I kinda fancy jumping into a nicely pre warmed car during these colder Southern Highlands winters & a block heater is just the ticket for that.

I was amazed to discover that the genuine Nissan part was still available & at an amazingly low price of around $20 US, so a quick note to Kelly in New Mexico got the ball rolling.
As the parts man at Reliable Nissan in Albuquerque he is right on the ball. I ordered three but unfortunately only two showed up, being the last ones in the US apparently, so there is still enough for me & another forumite, for his GX

The first words in the invioce say "We want your business" & with the service that I got, I know where I will be doing my shopping for US Nissan parts in the future & they come with my recomendation. Thanks Kelly, your help is really appreciated.

It comes as a replacement for one of the core hole/ welch plugs & is sealed with an 'O' ring. The package contained the heater unit itself, some lubricant to install it, a power lead & a cap for the end of the power lead.

When my 'precious' is sitting all alone in the cold cold shed at night, her heart will be all nice & warm on those frosty winters nights, ready to deliver her best, ... right from the moment I turn the key.

Just the very thought of that warms my heart, & all for about $20 + postage. Gotta be the best value deal that i'll see all winter.

Very interresting, i didn't know one actually got something like this. Appart from the rubber o-ring that seals it, how is it held in the block? I can imagine the water getting hot and build up enough steam pressure to push it out. That on bolt atop the two connection terminals looks as if it has something to do with the holding it in. Elaborate please.

We had a Our Mazda 1000 that had an A14 would sometimes freeze up in winter. This was in a North Western town called Klerksdorp. In winter it regularly goes below freezing far enough to allow the water in the block to freeze. Strangely enough the other cars that we owned didn't freeze up for some odd reason. Maybe because they used anit-freeze... First time it happened, my dad started the bakkie, en it made a terrible screeching noise, as the belt was spining over the stationary waterpump. He "fixed" the problem by unfreexing the pump with some boiling water from a kettle poured over the water pump. When it turned freely, he started the engine and drove off. Heaven knows how that A14 ever lasted as long as it did...

so does this element constantly heat the water in the block? or only when you switch it on?

how does it effect battery life? or even battery performance for when you want to start your car after 3 weeks?

or is it powered by an external source?

the black plug almost looks like it is the same as a computer power plug...

It plugs into the mains power. 110V. it may be rated to 240V im not sure. Apart from the o-ring for a seal, it also is clamped in place via the center fastener

ahhh now it makes sense!

might need a 110v supply d'man!

I can't see the point unless you have problems with the coolant freezing. Thats all its designed to do. Its not keeping the bores, mains, oil etc etc at operating temp so therefore not reducing any wear at start up.

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It would keep the block warmer to an extent and also make the engine warm up and run smother faster... and from the Southern Highlands I would expect that the water would nearly freeze... I live down the mountain and I'm FUKING COLD... lol

opps double clicked

Yes, designed for cold conditions but by no means is the motor pre-warmed ready for a flogging. Even after a 5min drive and your thermostat has open and closed a few times is the motor at operating temp.