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Has anyone had a freeze plug heater install in their 6th Gen Toyota gas 4runner?
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Freeze Plug Heater
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I would reach out to a Toyota dealer directly. In Canada many models of the 4Runner come factory equipped with an engine block heater. A dry, cartridge-style heater slides directly into The engine block cavity. You simply coat the cartridge with a thermal silicone grease to ensure optimal heat transfer and route the power cord safely away from moving engine components toward the front grille. No need to drain the coolant and it's factory OEM.
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I just got off the phone with my dealer. I ask for an estimate to put a block heater on my 6th Gen gas 4runner. The told me they don't not install block heaters or recommend block heaters because they have have issue with them starting fires. They recommend a battery blanket and an oil pan heater.
Does this sound crazy to anyone but me?
Does this sound crazy to anyone but me?
On my 3rd Gen Tacoma there was a recall for fires. I had my dealer test it each fall just to make sure and all was fine. I haven’t heard of any recall for the 4Runner.
I have run battery blanket and oil pan heater on different vehicles and those work great too.
I have run battery blanket and oil pan heater on different vehicles and those work great too.
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I think I would try calling a Toyota dealership in possibly Alaska like Fairbanks or Anchorage and ask them what they recommend. They'll probably know the part number right off the bat. My friend had his done in Vancouver British Columbia at one of the Toyota dealers there, and it's a common add-on.
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My dealer is In Anchorage AK. I live not far from Anchorage.
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Cool, then they probably know what they are talking about.
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IMHO it sounds like the dealer is misinformed and perhaps lazy/apathetic
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I asked Google and She said BULLOCKS, She is not aware of any widespread recalls or incidents.
Although Toyota of Canada did publish a recall.
Toyota CA RECALL
Although Toyota of Canada did publish a recall.
Toyota CA RECALL
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John 2112, that's the dealer that refused to install one because of the fire hazard. All the dealers here are owned by the same Person.
that is very odd to hear from a dealer in alaska especially.
i mean even in ND, MN or other northern tier states its not uncommon for block heaters to be installed.
granted i havent had one installed since the 90's when the vehicle sit outside 24/7 and even then the 2018 tundra and the 2023 tundra sat outside 24/7 and never had a block heater installed. as long as it was run daily it always started up even in -30F ambient temps.
and when it didnt start, it was alway the battery being too cold, never the engine starting. with modern EFI, the engine doesnt struggle like they did in the 80s and 90s.
better to put a good battery blanket on from from experience. but block heater does have its advantage if you are hitting temps -35F or colder as 0w-xx is only rated to about -35/-40F flowing viscosity.
5w is rated only up to -30F
i mean even in ND, MN or other northern tier states its not uncommon for block heaters to be installed.
granted i havent had one installed since the 90's when the vehicle sit outside 24/7 and even then the 2018 tundra and the 2023 tundra sat outside 24/7 and never had a block heater installed. as long as it was run daily it always started up even in -30F ambient temps.
and when it didnt start, it was alway the battery being too cold, never the engine starting. with modern EFI, the engine doesnt struggle like they did in the 80s and 90s.
better to put a good battery blanket on from from experience. but block heater does have its advantage if you are hitting temps -35F or colder as 0w-xx is only rated to about -35/-40F flowing viscosity.
5w is rated only up to -30F
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Battery blankets don't do anything good in my opinion. That's not how the industry protects their investment. They delay any natural heating from the engine in cold weather, trap heat in the summer. Battery heater or a trickle charger if you're concerned about battery performance in cold weather. For the 4Runner, trickle charging is the best viable solution.
if you dont have a hybrid i can understand the trickle charger, on hybrids its a tad more complicated since the 12v battery is inside the vehicle rear.
per the manual it say to disconnect the neutral lead when charging and to never charge it with the hybrid in "ON" or "READY" mode.
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