C block heater

I bought a $12 outdoor heavy duty timer. It's programmable by the week day with different on/off schedules. I have it set to M-F, 5:30am till 7:15am (I leave at 7am).

I found this at ecomodder.com:
If its 400 watts @ $0.10/KWHr then 3 hours is 12 cents per day or $23 for 180 days more or less.

I'm running mine an hour and half a day and so far so good. When it gets colder I may up the run time....

As it stands, 40 degree mornings, I have heat in less than 1/2 a mile. The car runs a lot less just to warm the engine up, and I went from not being able to break into the 70mpgs at work (which was normal) back to doing it pretty easily again.

My biggest concern now is attracting rodents to the engine bay since it'll be nice and cosy...

 

Where exactly is this transmission vent thing? So you take it out and put the block heater in its place?

 

The timer sounds like a good idea. This part I quoted has me a bit confused; is the heater rated for 400 watts, or did you just quote the above to explain how someone would derive the cost (if they were unaware)?

 

The heater is 400w, just replace the kw/h costs with your own.

 

You almost can't see it. It's right in front of the hole where the heater goes in. View of it is blocked by the radiator hose. Bend down, look under the left side of the hose. (Your left , facing the engine compartment.) Push the hose to the right. You may need a flashlight. NOW - it is part plastic. YOU CAN break it . I broke mine. @#%&* it. Does anyone know the part number of this thing?

Toyota parts men looked for an hour at which point we all gave up. BUT I WILL NOT BE DENIED! Ahem, excuse me. He He .

 

SO just to Clarify, I'm looking at a Block Heater for my wife's 2013 Prius C. You people are saying a 2009 Prius Block heater should be the same??? The local parts store could only list a part number for an '09 and I'll get it tomorrow. Just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time. Thanks.

 

That's a good time. We invariably use more, I'll aim for 2 hours, and getting out of the house sometimes involves even MORE time, due to she who must be obeyed, but 1.5 hours is good, except for very coldest times, as you say.

 

not sure thats the best thing to do i already plugin my PIP with my neighbors.....
i wurry that maybe with 2 the fuse will pop

 

Is this worth investing for in somewhere like San Diego, or is this a colder weather concern/benefit?

 

This is a help anywhere. A warm engine is a happy engine. Used regularly it will extend the life of the engine .

 

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I have some info to share regarding aftermarket heaters.
I recently attempted to install the Kat's 31813 cartridge heater in our 2014 c2. It does not work because the large end of the heater element does not clear the wiring harness that is routed across the top of the transmission housing.

Tonight I tried a Zerostart 1100129 cartridge heater and it will clear the harness the Kat's element does not, but is 3/4 inch too long. The plug end of the element hits a large metal bracket that appears to hold down a large wiring plug above the transmission. This interference keeps the element from lining up with the hole in the block.

I guess I will have to try the Canadian Toyota kit or the one on the PriusChat Store.