engine block heater install/95 civic lx

[pfunk678]

I ordered the part I needed from Amazon for $24.80.

http://i.imgur.com/HG2Z6lo.jpg

80% of the battle was finding where to put it. Everything I searched on kept directing me to the radiator drain plug at the bottom of the radiator. But after much searching I found it on the engine block. This picture is post-install. It's at the center of the picture (the orange thing in the darkness)

http://i.imgur.com/6nJWcDv.jpg

This is a closer picture. The orange piece with the wire running in.

http://i.imgur.com/tWDme7C.jpg

Everything I read suggested that I flush the radiator (through the normal radiator drain) to get the part in. I did this. But then when I unscrewed the plug from the engine block even more coolant came out. I'm not sure if draining from the normal drain helped at all. I probably should have just let it drain from the engine plug even though the engine kept it from flowing straight into the drain pan I set up on the floor. The plug was VERY tight and hard to reach. I had to use a monster ratchet with an extension or two. 1/2" to remove and 1" to fit the new plug.

http://i.imgur.com/gGAgjzl.jpg

I zip-tied the power cord to the a/c overflow pipe to keep it away from hot engine parts and then threaded it through the lower (and unblocked grill).
http://i.imgur.com/BKThCsF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wRiLqBL.jpg

My air dam was a pain to put on and I didn't want to take it off for this install. I used my dad's floorjack while I was looking around for the plug. After I found it I realized I didn't really need to get under the car at all.

I haven't used the heater yet, but I'll try it tomorrow morning and see how it goes.

[slownugly]

You won't be disappointed. Temps have been in the single digits up here in pa last week. The heater is the only thin that saved me. Use it religiously and you will see gains on your first tank.