Chevy & GMC Vans

I need to get some block heating hardware installed on at least one of my vans so my girlfriend will quit starting them 20 minutes before she leaves in 40 degree whether....

I think the freeze-out plug holes are 41 or 41.5MM. Does anyone know for sure?

How about Circulating Tank Heaters, has anyone installed one? LINK
I think they work off of convection. I would much rather have something with a pump in it but i don't think they make anything like that, at least i haven't been able to find one.

I will probably be using an outdoor electric timer, is anyone else using that set-up and have any advise?

Break, I've had Kat tank-type heaters on two of my previous vehicles, not on my Astro, though. In both cases the heaters worked well; starting either engine was a snap no matter how cold the weather was. In both cases, though, there wasn't instant heat from the vehicle's heater/defroster like I had expected, but the heat did come on quickly. Both of these I would plug in at night during cold weather for an easy start in the morning.
I owned a 1984 Diesel Chevette that came from GM with a block heater, the type that takes the place of a freeze plug in the engine. I experimented during cold weather on just how long the block heater needed to be plugged in so the engine would start (remember, it was a diesel). I found that 20 minutes top was needed and that was when we had an extreme cold snap where the temperature dropped to -12F. After that, I rigged up a timer to turn on the block heater about a half hour before I left for work. It worked very well IF I remembered to plug the car into the outlet at night!

Between the two types of heaters, I would opt for the freeze plug type--there's no plumbing with it and it puts the heat right where it's needed. But I bet it would be a real task to install one in an Astro...'course, installing a tank-type in an Astro wouldn't be fun, either.

What about the option of a 12v vehicle heater she would plug in and turn on when she hops in the van? instant heat for her until the vans heat kicks in.

We had a farm tractor with one of the tank heaters and it worked awesome. The other style I have used is the lower radiator hose heaters. They work awesome and I never had one leak or fail. My truck has a block heater and it works awesome as well.

Why, pray tell, does she warm up the vehicle in 40º weather? That's not even cold enough to chill beer! The van will warm itself quicker if she just gets in and drives.

Buy her a winterfront instead!

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:We had a farm tractor with one of the tank heaters and it worked awesome. The other style I have used is the lower radiator hose heaters. They work awesome and I never had one leak or fail. My truck has a block heater and it works awesome as well.

so in short any type of coolant heating apparatus(did i even spell that right) is awesome?
I've never used the block heater in my van now you got me thinking

Cobra wrote:

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:We had a farm tractor with one of the tank heaters and it worked awesome. The other style I have used is the lower radiator hose heaters. They work awesome and I never had one leak or fail. My truck has a block heater and it works awesome as well.

so in short any type of coolant heating apparatus(did i even spell that right) is awesome?
I've never used the block heater in my van now you got me thinking

Once we get below 0 I plug in my block heater. Works great. No instant heat but by the time I hit the end of my street I have heat.

CaptSquid wrote:Why, pray tell, does she warm up the vehicle in 40º weather? That's not even cold enough to chill beer! The van will warm itself quicker if she just gets in and drives.

She wants the van warmed up for the the kid's on their 5-6 minute ride to daycare. I'm sure once the weather gets colder she'll be happy to have 40 degree mornings and won't start it then, she'll do it on 15 degree days like I've been asking her to.