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Your cart is empty.A frost plug heater is an electric heater that heats the engine of a vehicle to give quicker starts and protects your engine from damage that can occur during cold weather starts. Warmed engines also deliver better fuel economy, plus improves oil flow to provide better lubrication to the engine, which reduces wear and increases engine life. The frost plug heater also cuts back on pollution as it aids in vaporization of fuel, thereby cutting back on emissions.
Andrew Amen
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2018
Product seemed built well enough and I had no issues installing it. Pretty straight forward installation, just remove the plug and screw this in and tighten it. Apparently starting the car while this is plugged in will ruin it though which I think is what happened. Maybe that's the case on all of these engine block heaters but I was certainly unaware. A more prominent warning would be helpful. That being said, worked for a month or 2 last winter before it just wouldn't get very hot. This winter doesn't seem to do anything at all. I will be buying a different brand.
Retired EE
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2016
Anyone considering buying any Kat's heater should visit their website and read "Common Failure Troubleshooting Tips" beforehand. Here's a link that will download a .pdf file: [...]The first tip is considered "operator error" and I'll quote it here: "Engine heater plugged in while engine is running – The heating element Should Not be energized while starting the engine. The vibrations in conjunction with the added engine heat will cause the element to burn out or rupture. It is also advisable to wait a minimum of 1 minute after unplugging heater before starting engine."Vibrations? Seriously? It's a car engine, not a jackhammer.My heater worked fine for a while (maximum of 20 - 30 times heating), but has gone open-circuit (stopped heating). I don't remember if the installation instructions explicitly stated not starting the engine with the heater energized. That's likely what killed mine as it was not something I gave any consideration. I won't be replacing this heater. When I initially installed the heater, I also switched to a 0W-30 engine oil which may be even more beneficial for winter starting and requires no attention.EDIT: The Installation Manual (IS 10000 REV C) is posted here on Amazon under the Technical Specifications for this item. Nothing is said about not starting the engine with the heater energized!
Scott H Burt
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016
Purchase, packaging, and delivery were flawless. The diameter and threads fit my subaru crosstrek perfectly, but the high profile design only fits under the exhaust if you don't plug in the cord. .......which would be pointless. It MIGHT fit if you removed the heat shroud from the exhaust, but then the cord would probably melt against the exhaust. Since I already did the work, I just went to the dealer and spent the extra money for the low profile subaru version to finish the job.
Sundy
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2015
The heater worked great but the cord wouldn't fit in the frost plug, emailed Kats but never was contacted... ended up buying another plug heater cord to get things to work. I've sold the car since then, so not sure how it's holding up.
Amos Klein
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2015
It installed very easy, it included basic instructions and torque spec's. Have not had to plug it in yet since we are still above freezing.
AlyeskaDan
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2012
I put this little guy in my 4 cylinder Subaru, and it was the easiest heater I've ever installed. The Subarus use a threaded frost plug on the bottom of the right (drivers) side, and once I got the proper allen socket for it (14mm), it popped right out and drained a minimal amount of anti-freeze into a clean bucket. Installing the heater was as simple as wrapping the threads with thread tape, screwing it in, refilling the radiator, and routing the cord. Done deal, maybe 10 minutes. And it works well, too. I give it about 2 hours on a cold day and have had no trouble starting.
Rickydink
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2011
I was needing a block heater and went thru the selection process for my 2006 Chevy Aveo 1.6. When the part arrived I was surprised to see a threaded part. I called Katz technical rep and he said this was the correct part. Today I began the installation process, but made sure I had the correct size replacement plug if this did not fit. After getting out the original freeze plug my worst fears were correct. It did not fit, no threads and the hole was smaller (34mm). I now have to return part 11405 for 11415.
dennyt
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2011
This was an easy addition to my Subaru Loyale. I needed a 14mm hex bit to remove the coolant drain plug, then installed this, routed the cord, and now my car runs much better in the mornings.
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