Does anyone know where a lower radiator hose block heater can be bought that will work in an 83 240D? I see one that KATS makes would fit the hose, but I don't see how I can align the cap on the thing so it points down, and don't know how critical the cap alignment is. A popular website sells one the guy makes himself for 90 bucks, but it looks like I could save 60 or 70 dollars by getting the element and cutting a hose myself. If anyone has used one of these block heaters or even heard some rumors, I sure would like to know. I started this car at 17 degrees last year like it says to do in the owners manual, by cranking the heck out of it, but it would be nice to have a smoother process this year. Car has 347K miles.

Have your tried the factory block heater and a timer? It's 100 times better than nothing.

I have some rservations about removing the freeze plug. I don't want to crack the block and I have had some of these old bolts rusted in place that just wouldn't budge. I found a coupon that the original owner could have used to get a free heater installed. Too bad I am not that guy!

you have two options:

Park the car in a heated garage.

Spray lots of WD 40 around the plug over a couple of weeks and wait until the liquid seeps in.

Do freeze plugs break off?

Years ago I had seen dipstick heaters that would fit different cars. They are basically heating elements that dip into and heat the oil via the dipstick hole.

I am going to try the Diesel Giant lower radiator block heater. Seems the best all-round solution for me. I will get a chance to test it very soon and I will post the results.

Please post some photos of the block heater and installation.

I will get some pix posted soon, but the install was very easy. I had to orient the heating element by loosening the hoses. The power cord goes right through by the headlight door and I can hide the cord under the bumper filler. I have only used it once, it got down to 26 degrees and started right up. If you go to Diesel Giant's maintenance page, the pics he has of the block heater install has the KATS brand heater on it. The one I got was just like the pic on the parts page, plain and grey. There is no "U" shaped element extending into the hose, the heating element surrounds it. I will give a review again when the real winter begins. It has been unseasonably warm. Please, PLEASE ! Capture all of your antifreeze! This stuff is green death to pets. My neighbor and I both lost cats because someone left antifreeze on the ground. By the time I noticed something was wrong, she was dead. Another one of God's little furry gunslingers is gone.

It finally got cold enough to test the block heater. It was 17 degrees last night. I opened the hood and the lower hose was HOT, the upper hose and the thermostat were very warm. The old diesel engine started right up, like it was a gasser. I would have to say that the lower radiator hose block heater works just fine. I will post results when it gets colder.

...For the feedback ! .

I remember hose heaters from when I lived in New Hampshire in the 1960's , they worked fine and I am glad to see yours does too.

Plus , having right - away heat is nice too !

Well, it got down to 10 degrees last night. The old diesel started up like it was in the 50's. No extra cranking, started within seconds and started idling smooth right away. I would have to say again that this type of block heater does its job very well, indeed.

The pictures show such amazing details...

Frostplugs are usually small tin caps that you drive a screwdriver through with a BFH and pry out the cap. Then you take the aluminium socket heater and wedge it in place with that same big f hammer. No problem. I would leave the 30 year old hoses alone :-)

I recommend a Eberspächer heater with a burner and waterpump, it heats the coolant and also controls the interior fan so that the cabin is defrosted and warm. It just cost about twice as much as a 83 240D.

I built a garage instead.