So I saw that honda makes an engine block heater... you just plug into an outlet and it keeps your motor warm. I thought this would be a great idea as i go snowboardin in vt a lot and i live in jersey where it gets cold. But when i called honda to see how much it is, the guy laughed and said its pointless to have unless you live in alaska.. i disagree

Buy one, and use it, and be happy.
Or don't, and save some cash.

If your using the wrong weight of lube it could make a decent difference, if not, unless your in extreme conditions, it will not.

its a honda and i use 5w20 mobil 1

It is important for the engine block heater to keep your motor warm as it will allow for easier start, thus less stress on your engine. The guy at the dealership is seriously misinformed. NJ gets to be quite cold too!

Based on your location, I'd say buy it -- this coming from someone living in an igloo called Canada.

You'll be fine. If it would give you peace of mind. Do it. In all sensibility though, you don't need one.

Most of the times dealerships give out wrong info. Your Honda running 5W20 Mobil 1 will live a long, long, life with or w/o the block heater. The block heater will aid in cold starts and possibly extend engine life.

Having said all of that I would get an oil pan heater, which is easiler to install. Visit the Wolverine oil pan heater website, and they will explain better than I can the advantages of warning up the oil. Either way block heater or pan heater you are doing a good thing for the engine! JMO

You and I both know Jersey can be a Winter Wonderland(albeit veeerrry cold). If its priced right go for it. Where abouts in Jersey are ya? I'm in Northern Passaic county.

Or get both. Oil pan heater is very easy. However, having installed block heaters in all my cars, I can tell you that the Honda is not that hard to install. Rather than installing into a frost plug, which is hard to hammer out, the Honda block heater screws into the drain hole for the block. All you do is unscrew the large (block heater sized oddly enough) drain plug and screw in the block heater in it's place. If you're quick with the swap and do it when the engine is cold, you don't even have to drain the coolant.

Personally, I think you'll use it about six times before the hassle of screwing around with the cord in the coldest weather of the year gets to you.

Does your car start fine without it? I live in WI, it gets cold here too, and very very few people have block heaters besides diesels. It falls in the realm of the leather car bra.

With the oil you are using you don't need it.

I had a block heater in my old car (Buick Roadmaster w/GM 5.7L engine) and am getting one installed in my current car ('97 Sable, 3.0L OHV). I live in WI and while it doesn't get miserable bitter cold but maybe for a week each year, I really like having a block heater anyway. I pretty much use it whenever the temp dips below 40F.

I like it that the car warms up super fast, it's better for the engine, it is a substantial boost to mileage (there is a study from Canada that shows this pretty conclusively), and for me it's not much of a hassle.

How much is the Honda heater?
And what type is it [how does it apply the heat]?

I think the Honda guy was trying to give good advice. Since the heater is not needed except for a special circumstances, he was actually trying to save you money - [rare]. Modern cars with the proper oil are adequate to -20F or so - many go lower and are OK.

But sure, they can work and help in weather 10-15F and below.
Guys I know around here with diesel work vans love heaters in the winter around Chicago. 5 Am starts with a diesel left outside all night in a Chicago winter can be iffy.

BTW, batteries lose a LOT of their power when it's cold and you need them the most to start your car. This is as important to me, if not more important, than oil heat. There are battery heaters and insulators available to help with this problem.

If you had one on the car already, I'd say use it.

If you don't have one, and are using M1 5W-20, don't go out of your way to get one. Oil will work just fine at cold temp. start-ups.

Got a link? I'd love to see that.

yeah ..the old "why would you want to do something like that?" syndrome. Smack the clown on the head with a cam shaft and tell him if you wanted his opinion on it ..you'll tell him what it is. There's tons of stuff that everyone does just because they want to. I don't see a bit of sense to most of it. I do lots of stuff that no one sees sense in.


"Just the price, please."