Dear Tom and Ray:

I have an early Ford Explorer, 1990 or 1991, I can't remember. I live in Colorado, where you can see purple mountains' majesty ... in the color of one's exposed skin on a brisk zero-degree day. I would like to put an engine block heater in my Explorer before next winter, not so much for the engine's benefit, but for my benefit when I sit in it to go to work in the morning when it's minus 15 and I want heat! I've been told there are three different kinds of block heaters: an oil heater, a coolant line heater and a freeze plug heater. Which do you recommend? -- Sidney

Tom: You haven't even mentioned two of the most popular engine block heaters, Sidney; Miami and Orlando!

Ray: Actually, we recommend the coolant hose-based heaters. The oil heaters are actually "electric dipsticks." You replace your dipstick with a heated, electric dipstick, which sits in the oil and presumably warms it up. And in our experience, they do make the car easier to start, but they don't get heat on your tootsies any faster.

Tom: And besides, how are the guys at the local drinking hole going to react when you tell them you have to go out and plug in your "electric dipstick"?

Ray: The freeze plug replacement heaters work pretty well, and in fact, that's what Ford gives you if you buy one from them. The heating element actually replaces a freeze plug in the engine block and heats the coolant from down there. My biggest concern about freeze plug heaters is that they can leak after installation (we've even seen a few blow out under extreme pressure). And if you don't get under the car and check it regularly, you might not know it was leaking for many moons.

Tom: So for that reason, we're partial to coolant heaters that get installed in one of the two radiator hoses. They're easy for your mechanic to install, the installation almost never fails, and they do a good job.

Ray: You need one that fits the diameter of your particular coolant hose. The heater itself costs about 40 bucks, and you should be able to get one at any good auto parts store. Stay warm, Sidney.

Why do unmitigated cheapskates like Tom continue to buy nothing but old clunkers? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's guide "How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows." To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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