How do I remove "that thing?"

[johnthehuskyfan]

Hi everyone. First, I'd like to say thank you for this forum and all the help that gets posted here. This is my first post, but I have visited before many times and got lots of helpful information that in (some) cases saved me an expensive trip to the shop, and I also have learned how to fix quite a lot of stuff myself that I never thought I could. This place is a really big help.

Second, I have something on my engine I want to get rid of or at least remove the appearance of. I'll explain: There was a time when my Explorer had to be in Alaska near Fairbanks.. Gets REALLY cold there in winter. I don't remember what the thing is called exactly but there's a little heater thing that's attached to the engine block and it has wires coming out to the front of the engine with a plug on the end-it's just a common receptacle for an extension cord. The purpose was to plug and extension cord into the plug every night and the device would keep the oil warm enough so it wouldn't freeze.

Now I live in the lower 48, and I don't need it anymore. It's not doing any harm staying on there I guess but I'd like to get rid of the appearance of the wires and the plug hanging down from the engine under the bumper. I guess it's a nit picky thing but to me it looks stupid now hanging down there and everyone asks me over and over what the heck is a power cord hanging down from my bumper for.

I dont' know exactly where this thing is on the engine block and if it stays there, fine. But can I just get under the front of the truck and snip the wires so the darn thing doesn't hang there anymore? I guess if I do, do I need to make sure I seal off the wire ends so nothing shorts out or does it matter? Is it ok just to leave the rest of the thing on the engine block if I'm not using it anymore?

Thank you..

 

[Brandon96]

Welcome!

That's called a block heater, you may need to check up on it, but I believe you can pull it out of the block and replace it with a freeze plug. Or you could cut/disconnect the wires I suppose. I personally would ty-wrap them up and out of the way/sight, you never know when your going to need it and it's good to have

 

[celly]

It's a block heater. Just zip tie it up and out of the way. It's worth keeping there....just in case.

 

[shadowless127]

It's a block heater. Just zip tie it up and out of the way. It's worth keeping there....just in case.

this.

 

[ucluglee]

I highly recommend you coil up the cable and zip tie it out of the way. It may come in handy if you ever decide to sell your vehicle.

 

[johnthehuskyfan]

Thanks

this.

Thanks for the responses.. I was thinking about just sort of sealing it up and out of the way as suggested; but wasn't sure so that's why I asked! Seems like it would be a lot of work to get rid of it anyway..

 

[boominXplorer]

It will unplug from the block and you can take the whole wire harness out for it but it would be much easier to zip tie it behind the bumper.