To the Canadians out there - Block Heaters?

I grew up outside of Edmonton in the 80's. Every car we bought had a block heater standard. Funny after we moved to Phoenix the questions people would ask about the cord hanging out the grill. Is this still something normal or have modern oils made this unnecessary? Did your 2.5 or new 2022 come with a block heater?
Just curious.

 

We use them all winter. Not necessarily because the vehicle won’t start without being plugged in, but too make those -25 and below starts easier on them.

I really like how Toyota did the blockheaters on the 2.5 Gens, with the double ended cord and a plug-in on the truck, just above the front bumper.

 

Unless it stops being -1million up here ( not in my life time anyway) vehicles will come with block heater.

 

LOL. Yep. It’s ‘only’ -33 here this morning, and even plugged in vehicles don’t sound all that happy about the situation.

 

This. It's neat tidy, doesn't affect look of bumper etc.

Cord is proprietary, if (when) you drive off with it plugged in and loose it. About $40-50 CAD for a new one from Toyota dealer, as I found out last year. The kicker is, I bought a Toyota one off Kijiji for cheaper, but it was a slightly different size (for a Venza or something). I tried to shave it down and make it fit, but it wouldn't work.

Our new N-Fab bumper will have to have a hold drilled in the mesh area (where fog lights normally go), to accommodate the plug.

 

Anyone up there use a coolant heater like this?
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/KAT13100

 

Never seen one like that before.

 

Lol. Speaking of block heater, I just got a new one couple weeks ago, was a recall on it.

 

Any idea on the wattage rating of the new one? Or the part number?

I’ve heard rumours that they went from 400W to 200W to reduce the fire risk, but a 200W heater is like a fart in a hurricane.

I think my block heater is probably one of the recalled ones, but I can’t decide if a risk of fire is worse than an ineffective heater, should that rumour be true.

 

Tell you the truth I have no idea, but I can ask Jeff the only tech I let touch my truck.
I’ll have to get back to you on that one, unless someone else knows.
Interesting

 

Funny you say that, because I had the recall done awhile ago, and had my suspicions the replacement wasn’t as powerful. My super scientific monitoring of frost formations on the hood, vs lack of same with the old one, has me curious.

PROBLANCO, please let us know what you find out?

 

Curious about this as well since mine is being recalled/replaced on Friday.

 

Yup 4 sure . Gets really cold and its a cheap upgrade