what is this thing

[my454s10]

i started putting heads gaskets on my 93 s10 4x4 blazer....4.3 vortec..and on the bottom radiator hose is in 2 halves...with a red cap looking thing inbetween the hose\'s...and the cap has a cord that can be pluged in to a wall socket....what is it...im thinking it\'s some knida off a heater....for something...any one for for sure...

[speeder]

IF the cord is like the one that you plug into the wall, then I would also guess that it is a heater. So GOV vehicles come with that and some come with an outlet for jump starting.

[327Isuzu]

It\'s a lower radiator hose heater. It keeps the coolant warmed when the truck sits out all night at 30 below. Something you just don\'t see down there in Oklahoma.

[evil_admin]

lower radiator hose heater? Never heard of that but its possible. I thought it might be a block warmer.

[mzoomora]

its probably an aftermarket heater, the factory ones usually go in place of on of the freeze plugs

[fasrnur]

For those of you that don\'t have to worry about getting cold out you wouldn\'t know what that is. It is what they call it a lower hose heater. Here in the great white north it is almost a must to have one. Replace the hose and throw it away if it doesn\'t get real cold where you live sir.



Jeff....

[my454s10]

un...that\'s cool..what does it do...why keep the lower hose warm...?????..i wonder if i can replace it will a regualr hose...tp me that\'s just another place for a leak or a problem..heck im in oklahoma...not the alaska...it get\'s cold here but not that cold..

[loweredd]

It keeps antifreeze warm, and from freezing when it\'s REAL cold, like it gets up north here.

[my454s10]

warm or hot....how much electric do they use...

[fasrnur]

Hey lowered come a little further nort and see how cold it gets. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif They don\'t use a lot of juice but in Ok it shouldn\'t get so cold you\'d need one.



Jeff....

[afghanimobilerawks]

man, i never thought it got THAT cold in the states, heck, we almost never use block heaters here, unless u got a diesel...

[327Isuzu]

Come out here on the prairie. There is nothing bigger than a tree to block the wind from here to Alberta. It gets cold. It doesn\'t stay cold like where Fasrnur is and there isn\'t as much snow (it gets blown away), but the fluctuations are more extreme. 60 below wind chills are common. We get a week or two every season where we never get above zero. That\'s enough to count as cold.

[loweredd]

LOL, that\'s enough to count as cold. ROFL.

[mango86]

Hey Jeff, ever been to South Dakota during a blizzard, Wind chills 30 below and wind kickin bout 60 mph. Now thats Cold!! :0

[BadBowtie]

here in ontario it gets cold and a wet cold at that but i dont even have a block heater in my 350 and i drive it all winter, its a 4x4 so i can get away with it

[fasrnur]

See 454 you won\'t need that thing in Oklahoma. All us up here in the north last at those where the tamp doesn\'t go much below freezing. No matter if it is in F or C. 327 I heard they were planting a new tree where your at to have more phone lines. LOL And mango here in Mn 30 below wind chills are sometimes the normal not the exception. Darn mother nature. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif



You all have a good one,

Jeff....