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engine block heater

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by ivanhoe, Apr 21, 2021.

  1. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Hi folks, I'm a new owner of a 2015 Prius V v! There' no engine block heater and I will need one next winter. The dealership has them but at twice the price from other sources. I've found KAT 11813 and Temro 3100129 but listings only show up to year 2014 or something like that. I know the engine is the same from 2012 to 2018, some minor modifications in the latter years like piston rings. Does Toyota have copyrights for a X-mount of years back and that is why the other sources only show up to a certain year. The above mentioned block heaters, would they fit in my 2015 is the question? Thanks in advance and lucky to be on this Prius site which has a vast amount of information & knowledge!
     
    #1 ivanhoe, Apr 21, 2021
  2. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    I gather there isn't too many V owners in the colder climate :(
     
    #2 ivanhoe, Apr 24, 2021
  3. RAM v

    RAM v Junior Member

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    I am one of the Prius v owners that lives in a colder climate (Minnesota, down to -20 degrees C or F most years.)
    I have been using the Toyota block heater for several years now. Everywhere I looked on the internet says they should fit your 2015 (mine's a 2014). Makes a big difference in how soon you get warm enough so it will run electric instead of gas engine. I usually run mine for 1-2 hours.
     
    #3 RAM v, Apr 24, 2021
  4. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Thanks for reaching out. I know Toyota uses the third party heaters, just trying to find the less gouging alternative. Can you point out the one you found or is it the same one I posted?
     
    #4 ivanhoe, Apr 24, 2021
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I would stick with the Toyota part. I just replaced mine, connection at the heater core shorted out. Replacement looked pretty much the same, except wiring a bit different and revd part no. It was $80~90 (CDN) as I recall, through (CDN) dealership parts dept.

    How much is “twice the price”?

    for some weird reason US dealerships seem to have a hard time getting this in; maybe a factor in the price. Which is puzzling: here in the west coast of Canada it’s balmy, while in the US fly-over States they’re just crawling outa snow drifts?
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Apr 25, 2021
  6. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Toyota is $100 minus my tiny discount(10%)=$90 versus $43.52 at a online store. I'm sure Temro makes them for Toyota but are forbidden to sell the most recent years as per their contract. Same engine cylinder head as the 2012-2014 which I would think it would work into the 2015-2018 models.
     
    #6 ivanhoe, Apr 25, 2021
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  7. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    I got this info from toyotanation;
    The heaters (manufactured by PYROIL, Ltd of Canada) have shipped to Toy Associated Parts. In turn, Toy Parts has begun shipment - via some sort of allocation - to the dealers. :thumbup:
     
    #7 ivanhoe, Apr 26, 2021
  8. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    You must have very small hands to insert the block heater, mine don't fit! Lots of room behind the engine but it's getting the hands back there is the tricky part.....#*#* Do I have to go from under the vehicle and reach up?
     
    #8 ivanhoe, Apr 29, 2021
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I did it from below. Helped having 3 arms and hands, and eyes on extendable stalks. :whistle:

    seriously, i found it BARELY possible, with major cajoling of adjacent wiring conduits in the way.

    dry insert first, then just back it out, apply heat transfer grease, and reinsert while twisting, to avoid scraping all the grease off or getting it all over everything.

    Toyota has made this component easily installable at the factory, with the engine out of the car. If retrofitting, it’s very awkward.​
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Apr 30, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2021
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  10. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Thanks for pointing to the right direction, this will save me time & frustration :whistle:
    I did a 98 Corolla, 11 Scion TC & a 14 Prius C before this one, should be easy I say :D
    Find the hole and insert, what's hard with that :eek:
    Yep, Toyota messed this one on us :censored:
    Now to go find a third arm....................:cool:
     
    #10 ivanhoe, May 1, 2021
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I had a few conduit brackets unbolted, cords tied around cables to pull them back as much as possible. Then from below, with splash shield removed, an arm reaching up on either side of drive shaft, could just fight the thing in, with protracted repositioning and pushing. Absurdly tough, and purely by touch.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, May 1, 2021
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  12. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    You're up early, and I was by a hour :whistle:
    I could see the TOUGH part ahead of time :( but I'll manage with persistence :)
     
    #12 ivanhoe, May 1, 2021
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  13. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Slowly figuring out the chore ahead of me to get the heater installed. I was looking at the wrong place all the time. The previous cars I installed the sleeve type heater was into the head cylinder, not into the block itself. More progress to be done on this install in days ahead....
     
    #13 ivanhoe, May 9, 2021
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    There’s a Toyota PDF on the install, and some owners have published a pretty good how to.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, May 9, 2021
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  15. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    I've found this pdf file for the installation and I've gotten the block heater installed and ran out of time to finish today. I tried it out and the engine block heater access mold came hot within seconds :) I'll be fabricating a metal screen for the air inlet to make sure no rodents find a new home (y) Lot's of debris of leaves helicopters resided in the cowl (n)
     

    Attached Files:

    #15 ivanhoe, May 10, 2021
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Yeah that’s the one. It doesn’t really address what a pain it is in practice, but it does help. I just ran the cord out to lower front grill, DOUBLE zip-tied securely, a few inches apart. You don’t want it dragging down the road when you forget to unplug; which is too easy to do.

    That’s good. In the front I screened the cabin air inlet, that’s on the passenger side of firewall, unfortunately requires wiper and cowl removal. @NutzAboutBolts shows the removal step-by-step in their spark plug change video (thread with links pinned in3td gen maintenance forum).

    Another item I decided to screen was the engine air inlet, thinking they may want to take up residence in the engine air filter box.

    another possible cabin egress is the hybrid battery air exhausts, at both rear corners below hatch floor. Haven’t done anything with that yet, mainly because it’s awkward, not sure of best approach, or if it’s even doable.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, May 10, 2021
    Last edited: May 11, 2021
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  17. ivanhoe

    ivanhoe Member

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    Finished the job, cabin air inlet w/screen and engine air inlet w/screen :)
    Road test later today....
     
    #17 ivanhoe, May 12, 2021
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