the OP had a US model despite being located in Edmonton. Otherwise, if it's a Canadian Z, the block heater is standard equipment.

My understand is that block heaters warm the block not the oil - they attempt to warm the antifreeze/coolant not the oil. The oil may get some minimal residual heating with a block heater but that is not the design. Prolonged use of a BH will also shorten the life of antifreeze.

The block has a port to install the block heater. All model car engines have this port and it is simply plugged when a BH is not installed. Installation is relatively simple. Remove the plug, insert the BH -usually a small tube in the shape of a long U.

The BH cord is attached to the BH unit and can be removed or replaced easily once you locate the unit on the block. It just plugs into the prongs on the BH.

A BH very handy when temps are below -20C. Above that I don't bother. Back in the old days of hard starting cars, they were virtually a requirement to operate a car in any cold climate (above or below the 49th parallel. So was a can of carb cleaner or anything else that was flamable to spray into the throat of a dead beast. Always brought them to life and made them breathe fire. :icon17:

Edited to add link: this is a generic BH but gives you an idea of what they look like. One end of the cord plugs into the prongs of the BH as shown and the other end has a standard three pronged plug that typically is used with an extension cord to reach a standard 110v outlet. The other side of the BH sits in the antifreeze/coolant to warm the block.

Phillips & Temro Block Heater | Canadian Tire

I'm sure the oil receives some residual heat. question is how much?

I grew up in Texas, the whole concept of a block heater is foreign to me! I've heard stories of people using carb cleaner to start their cars in cold weather though haha! Foreign idea to me though.

Thanks KanataZ, I'm putting a CAI in and the cord is rolled up beside the intake in that black plastic wire loom. Just thought I would remove it for aesthetics. I don't plan on removing the BH, just the cord. I'll just put it back if I sell the car. Plus the weight savings should be good for at least 25HP. :rofl2:

Dude the weight savings will be AT LEAST 25 hp. And when you warm yoru block with your block heater and then remove the chord you should expect 40 hp or so

OP: regarding the long warm-up times. Do you have a thermostatic plate with your oil cooler?