Which one is better?
I don't have extreme cold here in Oklahoma, but it would be nice to have one.

Thanks

I doubt you'll need one in Oklahoma, but engine block heaters are the hot ticket as they heat the coolant and that can warm a lot of the motor efficiently.

Oil pan heaters are great for an add-on. They are easier to install than pulling a freeze plug!! If you were going to visit for a week up north and the temps were in block-heater territory, the oil pan heater would be a quick and easy way to get the job done.

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Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. -Durant

I plan on vacy-ing up north in a year or so and it will be during the cold months.
So is there a "how to" on this install or is it easy?
Also, should I just get it from the dealer or is there a better price point online?

aha..you said price point, you must be in marketing. Sorry, I am not sure which would be cheaper but my guess would be online.

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Pastafari Alum

I honestly don't know what to buy or how to install it.
I am guessing that you find the plug and take the bolt out and drain your fluid, put the new one in with x# with a torque wrench and then put your coolant back in...?
Anyone?

If you're just going to be there on vacation I would grab an oil pan heater. There are lots of different models, like replacement dipsticks, etc. but the ones I've seen are magnetic strips that stick to the outside of the oil pan and keep your oil warm. Just zip tie the cord to a few places to keep it from dragging or getting caught in something moving and you're golden. If I was going to be in Minot ND for a few weeks in the winter, this is what I would do! Even though sometimes it get real cold in new england, you really don't need a block heater even when it's like -20 in the AM.


Freeze plugs are usually copper (but also other metals...copper is expensive) plugs with a real tight press fit that you hammer into holes machined into the block. They're there in case someone uses straight water instead of water/antifreeze and leave the vehicle in very cold weather. Ideally, instead of the ice cracking the whole block, the ice would push these plugs out and save your engine block.

To install a block heater you would drain coolant and then try to punch one of the freeze plugs out. One way is to drill a hole in the center, screw in an attachment for a slide hammer to that hole and then pop it out that way. You can also just bang it in with a chisel and then pull it out once you've got it loose. Then the freeze plug goes right into that hole and seals it up, and there is a wire coming off of it, zip tie that to various non-moving parts so that the cord doesn't get caught on anything, fill the coolant back up and you're good to go.


this photo isn't a KJ 3.7, but on the block the gold colored things, those are freeze plugs.

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Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. -Durant

Where is it on the engine? I am guessing underneath?

I must have edited and added that photo as you were posting!!

They should be in the same general location on the KJ....some engines also have them in the back that you can only see with the bell housing removed, but that's not where you're going to want to put a freeze plug!! They're on the side of the block. In the above photo they're angled down a tad.

You can probably get a better look at them from underneath than from above....I know jeep I6 4.0L they are easier to see!

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Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. -Durant

Guessing my above post is correct on how to install one?
Really wantign to complete this before the winter time, just for something fun to do and you never know how cold it will get.

the freeze plug isn't bolted in, it's pressed into the block. There area few different ways you can get the freeze plug out. But yeah, you remove freeze plug and install block heater.

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Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. -Durant